SSED 42 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade

( CULTURE & GEOGRAPHY )

Christian L. Villanueva

CHAPTER 3
Physical and Human Geography

GEOGRAPHY is neither a physical science nor a social science; rather, it combines

characteristics of both can be conceptualized as bridging the gap between the two. As a
field of learning, it subdivides or branches into two broad and separate subfields:
Physical Geography and Human Geography.

Physical Geography describes and studies the surface features of the Earth – oceans,
continents, mountain, hills, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, gulfs, bays, estuaries,
peninsula, and many other land and water features. Physical geography makes maps
showing where metal ores; coal, oil, and natural gas are located in the Earth. They also
map the climates of the world.

Human Geography describes and studies what human beings do in and on land and
water. Human Geography , also called Political Geography, uses maps that locate the
boundaries of countries, states, and counties – lines that have been decided upon by
people. It also follows the movements of people. It divides the people of the world into
groups called cultures. The people of a culture share many things, in terms of clothing,
food production, child rearing, physical features, and many other things.

The following table presents the elements of Physical and Human Geography. They are
divided into two - the physical or environmental elements that are natural in origin, and
the cultureal or human elements that are products of human endeavor.

THE ELEMENTS OF GEOGRAPHY

Physical or Natural Elements

A. Weather and Climate

B. Landforms
1. Continents and Islands
2. Highlands
3. Lowlands
C. Water forms
1. Oceans and Seas
2. Water of the Land
D. Plants and Animals
E. Natural Resources

Cultural or Human Elements

A.Man
1. Population
2. Cultural Groups
3. Cultural Institutions
B. Works of Man
1. Settlements
2. Economics or Ways of Life
3. Routes of Transformation
4. Communication

SSED 42 Teaching Social Studies in Elementary Grade

( CULTURE & GEOGRAPHY )
Christian L. Villanueva

CHAPTER 4
TYPES OF GEOGRAPHY

There was a time when geography was mainly concerned with the study of the size and
shape of the earth and the description of places on the earth. Today, geography is a
broad field with many areas of study. No one person can become an expert in this vast
field, so geographers today specialize. There are as many kinds of geographers as
there are fields of study. Geography can be divided into the following types:

Topical Geography is the study of a single phenomenon on the earth’s surface. It is

directed toward an understanding of the spatial arrangement or areal distribution of the
phenomenon and its significance to human occupancy of the area. Topical geography
offers an understanding of the areal differences of each kind of phenomena and
principles governing their relationships to each other.

Regional Geography is the investigation and correlation of all significant phenomena

as they are found in any particular area. It provides a full comprehension of the total
character of a given region in comparison with others. Regional geographer attempt to
familiarize themselves with as many aspects as possible, concerning a given
continents, country or region, or with a particular type of region, such as deserts, polar
areas, or coasts and islands.

Physical Geography us the study of the whole natural equipment of a region in terms
of its resource potentialities and human occupancy and use. It concentrates on the
distribution of physical features such as climate, soil, and vegetarian.

Human or Social Geography is the study of areal differentiation of distinctive societies

or culture groups of mankind. It is concerned with the distributions of populations, of
settlements and of social groups, their institutions and organizations.
Economic Geography emphasizes the relationships between means effort to earn a
living on the earth’s surface.

Political Geography is the study of internal and external relationship of political units
( countries, state, counties, etc) according to their structure and function as occupiers of
space.

Historical Geography is the study of change in areal differentiation through time. It’s a
principal objective is to observe how the characteristics of a region have developed and
to study the interplay between cultural and physical aspects. It may be considered as
the genetics approach to geographical study.

Zoogeography is concerned with the distribution of animal ad their adaptations to, or

their restrictions by, environment. This branch is related to zoology, the science of
animal life of an area; to paleontology. The study of fossils, and to ecology. The study of
the interrelationship of organisms and their environment.

The branches of Human Geography are related to one or more of the social sciences.

Economic Geography is concerned with the economic activities of man in specific

localities and as related to the other phenomena with which they are associated. It is
related to economics. Both are concerned with the search for general laws in the form of
mathematical equations describing a real relationship and spatial interchange of
economic goods.

Political Geography considers the significance of geography behind political problems,

activities and situations. It is the study of the political units as a geography region.

Geography and Political Science have a broad area of overlap. Political Science is
concerned with the comparative study of different government and here it merges with
political geography. Another field of common interest is international relations. Other
sciences like Economic Anthropology, Economic geology, and Economic Botany
contribute to an evaluation of the resource base of a nation.

Social Geography converges with sociology and anthropology. But, whereas these
sciences are concerned with the people and their communities, and organizations, for
their own sakes. Social geography is concerned with their distribution, their contrast
from one area to another, and their relation to the total environment.

Geography is related to History and Archeology. Concepts and methods in history

area applicable to all branches of geography . A Closely related subject, Geographical
History is concerned with the significance of geography in the explanations of historical
events.