What is Geography?

What Words Come to Mind?

Geography
 What is Geography? SIMPLE ANSWER
• Geography is the science that tries to
understand how the Earth works and how
humans change it.
– This science examines the Earth’s surface and the
processes that shape it.
– Geography especially looks at the relationship
between people and the Earth’s physical
environment.
 Defining Geography
Analysis, Interpretation, Relationships, Processes, Observation

Population, Climate, Geology,

Vegetation , the Environment

Geography: The study of how things change over space and

time on the Earth surface .

Countries, Continents, Townships,

Provinces , Cities, Towns

Past, Present , Future

To understand our relationship with the
Earth, geographers ask 3 questions and
search for answers to problems. By
exploring these problems, we can make
better, wiser decisions.
 Question 1: What’s Where?
Ask questions, explore spatially by collecting data,
creating or interpreting maps Understanding what is at a
particular location

Absolute location: location using longitude/latitude

Relative Location: location relative to another
geographic feature
 Question 2: Why There?
Research answers and develop explanations to spatial
observations. There are simple and complex answers but
they can always be explained by the natural environment
or human actions.
 Question 3: Why Care?

Draw conclusions, critical judgments and predictions for

the future. Use your findings to make informed decisions
that protect people and our planet
 Geography is.........

A LITTLE bit of reading ENGLISH

A LITTLE number crunching MATHEMATICS
Making new discoveries SCIENCE
Studying the past HISTORY

GEOGRAPHY IS EVERYTHING AROUND YOU

 Lets use Geography to understand some
places/spaces around the world!
Answering these questions help geographers develop a “sense of place”
which is what makes a place special or unique.

What are you looking at?

What is where?
Where is this location?

Why is it there?
Why there?
What role does the natural environment play here?
What impact does human activity have here?
Why care?
Why should we care about this place?
 Geography of…….
Canada’s Wonderland. Toronto’s
summer hotspot
What’s where?

Why is it there?

Why care?
 Geography of…….
Accumoli, Italy. Epicentre of August
2016 Earthquake.
What’s where?

Why is it there?

Why care?
 The Geography of ????

Considering the last slides: Let’s look at THIS place…

 The Geography of Toronto
Why does Toronto exist?
What environmental factors made settlement
here advantageous?
What impact does the landscape have on the
city?
What impact do the major highways (401, DVP,
etc.) have on the city?
How has Toronto’s citizens changed throughout
history?