RHODE ISLAND
26 slides for an ESL class. Short lines, one idea each, miles and km.
At a glance
Statehood
13th · May 29, 1790
Capital
Providence
People
1,095,962 (est.)
Land
1,034 mi² (2,678 km²)
Motto
Hope · “Hope”
High point
Jerimoth Hill · 812 ft (247 m)
Time zone
Eastern Time
State bird
Rhode Island red
Demonym
Rhode Islanders
Glance = vistazo. Motto = lema.
Where is Rhode Island?
Rhode Island 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
Dutch roodt eylandt or a Greek isle joke. Still argued.
2 · How it stuck
English spelling froze later. Say the demonym out loud twice.
3 · Demonym
People here are Rhode Islanders. The motto means “Hope”.
Name = nombre. People = gente.
Statehood day
13th
Rhode Island became the 13th state on May 29, 1790.
1790
Statehood year. A smaller population, a different economy.
1900s
Rail, farms, and factories pulled people in.
Today
1,095,962 (est.)
Statehood = estado. To join = unirse.
Providence, the capital
Providence is the capital. Providence is the big-city name on most maps.
1 · The capital
Providence 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.
Providence, a big city
Providence pulls jobs and airports.
1 · Size
Say Providence and Warwick 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.
Warwick
Warwick is the other city the weather report names.
1 · Role
Warwick 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
Jerimoth Hill · 812 ft (247 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 Rhode Island remembers
May 29, 1790
Statehood day.
1900s
Machines, roads, and new jobs remade daily life.
today
The smallest state.
History = historia. Flood = inundación.
Person 1 · Roger Williams
1 · The name
Roger Williams
2 · The deed
This is the person the class should be able to spell.
3 · Place
Tie the name back to Rhode Island.
Person = persona. Story = historia.
The flag
Look
Find the unique emblem, not only the blue field.
Say it
The nickname is The Ocean State.
Color
Ask one student to describe the flag without pointing.
Flag = bandera. Star = estrella.
Four-moment timeline
Name
Dutch roodt eylandt or a Greek isle joke. Still argued.
1790
Statehood.
1900s
Industry and cities.
now
The smallest state
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
stuffies
Dish 2
coffee milk
Dish 3
clam cakes
Food = comida. Dish = plato.
Game day
Team
URI Rams
Friday
High school lights still matter.
Rival
Ask who the rival is. There is always one.
Game = partido. Team = equipo.
Three people
ROGER WILLIAMS
The episode’s first person for Rhode Island.
PROVIDENCE
Capital: Providence.
THE OCEAN STATE
The Ocean 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
Providence
Name the team
URI Rams
Name the food
stuffies
Slang = jerga. To say = decir.
A Rhode Island detail
13th
1 · Order
13th state, May 29, 1790.
2 · People
1,095,962
3 · Hook
The smallest state
Town = pueblo.
Jerimoth Hill
peak
1 · Height
Jerimoth Hill · 812 ft (247 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 Rhode Island?
2. What is the nickname?
3. Which number state?
4. Motto in English?
5. Rhode Island is the __ US state by area.
Question = pregunta. Answer = respuesta.
Thanks · Next stop: South Carolina
Rhode Island, episode 39: The smallest state.
Answer key
1) a 2) a 3) a 4) a 5) b
Thanks = gracias. Next = siguiente.