When researching and learning about a place for the first time, it is good to think about what you already know and what you would like to learn about that place to understand it better.​

Asking the following questions will help you identify you understanding of the Physical Characteristics and Location of the place: Where is it located? What is the grid location? What is the coordinate location? What region is a part of? What is the physical character of the place? Are there trees, deserts, or grasslands? What kinds of bodies of water can be found nearby?​

Along with the physical character of a place it is also important to understand the human relationships and impacts to a place. Analyzing the Population and Culture Characteristics will give you insight into what people have done in the past, what they are doing today and what they could do in the future. How many people live there? How many people visit there each year?​

Looking at the Economic Character and Land Use of an area is a way to tie both the physical and cultural signs together. The housing, development, transportation changes and human reclamation activities have influenced the life of this piece of property in different ways at different times in its history. How do they travel there? Do they have developed roads and highways? Do they have motels? Hotels?​

This leads us to think about what has happened in the past and how it is impacting what is happening in places around Florida today and tomorrow. Understanding the historical background of a place helps us to appreciate the positive impacts made by people as well as take steps to correct or protect our natural heritage. Sometimes the character of a place is so heavily influenced by people we must look at what has happened in the past to make better decisions for our future.​

That leads to the Challenges and Successes associated with a place. Every place on the surface of the earth has challenges and successes associated with it. Whether it is the impacts of humans on the environment or the crime rates in a city, the unique character of a place surfaces as positive and negative qualities. Understanding the relationship that exists between people and their environment as well as how to maximize the positive impacts can be key to improving the world around us.