PENNSYLVANIA
26 slides for an ESL class. Short lines, one idea each, miles and km.
At a glance
Statehood
2nd · December 12, 1787
Capital
Harrisburg
People
12,961,620 (est.)
Land
44,743 mi² (115,883 km²)
Motto
Virtue, liberty, and independence · “Virtue, liberty, and independence”
High point
Mount Davis · 3,213 ft (979 m)
Time zone
Eastern Time
State bird
Ruffed grouse
Demonym
Pennsylvanians
Glance = vistazo. Motto = lema.
Where is Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania 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
Penn’s woods. William Penn’s charter.
2 · How it stuck
English spelling froze later. Say the demonym out loud twice.
3 · Demonym
People here are Pennsylvanians. The motto means “Virtue, liberty, and independence”.
Name = nombre. People = gente.
Statehood day
2nd
Pennsylvania became the 2nd state on December 12, 1787.
1787
Statehood year. A smaller population, a different economy.
1900s
Rail, farms, and factories pulled people in.
Today
12,961,620 (est.)
Statehood = estado. To join = unirse.
Harrisburg, the capital
Harrisburg is the capital. Philadelphia is the big-city name on most maps.
1 · The capital
Harrisburg 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.
Philadelphia, a big city
Philadelphia pulls jobs and airports.
1 · Size
Say Philadelphia and Pittsburgh 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.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the other city the weather report names.
1 · Role
Pittsburgh 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
Mount Davis · 3,213 ft (979 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 Pennsylvania remembers
December 12, 1787
Statehood day.
1900s
Machines, roads, and new jobs remade daily life.
today
A keystone and two cities.
History = historia. Flood = inundación.
Person 1 · Benjamin Franklin
1 · The name
Benjamin Franklin
2 · The deed
This is the person the class should be able to spell.
3 · Place
Tie the name back to Pennsylvania.
Person = persona. Story = historia.
The flag
Look
Find the unique emblem, not only the blue field.
Say it
The nickname is The Keystone State.
Color
Ask one student to describe the flag without pointing.
Flag = bandera. Star = estrella.
Four-moment timeline
Name
Penn’s woods. William Penn’s charter.
1787
Statehood.
1900s
Industry and cities.
now
A keystone and two cities
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
cheesesteak
Dish 2
soft pretzel
Dish 3
primanti sandwich
Food = comida. Dish = plato.
Game day
Team
Eagles / Steelers / Phillies
Friday
High school lights still matter.
Rival
Ask who the rival is. There is always one.
Game = partido. Team = equipo.
Three people
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
The episode’s first person for Pennsylvania.
HARRISBURG
Capital: Harrisburg.
THE KEYSTONE STATE
The Keystone 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
Harrisburg
Name the team
Eagles / Steelers / Phillies
Name the food
cheesesteak
Slang = jerga. To say = decir.
A Pennsylvania detail
2nd
1 · Order
2nd state, December 12, 1787.
2 · People
12,961,620
3 · Hook
A keystone and two cities
Town = pueblo.
Mount Davis
peak
1 · Height
Mount Davis · 3,213 ft (979 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 Pennsylvania?
2. What is the nickname?
3. Which number state?
4. Motto in English?
5. Capital of Pennsylvania?
Question = pregunta. Answer = respuesta.
Thanks · Next stop: Rhode Island
Pennsylvania, episode 38: A keystone and two cities.
Answer key
1) a 2) a 3) a 4) a 5) c
Thanks = gracias. Next = siguiente.