What is Geography?

In this lesson, we will learn why geography is an important subject to study.

We will explore the concepts of geographic thinking and describe the
geographic inquiry process.
 Engage What is Geography?

Where do people live?Why do they live there? How do we and our settlements affect the natural
environment? Why are some places wealthier than others? How can we all live sustainably forever?
Each of these questions is part of the study of geography. These questions examine important
information about you, the environment, and the rest of the human population. Geography is an exciting
subject to study because it helps us to make and explain connections to the world around us. Geography
is the study of where. Everything we see, do, or think is interconnected. The role of the geographer is to
connect the “what” with “where” and explain “why”.

Instructions: Answer the following questions by explaining you thoughts:

Why do you think we study geography?
- Studying geography helps us to have
an awareness of a place
- Gives a meaning and awareness to
places and spaces.
- Helps us with spatial awareness on
the globe.
Is it important to study? Why or why not?
- It develops knowledge of places and
environments throughout the world
- Help us understand the plant’s
movement, changes. And systems
- Geography helps us understand
basic physical systems that affect our
everyday life
 Explore Case Study ~ Bajau Laut

In this photo, Bajau children are paddling

boats in their floating village in the Celebes
Sea in Southeast Asia. For centuries, the
Bajau Laut have lived almost entirely at
sea, residing in houseboats or stilt houses
built on top of the coral reefs.

Traditionally, their livelihood has been

dependent on fishing. However, recently
many of the Bajau Laut have started to
settle on land, in part due to the need for
formal education and the effects of
overfishing.
Have you ever thought about how our settlements have impacted the environment or the way that we live? In
the space below, respond to “What are some examples of changes that we see in our own communities?”
The impacts on the environment increases with population growth, settlement expansion, economic growth and increased
consumption.
climate change, freshwater shortages, loss of biodiversity (with consequent changes to functioning of ecosystems), and
exhaustion of fisheries.
Explore Why study Geography?

Learning about the world is exciting! We learn about new places by seeing
what the physical environment is like and the different ways in which people
live. It helps us learn about “What is where? Why there? Why care?”

What is where?
Everything happens somewhere. This is the focus on LOCATION. Human
geography is about understanding the patterns and features of the human
environment.

Why there?
The job of geographers is to connect the “what” with the “where”. The next
question we ask ourselves silently is the “why”. When study the “why”, we can
learn about the relationships within the physical environment and patterns that
have been created over time.

Why care?
Geographers always wonder how they can make the world a better place.
Being active geographic learners can help us become better global citizens.
 What does it mean to think like a
Explain geographer?

Watch the following video and explore the link to learn

about what it means to think like a geographer.
Summarize key ideas in the space below:

When geographers look at a place, they also

look at its importance as part of a larger system.
Spatial significance relates specifically to where
places and are located on the planet.
Geographers study a wide ranges of issues
facing people and the planet today. Every issue
has supporters and opponents that reflect
environmental, political, economic and social
values. Once we know about specific places, we
can compare it to the characteristics of other
places. Patterns are arrangements or similarities
in characteristics.
 Extend How can we use geography?

Task One: Watch the following video, then list a few examples of individuals who use geography.
“

Rick Ridgeway (VP of environmental initiatives, Patagonia) He is a mountain climber, which is important to him
because he wants to know where the mountains are located and how to climb them. Gorgarphy helps him
understand more about the mountains.

Molly Hicks (Ocean rower) He needs it because, as he explores and goes from country to country, he needs to know
geography to help him understand where the countries are, how he gets there and how he gets across the ocean.

Task Two: Explore the following link for Google Earth, then tell me about your experience. What did you explore?
“

I explored many things. For example, I visited my favourite place and saw
lots of interesting things and places . I explored Paris and Canada.
 Additional Resources
Thinking like a geographer:
When geographers look at the significance of a place, they also look at the interrelationships.
Interrelationships Interrelationships are the connections between parts in one system or between two systems,
such as the natural environment and the human environments.

Spatial refers to something that exists or occurs in space. Spatial significance relates specifically
Spatial Significance to where places and are located on the planet. This focuses on the location of places.

Geographic Perspectives Geographers study a wide ranges of issues facing people and the planet today. Every issue has
supporters and opponents that reflect environmental, political, economic and social values. It is
important to understand these perspectives, so that changes do not negatively affect regions.

Patterns and Trends Once we know about specific places, we can compare it to the characteristics of other places.
Patterns are arrangements or similarities in characteristics. Trends are patterns showing
changes over time. Looking for patterns and trends will help us understand the world around us.