NEW JERSEY
26 slides for an ESL class. Short lines, one idea each, miles and km.
At a glance
Statehood
3rd · December 18, 1787
Capital
Trenton
People
9,500,851 (est.)
Land
7,354 mi² (19,047 km²)
Motto
Liberty and prosperity · “Liberty and prosperity”
High point
High Point · 1,803 ft (550 m)
Time zone
Eastern Time
State bird
Eastern goldfinch
Demonym
New Jerseyans
Glance = vistazo. Motto = lema.
Where is New Jersey?
New Jersey is in the US Northeast. The borders below are the ones to memorize.
Border = frontera. River = río.
Where the name comes from
1 · The name
Channel island Jersey.
2 · How it stuck
English spelling froze later. Say the demonym out loud twice.
3 · Demonym
People here are New Jerseyans. The motto means “Liberty and prosperity”.
Name = nombre. People = gente.
Statehood day
3rd
New Jersey became the 3rd state on December 18, 1787.
1787
Statehood year. A smaller population, a different economy.
1900s
Rail, farms, and factories pulled people in.
Today
9,500,851 (est.)
Statehood = estado. To join = unirse.
Trenton, the capital
Trenton is the capital. Newark is the big-city name on most maps.
1 · The capital
Trenton 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.
Newark, a big city
Newark pulls jobs and airports.
1 · Size
Say Newark and Jersey City 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.
Jersey City
Jersey City is the other city the weather report names.
1 · Role
Jersey City 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
High Point · 1,803 ft (550 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
Nor’easters wrap the coast. Inland hills ice the roads.
Fall
Maple color is a two-week industry on two-lane roads.
Storm = tormenta. Snow = nieve.
Three days New Jersey remembers
December 18, 1787
Statehood day.
1900s
Machines, roads, and new jobs remade daily life.
today
Turnpike tomatoes and a shore.
History = historia. Flood = inundación.
Person 1 · Harriet Tubman (Cape May years)
1 · The name
Harriet Tubman (Cape May years)
2 · The deed
This is the person the class should be able to spell.
3 · Place
Tie the name back to New Jersey.
Person = persona. Story = historia.
The flag
Look
Find the unique emblem, not only the blue field.
Say it
The nickname is The Garden State.
Color
Ask one student to describe the flag without pointing.
Flag = bandera. Star = estrella.
Four-moment timeline
Name
Channel island Jersey.
1787
Statehood.
1900s
Industry and cities.
now
Turnpike tomatoes and a shore
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
pork roll
Dish 2
salt water taffy
Dish 3
Italian hot dog
Food = comida. Dish = plato.
Game day
Team
Devils / Giants / Jets
Friday
High school lights still matter.
Rival
Ask who the rival is. There is always one.
Game = partido. Team = equipo.
Three people
HARRIET TUBMAN (CAPE MAY YEARS)
The episode’s first person for New Jersey.
TRENTON
Capital: Trenton.
THE GARDEN STATE
The Garden 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
Trenton
Name the team
Devils / Giants / Jets
Name the food
pork roll
Slang = jerga. To say = decir.
A New Jersey detail
3rd
1 · Order
3rd state, December 18, 1787.
2 · People
9,500,851
3 · Hook
Turnpike tomatoes and a shore
Town = pueblo.
High Point
peak
1 · Height
High Point · 1,803 ft (550 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 New Jersey?
2. What is the nickname?
3. Which number state?
4. Motto in English?
5. New Jersey’s official nickname?
Question = pregunta. Answer = respuesta.
Thanks · Next stop: New Mexico
New Jersey, episode 30: Turnpike tomatoes and a shore.
Answer key
1) a 2) a 3) a 4) a 5) b
Thanks = gracias. Next = siguiente.