1. Discuss the meaning of the terms location and place.
Write the words location and place on the board. Ask: Have you ever traveled to a different location? If anyone has, ask him or her to describe it to the rest of the class. For each, write some of the describing words on the board. Then have a whole-class discussion to explore the following questions:

  • Did the student describe it in terms of location (where it is, such as the city, state, or country)?
  • Did the student describe it in terms of place (what it is like, such as hot, cold, urban, or country)?

 

2. Compare and contrast the descriptions.
Ask students: How are the experiences alike? How are they different?

3. Use a globe to illustrate the concept.
Using a globe, pinpoint your location to show students that location is where the place is on the Earth’s surface. Then show them photographs of your neighborhood, town, city, or state to illustrate that place describes what it is like there.

4. Have students determine location or place.
Have students return to the descriptions in Step 1 and decide if the original description was of the location or the place. Have them say “L” if it was a description of the location and “P” if it was a description of the place.

Extending the Learning

Have students imagine that an exchange student is coming to their house. Ask students to explain the locations of their homes and to describe what those places are like.

Subjects & Disciplines

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • explain the difference between the terms location and place

Teaching Approach

  • Learning-for-use

Teaching Methods

  • Discussions

Skills Summary

This activity targets the following skills:

Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices

National Geography Standards

  • Standard 4:  The physical and human characteristics of places

What You’ll Need

Materials You Provide

  • Globe
  • Photographs of your neighborhood, town, or state

Required Technology

  • Internet Access: Optional
  • Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector

Physical Space

  • Classroom

Grouping

  • Large-group instruction

Background Information

A geographic perspective is a way of looking at the world. Location helps you answer where. Place helps you answer what or who.

Prior Knowledge

  • None

Recommended Prior Activities

Vocabulary

geographic perspective
Noun

a way to understand a topic or area using spatial features and relationships.
location
Noun

position of a particular point on the surface of the Earth.
place
Noun

area having unique physical and human characteristics.

Maps

  • Credits

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    Editor

    Christina Riska Simmons

    Expert Reviewer

    Michal LeVasseur, Ph.D., National Geographic Alliance Network Liaison

    Sources

    adapted from National Geographic Xpeditions lesson “Welcome to Your New School!: Using a Geographic Perspective”

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