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What is geography? |
Land Features
Do you like learning about new places, exploring your surroundings and meeting new people? If you do, then geography is right up your alley! Geography is the study of the Earth’s surface. However, geography involves much more than learning about the mountains, valleys and bodies of water that cover our planet…
Geography does focus on the land and its features, but it also involves the people and creatures that inhabit it! How people and their surroundings affect one another is a big part of geography. For example, when we change the land by building new houses and businesses, we change the lives of the creatures who share that land with us.
Studying geography can also help you learn about the different regions—or areas—that cover planet Earth and what makes each one unique. Geography even teaches us how people, the things they need and their ideas get from place to place. For example, how your food gets from the farm to the grocery store is a lesson in geography!
It’s fun to learn about the special people, plants, animals and land that make the Earth’s surface an interesting place!
Now it’s your turn to learn about the geography of your backyard
(or the land around your home)! First of all, can you name the town or
city, state, country and continent in which you live? Next, name the
people, animals and insects that share the land with you! You may want
to sketch pictures of the creatures you’ve seen. Are there animals with
feathers and animals with fur? Do you ever see baby animals or insects?
How
do you and your family members share the space with other creatures?
For example, do the squirrels bury nuts in your yard? Do you have pets
who share your home with you? How do you and your neighbors carve out
your own spaces on the street? Are there fences between your yards? Are
there areas you all share?
Finally, take a look
at the land around you. Is it flat, or are there mountains, hills and
valleys nearby? Which types of plants do you see in your yard? Are there
tall trees, colorful flowers and green blades of grass? Is there a body
of water (like a lake, creek or stream) nearby? Draw a picture of your
yard, or the land surrounding your home.
Great job, geographer! You are now an expert on the land you inhabit and the life that it holds!
