TITLE:     THE FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY

AUTHOR:     Debbie Prevost

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:     5-8    Social Studies/Geography

OVERVIEW:  A study of geography begins with knowing where
things are located on a map.  But more important, it
requires a knowledge of why things are located in particular
places and how those places influence our lives.
     To provide a framework for such questions, geographers
have developed five fundamental themes.  They include:
Location, Place, Movement, Human-Environment Interactions,
and Regions.
     By using these themes as a basis for understanding
geographic information, we can gain a better appreciation of
cultural and environmental differences around the world.

PURPOSE:  This activity will provide an overview or serve as
a review of the five fundamental themes of geography.

OBJECTIVES:  Students will be able to:

1.  Name the five themes of geography.

2.  Explain the five themes of geography.

3.  Identify the five themes of geography by interpreting
    photographs from magazines.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
Teacher-made slide presentation
National Geographic Magazines-1 per group
Glue, scissors, marking pen for each group
Colored construction paper for each group

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

1.   To introduce the five themes or to review the five
     themes, the teacher will show a short slide
     presentation. The photographs should be taken in and
     around the town in which the school is located.  While
     showing the slides, the teacher should summarize the
     five themes of geography and relate the photos to them.
     The teacher could also ask for class input and
     discussion.
2.   Divide the class into groups of 2-4 students.
3.   Give each group one magazine (National Geographic
     will work well).
4.   Instruct each group to look through their magazine and
     select one picture that represents each of the five
     themes of geography.
5.   Have them cut out their photos and glue them to colored
     construction paper.  They should then label each
     picture with the theme it represents.
     (Step 4 and 5 should take about 15 minutes)
6.   Have each group present their photos to the class and
     explain how each shows the theme chosen.


TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:

1.   Display the group products around the room and refer to
     them in later lessons.
2.   Use this activity as a springboard to doing a study of
     a particular area relevant to what the students are
     studying in history or literature.
3.   This lesson could serve as a review or the five themes
     of geography, or it could be used to introduce the five
     themes.