The Five Themes of Geography Geography is an integrating science that helps students think, ask and solve questions, observe and appreciate their world. The Five Themes were developed by the National Council for Geographic Education to provide an organizing framework for the presentation of geographic materials. Educators used the five themes until the National Geography Standards were published in 1994. General location is also referred to as Relative location. Relative locations are described by landmarks, time, direction or distance from one place to another and may associate a particular place with another.
Relative locations describe a feature's position such as near, far, or North.
Specific location is also referred to as Absolute location. Place Places have both human and physical characteristics. Physical characteristics include mountains, rivers, beaches, wildlife, soil. All places have advantages and disadvantages for human settlement, however, you may prefer a different environment from me. Geographers examine where people live, why they settled there, and how they use the natural resources available in that place.