Applications of the five themes to theK-12 classroom can be seen by going to the National Geographic Educator'sstie at FiveThemes of Geography. Every point on Earth has a specific location that is determined by animaginary grid of lines denoting latitude and longitude. Parallels of latitudemeasure distances north and south of the line called the Equator. Meridiansof longitude measure distances east and west of the line called the PrimeMeridian.
Geographers use latitude and longitude to pinpoint a place's absolute,or exact, location.
To know the absolute location of a place is only partof the story. It is also important to know how that place is related toother places-in other words, to know that place's relative location. Relativelocation deals with the interaction that occurs between and among places. Geographers describe placesby their physical and human characteristics. Physical characteristics includesuch elements as animal life.