There are five themes of geography that are often used as teaching tools to lay a ground work for this particular discipline. They are location, place, human environmental interactions, movement, and regions.
The word geography refers to the ‘describing the Earth’ and most of us use it in reference to maps and how the different continents are laid out as well as the oceans that divide them. The concept of geography is very complex. Most of us take for granted the ability to look up a particular region on a map or the internet and everything is there for us. We can get a basic location or even specific information. Yet the process of collecting this information took years of research, documentation, and verification.
I don’t know about you but the concept of having to take a geography quiz is enough to make my heart beat faster and my palms get sweaty. Sure, I can tell you the names of the different continents and name some major cities and locations on them. However, I will be the first to admit that other than those key areas and a couple of mountain regions I am clueless when it comes to the topic of geography.
Geography seems to be one of the main areas where many people lack sufficient knowledge. The key to changing this for future generations is getting kids interested in geography at a very young age. While they can’t be expected to learn specifics they can embrace the concept that there is a whole big world out there for them to find out about. This can be a solid foundation for them to explore later in life.
The arena of world geography covers many different aspects of the cultures and environments that are found throughout the world. It can be fascinating to learn about the climate, land, agriculture, and many other areas of different countries. Too often we get blindsided by what we see in our own culture.