NEVADA
26 slides for an ESL class. Short lines, one idea each, miles and km.
At a glance
Statehood
36th · October 31, 1864
Capital
Carson City
People
3,194,176 (est.)
Land
109,781 mi² (284,332 km²)
Motto
All for our country · “All for our country”
High point
Boundary Peak · 13,147 ft (4,007 m)
Time zone
Pacific (northeast Mountain) Time
State bird
Mountain bluebird
Demonym
Nevadans
Glance = vistazo. Motto = lema.
Where is Nevada?
Nevada is in the US West. The borders below are the ones to memorize.
Border = frontera. River = río.
Where the name comes from
1 · The name
Spanish nevada, snow-covered.
2 · How it stuck
English spelling froze later. Say the demonym out loud twice.
3 · Demonym
People here are Nevadans. The motto means “All for our country”.
Name = nombre. People = gente.
Statehood day
36th
Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864.
1864
Statehood year. A smaller population, a different economy.
1900s
Rail, farms, and factories pulled people in.
Today
3,194,176 (est.)
Statehood = estado. To join = unirse.
Carson City, the capital
Carson City is the capital. Las Vegas is the big-city name on most maps.
1 · The capital
Carson 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.
Las Vegas, a big city
Las Vegas pulls jobs and airports.
1 · Size
Say Las Vegas and Henderson 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.
Henderson
Henderson is the other city the weather report names.
1 · Role
Henderson 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
Boundary Peak · 13,147 ft (4,007 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
Dry side / wet side
Mountains wring the clouds. One town is desert, the next is moss.
Fire and snow
August smoke, January powder. Both close roads.
Storm = tormenta. Snow = nieve.
Three days Nevada remembers
October 31, 1864
Statehood day.
1900s
Machines, roads, and new jobs remade daily life.
today
Silver desert and lights.
History = historia. Flood = inundación.
Person 1 · Sarah Winnemucca
1 · The name
Sarah Winnemucca
2 · The deed
This is the person the class should be able to spell.
3 · Place
Tie the name back to Nevada.
Person = persona. Story = historia.
The flag
Look
Find the unique emblem, not only the blue field.
Say it
The nickname is The Silver State.
Color
Ask one student to describe the flag without pointing.
Flag = bandera. Star = estrella.
Four-moment timeline
Name
Spanish nevada, snow-covered.
1864
Statehood.
1900s
Industry and cities.
now
Silver desert and lights
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
buffet
Dish 2
shrimp cocktail
Dish 3
Basque food
Food = comida. Dish = plato.
Game day
Team
Golden Knights / UNLV
Friday
High school lights still matter.
Rival
Ask who the rival is. There is always one.
Game = partido. Team = equipo.
Three people
SARAH WINNEMUCCA
The episode’s first person for Nevada.
CARSON CITY
Capital: Carson City.
THE SILVER STATE
The Silver 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
Carson City
Name the team
Golden Knights / UNLV
Name the food
buffet
Slang = jerga. To say = decir.
A Nevada detail
36th
1 · Order
36th state, October 31, 1864.
2 · People
3,194,176
3 · Hook
Silver desert and lights
Town = pueblo.
Boundary Peak
peak
1 · Height
Boundary Peak · 13,147 ft (4,007 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 Nevada?
2. What is the nickname?
3. Which number state?
4. Motto in English?
5. Say the name like locals:
Question = pregunta. Answer = respuesta.
Thanks · Next stop: New Hampshire
Nevada, episode 28: Silver desert and lights.
Answer key
1) a 2) a 3) a 4) a 5) b
Thanks = gracias. Next = siguiente.