Engage

Overview

In this experience, students are introduced to the study of geography—what it is and what it isn’t. They explore and describe the six elements of geography. Next, they learn about the tools geographers use and some of the real-life jobs that geographers do. Finally, they write their own article about how geography affects their everyday lives.

Estimated duration: 45-60 minutes

Vocabulary Words:

geography: the study of Earth's places, people, environments, and the connections among them.
spatial terms: words that describe where things are and how places are arranged in space.
absolute location: the exact position of a place on Earth, often shown with latitude and longitude.
relative location: a description of where a place is compared with other places or features.
region: an area that shares one or more characteristics, such as climate, landforms, language, or economy.
human-environment interaction: the ways people affect the environment and the ways the environment affects people.
geographic tools: tools such as maps, globes, GPS, GIS, satellite images, and surveys that help people study places.
remote sensing: collecting information about a place from a distance, often with satellites, airplanes, or drones.

Objectives:

Define geography
Describe key elements of geography
Identify geographers’ tools

You’ve heard the term geography before and you probably know it has something to do with places and maps. But what IS it really? Is it a form of history? Is it a type of science? Is it compasses and charts and globes? In this experience, you’ll begin to learn just how big a topic geography really is!

Objectives:

Define geography
Describe key elements of geography
Identify geographers’ tools

Examine the image below, then answer the question.

In your own words, write a definition of “geography.”

Post your answer

Invite students to share some of their definitions. It is likely that students will name various aspects of geography. Point out that most of their definitions are part of what the study of geography is all about.

When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next part.

Now read through the rest of the cartoon.

Which system do you think most impacts your life?

A) human systems
B) physical systems
C) biological systems
D) moral systems

There may be terminology that is challenging for students in this cartoon. Clarify terms as needed. For example, help them to understand that spatial is a word that means “related to space.” Guide students to focus on the big idea of the cartoon, which is that geography is a much broader area of study than facts about world locations.

See the teacher pack for additional resources on introducing geography.

The following Explore section presents the six elements of geography. Each element is presented in a separate scene. You can add hands-on examples for the elements: have students handle geography tools, such as a compass and maps; share postcards and travel brochures; compare today’s weather forecasts for different locations; distribute recipes from different regions; encourage students to share personal anecdotes; have bilingual students speak in a second language; and more.

When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

What Is Geography?