THINKING LIKE A

GEOGRAPHER
Geographers

■ Geographers are concerned about the surface of the Earth and where and how
natural and human environments interact
■ Geographers think about these environments in specific ways.
■ The geographic thinking concepts help geographers focus their examination on
finding meaning
Interrelationships

■ Geographers try to identify the relationships that exist within and between natural
and human environments. If you can identify interrelationships, it is easier to see
how things affect each other, and to answer the question “Why care?”
Spatial Significance

■ Spatial significance is directly related to the key questions, ”What is where?” and
“Why there?” The location of something can be important (or unimportant) for many
reasons. The significance of a place can also be different for people, animals, and
plants. This way of thinking can help you explore connections between natural and
human environments.
Patterns and Trends

■ Geographers are always on the lookout for patterns and trends. Being able to
identify patterns and trends can help you understand why something is where it is,
and why this matters.
Geographic Perspective

■ A perspective is a way of looking at the world. Geography is a unique subject that

has connections with many other fields, such as economics, geophysics, urban
planning, and history. This allows geographers to consider multiple perspectives
while studying an issue in geography. Developing the skill to understand a variety of
perspectives can help you solve problems and make judgements. Looking at things
from a geographic perspective is central to all geographic analysis.
Geographic Thinking Concepts

■ In pairs, write one or two statements for each of the geographic thinking concepts as
it applies to Canada.
■ Ex. Spatial Significance: think about the location of where Canada is in the world
and what that means for us

Spatial Significance

Geographic Perspective
Four Corners – Interrelationships, Spatial
Significance, Geographic Perspective, and
Patterns and Trends
■ Why did Aboriginal peoples choose to live where they did?
Four Corners – Interrelationships, Spatial
Significance, Geographic Perspective, and
Patterns and Trends
■ In light of their traditional connection to the land, why might Aboriginal peoples view
resource development differently from other Canadians?
Four Corners – Interrelationships, Spatial
Significance, Geographic Perspective, and
Patterns and Trends
■ How did access to natural resources, such as plants and animals, affect the
lifestyles of Aboriginal peoples?
Four Corners – Interrelationships, Spatial
Significance, Geographic Perspective, and
Patterns and Trends
■ Do Aboriginal peoples still live as their ancestors did?