Although the four ways of looking at place drove the curriculum and how we approached the study of the Columbia River (see Understanding Place), we also wanted to have some powerful essential questions in front of us and our students. It let us think more specifically about the disciplines we wanted to be certain to cover in our day-to-day lessons and field experiences, and it also helped keep us centered on the notion of human and biological communities.

1. How have people described and interpreted this place?
2. How have people used and changed the natural resources of this place?
3. How have the daily lives of people changed in this place?
4. How have people and goods moved through this place?
5. How have people organized and governed themselves in this place?
6. How have the geology and climate of this place changed over time?
7. How have biological communities in this place changed over time?
8. How have people made a living in this place?
9. Why have people come to this place?
10. How have people communicated with each other in this place?