Working on your weekly lesson plans? This Sunday blog series, Lively Lessons, will provide you with Discovery Education content and lesson plan ideas!
Celebrate the achievements of workers in the United States throughout its history with this exploration of Labor Day. Established as a national holiday in 1894, Labor Day recognizes workers and the labor movement. Americans today mark this holiday with parades, news stories, and personal celebrations on the first Monday in September.
Why do people celebrate Labor Day?
Watch US Celebrations: Labor Day to learn why the day is celebrated in the U.S.
K-5 Three Cheers for Community Workers: Explain to students that they will work in small groups to make a digital poster celebrating the work of people in the community. Project the video segment “Workers in Your Community” from Exploring Communities and Its Workers on Discovery Education Streaming… Click here to access the entire K-5 lesson starter through the Labor Day Content Collection.
6-8 Table Top Texting about Labor Day: Preview the activity with students by inviting them to share aloud with the class what they already know about Labor Day. After activating prior knowledge, explain to the class that they will watch a primary source video segment about one important time in labor history. Have them prepare for the activity by taking out a blank piece of paper and a variety of writing utensils such as colored pens, markers, and highlighters… Click here to access the entire 6-8 lesson starter through the Labor Day Content Collection.
9-12 Multiple Perspectives on Labor: Show the video segment “Unions and Strikes” from America in the 20th Century: The Post-War Years on Discovery Education Streaming. Tell students to pay attention to the different points of view on the labor movement presented in the segment, such as that of workers, President Truman, and supporters of the Taft–Hartley Act. Pause the segment regularly to allow students to take notes on these perspectives. Then, have each student select one perspective to represent…Click here to access the entire 9-12 lesson starter through the Labor Day Content Collection.
