MISSOURI
26 slides for an ESL class. Short lines, one idea each, miles and km.
At a glance
Statehood
24th · August 10, 1821
Capital
Jefferson City
People
6,196,156 (est.)
Land
68,742 mi² (178,040 km²)
Motto
Salus populi suprema lex esto · “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”
High point
Taum Sauk Mountain · 1,772 ft (540 m)
Time zone
Central Time
State bird
Bluebird
Demonym
Missourians
Glance = vistazo. Motto = lema.
Where is Missouri?
Missouri is in the US Midwest. The borders below are the ones to memorize.
Border = frontera. River = río.
Where the name comes from
1 · The name
From a Siouan people; French spelling.
2 · How it stuck
English spelling froze later. Say the demonym out loud twice.
3 · Demonym
People here are Missourians. The motto means “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”.
Name = nombre. People = gente.
Statehood day
24th
Missouri became the 24th state on August 10, 1821.
1821
Statehood year. A smaller population, a different economy.
1900s
Rail, farms, and factories pulled people in.
Today
6,196,156 (est.)
Statehood = estado. To join = unirse.
Jefferson City, the capital
Jefferson City is the capital. Kansas City is the big-city name on most maps.
1 · The capital
Jefferson City is the seat of government.
2 · Why here
Lawmakers picked a city they could reach.
3 · A civic fact
The capitol is the postcard of state power.
Capital = capital. City = ciudad.
Kansas City, a big city
Kansas City pulls jobs and airports.
1 · Size
Say Kansas City and St. Louis in one breath.
2 · Work
Work follows the river, the rail, or the interstate.
3 · Character
Students should say this name out loud twice.
City = ciudad. Port = puerto.
St. Louis
St. Louis is the other city the weather report names.
1 · Role
St. Louis is not the capital, but it matters.
2 · A hook
A campus, a mill, or a river made it.
3 · Remember
Ask the class which city they would visit first.
Second = segundo. Nickname = apodo.
A very small place
small tiny incorporated places
Incorporation can outlive the boom. A sign, a hall, a few houses.
Count them
Census numbers bounce. Seasonal work changes a town.
Why stay
A post office, a church, a family name.
The lesson
Not every American lives in a skyline.
Town = pueblo. Tiny = minúsculo.
Land
High point
Taum Sauk Mountain · 1,772 ft (540 m)
The working land
Farms, forests, mines, or a coast, depending on the county.
Water
A river, a lake, or an ocean wrote the old trade.
Mountain = montaña. River = río.
Weather
Winter
Arctic air can drop −20 °F (−29 °C). Wind on the lakes is a second climate.
Summer
Humid, green, thunderstorms. Tornado watches in spring.
Storm = tormenta. Snow = nieve.
Three days Missouri remembers
August 10, 1821
Statehood day.
1900s
Machines, roads, and new jobs remade daily life.
today
Two big cities and a river.
History = historia. Flood = inundación.
Person 1 · Harry Truman
1 · The name
Harry Truman
2 · The deed
This is the person the class should be able to spell.
3 · Place
Tie the name back to Missouri.
Person = persona. Story = historia.
The flag
Look
Find the unique emblem, not only the blue field.
Say it
The nickname is The Show-Me State.
Color
Ask one student to describe the flag without pointing.
Flag = bandera. Star = estrella.
Four-moment timeline
Name
From a Siouan people; French spelling.
1821
Statehood.
1900s
Industry and cities.
now
Two big cities and a river
Timeline = línea de tiempo.
Industry
Jobs
Government, services, and the old specialty trade.
Make
Factories, mills, or code, depending on the metro.
Move
A port, a rail yard, or an interstate hub.
Factory = fábrica. Job = trabajo.
Farm
Field
The postcard crop is in the foods list.
Animal
Cattle, hogs, or dairy show up in most interiors.
Market
A co-op, a grain elevator, or a dock.
Farm = granja. Crop = cultivo.
Food: three dishes
Dish 1
toasted ravioli
Dish 2
KC barbecue
Dish 3
St. Louis gooey butter cake
Food = comida. Dish = plato.
Game day
Team
Chiefs / Cardinals
Friday
High school lights still matter.
Rival
Ask who the rival is. There is always one.
Game = partido. Team = equipo.
Three people
HARRY TRUMAN
The episode’s first person for Missouri.
JEFFERSON CITY
Capital: Jefferson City.
THE SHOW-ME STATE
The Show-Me State
Famous = famoso. Born = nacido.
Real rules, and one fake one
1 · Real · Seat belts
Wear them.
2 · Real · School zones
Lights flash. Speed drops.
3 · Real · Local alcohol rules
Counties can be dry or damp.
4 · Myth · A viral weird law
If it sounds like a joke, check the code.
Law = ley. Myth = mito.
Slang you will hear
Name the capital
Jefferson City
Name the team
Chiefs / Cardinals
Name the food
toasted ravioli
Slang = jerga. To say = decir.
A Missouri detail
24th
1 · Order
24th state, August 10, 1821.
2 · People
6,196,156
3 · Hook
Two big cities and a river
Town = pueblo.
Taum Sauk Mountain
peak
1 · Height
Taum Sauk Mountain · 1,772 ft (540 m)
2 · Metric
Feet and meters both appear. Use both.
3 · Climb?
Ask the class: walk, drive, or skip?
Story = historia.
Five questions
1. What is the capital of Missouri?
2. What is the nickname?
3. Which number state?
4. Motto in English?
5. Capital of Missouri?
Question = pregunta. Answer = respuesta.
Thanks · Next stop: Montana
Missouri, episode 25: Two big cities and a river.
Answer key
1) a 2) a 3) a 4) a 5) c
Thanks = gracias. Next = siguiente.