The Five Themes were developed by the National Council for Geographic Education to provide an organizing framework for the presentation of geographic materials.
Geographic study begins with the location of places on the earth.
Places have absolute locations that pinpoint them on the earth, and relative locations that place each location in respect to other locations. For example, North Dakota has an absolute location that can be pointed to on any basic map. It also has a relative location in that it has a location within the economic system based on its characteristics and location within the world market. North Dakota has its absolute location's characteristics for soil and climate, yet the success of wheat growing is also related to its location to the edge of more expensive arm land to the east. Place have physical and human characteristics that make them what they are.