INTRODUCTION

James F. Marran, in an article titled, “The Use of Geography:  From Place Location to Informed Decision Making” stated that, as you start your research, the following geographic questions are imperative.

1. Why is it where it is?
2. How did it get there?
3. What does it look like?
4. What is its relation to other places?
5. Why is it important?
6. How is it connected to other places in its region, its country, its continent, and the world?

These fall right in line with the Five Themes of Geography (or the Five Themes fall in with the above questions.)  Either way, both the Five Themes and the six geographic questions are relative to and will be used for this project.  As you can see by the buttons to the left, the Five Themes of Geography organize this site.

The Five Themes were written in 1984 by the Joint Committee on Geographic Education of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) and the Association of American Geographers (AAG)

1. Location:  Where will we find it in this world?  There is both absolute (coordinates of latitude and longitude), which will never change, and relative (where is it in relation to something else) that can change depending on environmental or political factors.
2. Place:  Place describes the human and physical characteristics of a location.  Physical characteristics are  generated by the environment (Mt. Everest, Mount Kailas).  We find human characteristics expressed by the construction by or the influence of humans. (Katmandu, Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan).
3. Movement:  This involves the movement of people, products and ideas. (migration, trade).
4. Region:  Areas that are unified by similar characteristics (mountains, rivers, countries) are classified as regions.  Regions can be physical (Himalayan Mountains) or political (South Asia).
5. Human-Environment Interaction:  This theme (HEI) reflects how people adapt to their environment.  What are the games that people play?  What type of shelter do they use?  What foods do they eat and what clothes do they wear?  Adaptation can be negative or positive.
   Rosenberg, Matt.  About.com. “The Five Themes of Geography”.  2008. 7/20/08. http://geography.about.com/od/teachgeography/a/5themes.htm

While it is very important to consider the geography questions and to organize the study of geography through the five themes, it is also necessary to follow the state’s curriculum frameworks or standards.  The State of New Hampshire issued revised Curriculum Frameworks in 2006.  The Standard relative to each theme/activity will be referenced on each theme’s web page.

China	Afghanistan	Nepal	Bhutan	India