NORTH DAKOTA
26 slides for an ESL class. Short lines, one idea each, miles and km.
At a glance
Statehood
39th · November 2, 1889
Capital
Bismarck
People
783,926 (est.)
Land
69,001 mi² (178,711 km²)
Motto
Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable · “Liberty and union”
High point
White Butte · 3,506 ft (1,069 m)
Time zone
Central Time
State bird
Western meadowlark
Demonym
North Dakotans
Glance = vistazo. Motto = lema.
Where is North Dakota?
North Dakota is in the US Great Plains. The borders below are the ones to memorize.
Border = frontera. River = río.
Where the name comes from
1 · The name
Dakota, “friend” or “ally.”
2 · How it stuck
English spelling froze later. Say the demonym out loud twice.
3 · Demonym
People here are North Dakotans. The motto means “Liberty and union”.
Name = nombre. People = gente.
Statehood day
39th
North Dakota became the 39th state on November 2, 1889.
1889
Statehood year. A smaller population, a different economy.
1900s
Rail, farms, and factories pulled people in.
Today
783,926 (est.)
Statehood = estado. To join = unirse.
Bismarck, the capital
Bismarck is the capital. Fargo is the big-city name on most maps.
1 · The capital
Bismarck 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.
Fargo, a big city
Fargo pulls jobs and airports.
1 · Size
Say Fargo and Bismarck 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.
Bismarck
Bismarck is the other city the weather report names.
1 · Role
Bismarck 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
White Butte · 3,506 ft (1,069 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
Wind
Nothing stops it for 400 miles (644 km).
Blizzard and hail
A whiteout, then a green summer hailstorm that flattens wheat.
Storm = tormenta. Snow = nieve.
Three days North Dakota remembers
November 2, 1889
Statehood day.
1900s
Machines, roads, and new jobs remade daily life.
today
Prairie wind and oil.
History = historia. Flood = inundación.
Person 1 · Sacagawea (statue in Bismarck)
1 · The name
Sacagawea (statue in Bismarck)
2 · The deed
This is the person the class should be able to spell.
3 · Place
Tie the name back to North Dakota.
Person = persona. Story = historia.
The flag
Look
Find the unique emblem, not only the blue field.
Say it
The nickname is The Peace Garden State.
Color
Ask one student to describe the flag without pointing.
Flag = bandera. Star = estrella.
Four-moment timeline
Name
Dakota, “friend” or “ally.”
1889
Statehood.
1900s
Industry and cities.
now
Prairie wind and oil
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
knoblauch
Dish 2
knoephla soup
Dish 3
beef
Food = comida. Dish = plato.
Game day
Team
Bison / Fighting Hawks
Friday
High school lights still matter.
Rival
Ask who the rival is. There is always one.
Game = partido. Team = equipo.
Three people
SACAGAWEA (STATUE IN BISMARCK)
The episode’s first person for North Dakota.
BISMARCK
Capital: Bismarck.
THE PEACE GARDEN S
The Peace 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
Bismarck
Name the team
Bison / Fighting Hawks
Name the food
knoblauch
Slang = jerga. To say = decir.
A North Dakota detail
39th
1 · Order
39th state, November 2, 1889.
2 · People
783,926
3 · Hook
Prairie wind and oil
Town = pueblo.
White Butte
peak
1 · Height
White Butte · 3,506 ft (1,069 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 North Dakota?
2. What is the nickname?
3. Which number state?
4. Motto in English?
5. Capital of North Dakota?
Question = pregunta. Answer = respuesta.
Thanks · Next stop: Ohio
North Dakota, episode 34: Prairie wind and oil.
Answer key
1) a 2) a 3) a 4) a 5) b
Thanks = gracias. Next = siguiente.