The Five Themes of Geography Races

What is this activity about?

These easy-to-prepare races are great tools for reinforcing kinesthetically the Five Themes of Geography. The five themes are “Location,” “Place,” “Human Environment Interaction,” “Region,” and “Movement.” The Association of American Geographers adopted the Five Themes in 1984, and the themes have been used for decades to help students identify and analyze connections between their lives and geography. In this activity, students listen to examples of how geography relates to their routines and communities then run as teams through a course consisting of five chairs, each representing a theme. Teams can be timed and this activity turned into a game.

How do I prepare the racing course?

Create a sign for each theme of geography. Typically, I cut poster board in half and use a wide-tipped sharpie to make the writing large and clear. Tape one sign to the back of each chair and set these apart from each other in a large open area. Ten to fifteen paces between each in a pentagon or a square with one chair in the middle work well. This will be the racing course. You will also need a stopwatch or similar timing device. I use the timer on my phone.

How do I use the “Five Themes of Geography Races Sheet?”

Download the document by clicking on one of the links below this paragraph. Blank lines on the race sheet indicate where information specific to students’ communities and your school need to be inserted. These insertions must be made prior to the lesson. Each race consists of nine statements, each an example of a theme. The first list is a practice set each team will use to get a feel for the activity and practice working together. Use races numbered one through three no more than once for each class. These are the “official” timed races.

Click here to download the Word Format RacesSheet.

Click here to download the PDF Format RacesSheet

How do I conduct the races?

Divide your class into three teams. Select a team to go first. This team begins the practice race by standing by the chair labeled “Location.” Each student must be touching the chair with a hand or foot. Start the timer. Read the first statement on the practice run list. Repeat the statement once as students are running. When all students are touching the chair for “Place,” read the next statement immediately. If students proceed to the incorrect theme, simply repeat the same statement and do not read the next one on the list until all students are at the correct chair. Continue the process until all students are touching the final statement’s chair (Human Environment Interaction). Report the time, but do not record it. Remind students this is a practice run. After all teams have completed the practice set, use the same method and the numbered lists to conduct one race per team. Report and record these times. Using a race more than once (except for the non-timed practice set) gives the watching teams an advantage.