Research > Homework Center > What makes a community?

What makes a community?

This website is a collection of education resources that provides on-line Portland history materials for students and teachers.

General city information
Neighborhood information
Arts & entertainment
Business
Community activities
Disaster planning
Emergency, health, safety & rescue
Homelessness
Jobs

Kids volunteer
The library
Multnomah County points of interest
Parks & recreation
Post Office
Schools
Transportation
Utilities
Lesson plan ideas & bibliographies

General city information

Homework Center: Regional information: http://www.multcolib.org/homework/regionhc.html

Multnomah County Library Homework Center presents Web sites for Oregon counties and cities.
Homework Center: Portland: http://www.multcolib.org/homework/regionhc.html#pdx

Multnomah County Library Homework Center presents Portland history and bridge information.
CascadeLink's City Profiles: Portland, Oregon: http://www.cascadelink.org/gov/cities/portland.html

Quickly find contact information for local police, fire, library, school district and Chamber of Commerce.
City of Portland Oregon: http://www.portlandonline.com/

Find out who the mayor is, who represents which neighborhoods, and what the city is responsible for.
Portland Facts: http://www.portlandalliance.com/about_portland/portland-facts.html

An overview of the city and basic facts about Portland.
Portland Community Profile: http://info.econ.state.or.us:591/FMPro?-db=Community.fp4&-Format=forms.htm&-lay=webpage&-op=eq&sort%20name=Portland&-script=hit%20count&-Find

City statistics, climate, and more.
Portland Oregon: http://www.travelportland.com/

Portland Oregon Visitors Association provides visitor information and a calendar of events.
Welcome to Corbett Oregon: http://www.corbettoregon.com/

Visit Corbett, "located on the Historic Columbia River Highway between the Sandy River and Crown Point".
The City of Fairview: http://www.ci.fairview.or.us/

Events and attractions of Fairview, Oregon.
City of Gresham: http://www.ci.gresham.or.us/

"Between the big-city hustle to the west and the solitude of the countryside to the east, you will find Gresham - fourth largest city in Oregon."
The City of Troutdale: http://www.ci.troutdale.or.us/

"Troutdale is a community with a rich historic past."
Wood Village, OR: http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=15534

"Founded during World War II to house workers at the nearby Reynolds Aluminum plant."

Neighborhood information

City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement: http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/

Become involved in your neighborhood! See if your neighborhood has a community association.
In Your Neighborhood: http://www.epa.gov/region5/students/neighborhood.htm

What environmental impacts are taking place in your neighborhood? Find out here.
CascadeLink: Neighborhood Link: http://www.cascadelink.org/neigh/

Explore your neighborhood.
Your Neighborhood: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/neighborhood/

"Your neighborhood has many people who are there to help you. Click on each building at this site to learn more."

Arts & entertainment

CascadeLink: Fun: http://www.cascadelink.org/fun/

Find out what new movies are playing in Portland, what musicals and plays will be in town, what sports events are around the corner and more.
Rose Quarter: http://www.rosequarter.com/

Blazers, Winter Hawks, concerts and more.
Portland Art Museum: http://www.portlandartmuseum.org/

"The mission of the Portland Art Museum is to serve the public by providing access to art of enduring quality, by educating a diverse audience about art and by collecting and preserving a wide range of art for the enrichment of present and future generations."
Oregon Zoo: http://www.oregonzoo.org/

"Inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife."
Oregon Symphony: http://www.orsymphony.org/

"Since the Oregon Symphony was established more than 100 years ago, it has been recognized for its internationally acclaimed music directors, skilled performers, diverse programs and outstanding community services in education and regional touring."
PGE Park: http://www.pgepark.com/

Portland Beavers baseball, Timbers soccer, and Portland State University football.

Business

CascadeLink: Business: http://www.cascadelink.org/bus/

Explore the local business community.

Community activities

Organizing: http://www.hud.gov/organizing/index.cfm

Find some ways adults can help in their communities! From the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Anytown USA: http://www.hud.gov/anytown/anytown.html

"Visit Anytown, USA to see how HUD dollars support local initiatives." From the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Disaster planning

Emergency Preparedness: http://www.portlandonline.com/fire/index.cfm?c=26303&

What you can do to prepare for disasters.

Emergency

When to Call 9-1-1: http://www.portlandonline.com/911/index.cfm?&a=4884&c=26658

When should you call 9-1-1 and when should you call a non-emergency number? Find out here.
How Does 9-1-1 Work?: http://www.portlandonline.com/911/index.cfm?&a=19504&c=26658

Find out how Portland dispatchers handle over a million emergency calls a year.
BOEC History: http://www.portlandonline.com/911/index.cfm?&a=6829&c=26662

Learn about the history of 9-1-1 in the Portland area.

Fire

Portland Fire & Rescue: http://www.portlandonline.com/fire/?&c=25923

News, safety tips, and other information from Portland's fire department.

Hospitals

CascadeLink: Health Resources: http://www.cascadelink.org/health/

Find Portland hospitals and health agencies here.

Police

Portland Police Bureau: http://www.portlandonline.com/police/

Explore the Portland Police Bureau.

Sanitation

Portland Bureau of Environmental Services: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/

What happens when you flush your toilet, how rain causes pollution, why we need clean rivers, and more fun sewer facts.
City of Portland Office of Sustainable development: http://www.portlandonline.com/osd/

What can be recycled and how? What about hazardous waste? Find out here.

Homelessness

Homeless: http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm

Who and where are the homeless? What can you do do to help? Find out here. From the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Jobs

What Do You Like?: http://www.bls.gov/k12/

Learn about jobs in music, the arts, math, science, the outdoors, reading, or social studies. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Kids volunteer

Volunteer at Multnomah County: http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/about/vol.shtml

Volunteer opportunities at Multnomah County.
CascadeLink: Volunteerism: http://www.cascadelink.org/vol/

Discover volunteer opportunities throughout the region. Be sure to check out the database of community organizations which lists over 7,000 organizations and clubs from throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.
Volunteering: http://www.hud.gov/volunteering/index.cfm

"Healthy communities depend on volunteers - like you!" From the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Current Volunteer Positions: Multnomah County Library: http://www.multcolib.org/vol/positions.html

Find out how you can help out the library and get good work experience at the same time!
Hands On Portland: http://www.handsonportland.org/

Volunteer opportunities, both short and long term, in the Portland area for adults, teens, and families.
Metro Volunteer Opportunities: http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=24200

Find out about all the ways you can help Metro Regional Parks and Greenspaces, from being an environmental educator to planting trees to repairing storm-damaged trails.

The library

Check This Place Out!: http://www.multcolib.org/kids/

Take a tour of Multnomah County Library!
CascadeLink: Libraries: http://www.cascadelink.org/lib/

Connect with regional libraries.

Multnomah County points of interest

Sauvie Island: http://www.sauvieisland.org/

One of the rural corners of mostly-urban Multnomah County, with a wildlife area, hiking, beaches, and fresh produce.
Portland Classical Chinese Garden: http://www.portlandchinesegarden.org/

"...an authentic Suzhou-style garden...grew out of a friendship between Portland and Suzhou, a city renowned for its exquisite gardens."
Oregon Historical Society: http://www.ohs.org/

"The OHS artifacts collection comprises over 85,000 artifacts, including ancient objects from the earliest settlements, and objects that illustrate exploration in the Oregon Country, the growth of business and industry, the development of artwork and crafts, and maritime history, among many other topics."
Pittock Mansion History: http://www.pittockmansion.org/history/

Explore the history and images of the Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI): http://www.omsi.edu/

"Founded in 1944 and one of the nation's top ten science museums, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a world-class tourist attraction and educational resource..."
National Register of Historic Places - Oregon Listings: http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/OR/state.html

Look here to find out if your house or school is on the national register for historic places.
Oregon Department of Transportation: Highway - Geo-Environmental Section: Architecture: http://egov.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOENVIRONMENTAL/architecture.shtml

Read about the background behind some of Oregon's historic buildings and their architecture.
Portland & Regional Bridges: http://www.multcolib.org/homework/regionhc.html#pdxbridge

Discover the history and view photographs of many of the region's bridges at sites found on Multnomah County Library's Homework Center.
Portland on the Shasta Route: http://shastaroute.railfan.net/Portland.html

Enjoy a postcard collection of a long-ago time in Western railroading.
Portland's Historic Union Station: http://www.splintercat.org/UnionStation/UnionStation.html

History and photo tour of Portland's train station.
"All Aboard!" at Union Station: February 14, 1896: http://www.aracnet.com/~histgaz/hgv3n6.htm

A reprint of a story from over a century ago.
Union Station plan brings small town to the city: http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1997/08/25/focus4.html

Read this article by Anita Marks in the August 25, 1997 Business Journal.

Parks & recreation

CascadeLink: Parks, Recreation, and Sports: http://www.cascadelink.org/fun/par.html

Find the zoo, city parks and more.
Portland Parks & Recreation: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/

Find out where all the parks are in Portland, what activities you can sign up for at their community centers, and what trails you can hike on.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/forest/

"The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range."
Welcome to Multnomah Falls: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/millennium2/welcome.htm

"Plummeting 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States."
Washington Park: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=841

Softball and soccer fields, six lighted tennis courts, playground, covered picnic area, hiking trails, and three public gardens: the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, and Hoyt Arboretum.
Blue Lake Regional Park: http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=149

"A 64-acre natural lake fed by underground springs, Blue Lake provides opportunities for boating, fishing and swimming, and makes a beautiful backdrop for hundreds of family picnics, community events and special programs throughout the year."
Oxbow Regional Park: http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=150

"A 1,200-acre natural area park located within the wild and scenic Sandy River Gorge."

Post Office

Binding the Nation: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/2a_binding.html

How did the US Postal Service begin? How did it function when the US expanded? How did the Pony Express play a role? Find out here.
Decode the Barcode: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/activity/8c_decodebarcode.html

How do those bars tell the letter carrier exactly where this letter is going? Find out here.
Postal History: http://www.usps.com/postalhistory/welcome.htm

Discover the history of the U.S. Postal Service from colonial times to the present. Includes why and how the zip code was created, how rates are set, what the postmasters general do, and more.
Moving the Mail: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/2c_moving.html

Discover how mail gets to where it's going.
Postal Facts: http://www.usps.com/history/pfact98.htm

How many mail boxes are there in the US? How much mail is delivered each year? Find out here.
Postal Quizzes: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/activity/8b_quizzes.html

Test your knowledge by taking these online postal quizzes.

Schools

CascadeLink Education Resources: School Districts, Regions, and Educational Service Districts: http://www.cascadelink.org/ear/schools.html

Discover more about schools around Portland and Multnomah County.
Portland Public Schools: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/

Explore different school Web sites in the Portland Public School District's Web page.
Schools Uniting Neighborhoods: http://www.sunschools.org/

Explore the history and purpose behind the SUN schools in the Portland and Gresham areas.

Transportation

CascadeLink: Transportation: http://www.cascadelink.org/trans/

Information about transportation occurring throughout Portland.
Portland Oregon: Transportation: http://www.travelportland.com/visitors/transportation.html

All the ways you can get around Portland and what to see in the city.
Office of Transportation: Getting Around Portland: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=34749

Bicycling maps, walking paths, buses, MAX, and parking suggestions.
Portland Streetcar: http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/

Where does the streetcar run? What do the streetcars look like? How often do they run? What is the cost to ride them? These and many more questions are answered here.
TriMet: Fareless Square: http://www.trimet.org/fares/fareless.htm

Describes the fareless transit area and provides a map.
TriMet: A History of Public Transit in Portland: http://www.trimet.org/about/history/transitinportland.htm

A brief outline of transit history in Portland from 1872 to the present.
TriMet: How to Ride: http://www.trimet.org/howtoride/index.htm

Bus, MAX, and Streetcar.
TriMet: Portland's Cable Cars: http://www.trimet.org/about/history/cablehist.htm

Explores Portland's historic cable cars and includes photographs.
Port of Portland: http://www.portofportland.com/

"The mission of the Port of Portland is to enhance the region's economy and quality of life by providing efficient cargo and air passenger access to national and global markets."

Utilities

Portland Water Bureau: http://www.portlandonline.com/water/

Where does Portland gets its water from?
NW Natural: http://www.gasco.com/

Local natural gas company.
Portland General Electric: http://www.portlandgeneral.com/

Explore energy conservation.
Qwest: http://www.qwest.com/index.html

Local telephone service company for Portland.

Lesson plan ideas & bibliographies

Bibliographies

Images of Community in Books for Children and Young Adults: http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailListBooks.asp?idBookLists=151

Kathleen T. Horning and Ginny Moore Kruse, of the Cooperative Children's Book Center, present this online bibliography about the community of family and friends, finding community, creating and re-creating community, and community values.

Lesson plans

Also, contact the Oregon Historical Society Education for lesson plans.

Cities of Today, Cities of Tomorrow: http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/habitat/index.asp

This study unit from the United Nations help teach what a city and urban expansion is. There are six lessons total.
City Life and Country Life: http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSKWLCountryCity34.htm

Students will answer the questions: What I know about living in the city and living in the country? Students will compare/contrast life in the city and life in the country.
Communities: http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Geography/GGR0050.html

Discover a lesson about what a community is and use it with your classroom.
Community Brochures: http://www.lessonplanspage.com//SSCommunityBrochures23.htm

Students will be able to define what a community is, will discuss different aspects of their community (family, neighborhood, school), and will create a brochure for their chosen community.
Community Government: http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/US_Government/GOV0055.html

"In this creative process of introducing community government and its function in the local community, students become active participants in the local government and handle a problem that has the entire community alarmed."
Community Helpers: http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Civics/CIV0005.html

"Many children see Community Helpers only as those people who wear uniforms or have jobs that we see or hear about on television . The children often do not realize there are many other workers who contribute to a successful community."
Creating A Community: http://www.lessonplanspage.com//SSCreatingCommuntiyMap3.htm

"The students will draw a map of a city with their peers."
History of the Local Community: http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/State_History/STH0001.html

"The purpose of this activity package is to provide students with activities which will familiarize them with the local area they live in and develop an awareness of how their local community has been influenced by history."
How Communities Are Different: http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSCommunityDifferencesVenn3.htm

"The students will create a Venn diagram to show how their community is different from other communities they know about."
Neighborhood and Community Unit: http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/socjust/NCUNIT.HTM

This 2-3 grade lesson that focuses on North Logan, Utah can be revised for any town.
Neighborhood Services: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/education/
ideask4/k4neighbor.html

Review and use this lesson plan from National Geographic.
We Live in an International Community: http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ssGeography3.htm

"Students will be aware that we live in an international community once they have finished this activity. Students will be able to identify some of the countries they found clothing items from. Students will discover that World Geography is not just a study of places on a map, but that there are people who interact indirectly with them."
Where Do You Live?: http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Geography/GGR0038.html

"After completing this activity the student should be able to increase his/her awareness of the make-up of the immediate community."
Who Makes the Community?: http://www.ci.sumner.wa.us/government/comdev/whomakes.htm

Find out how second grade students at Maple Lawn Elementary School learned about community. Be sure to click on the script link at the bottom of the page for a full list of jobs and questions discussed.