Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Triangle Fire and Labor Movement

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders, in groups, explore the garment industry before, during, and after the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire to learn about the Labor Movement, unions, and some of the people who impacted working conditions for both adults and children...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Striking a Deal

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the economic repercussions of a potential Major League Baseball strike. Then, through researching other labor strikes in American history, students consider the importance and impact of labor unions in United States...
Lesson Plan
The New York Times

A Worker's Compensation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Middle schoolers read about the history of Labor Day in a newspaper article. They discuss difficulties American employees of the past had to face, learn about labor rallies, and conduct Internet research. Part of the intention of this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Labor Day Newspaper

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students examine the history of the Labor Day holiday and write a newspaper article about it. They practice using new vocabulary words and discover the layout of a newspaper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why did the Homestead Strike turn violent?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders practice reading skills while looking at different accounts of The Homestead Strike.  In this reading skills activity, 5th graders practice sourcing, close reading, and corroboration through reading a timeline and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The British Origins of Industrialism

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders brainstorm the Industrial Revolution and how it changed the lives of people. They describe rural life in preindustrial Britain. They identify the factors that allowed Britian to become the first industrialized nations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life of a Logger

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students are introduced to the work and lives of 19th century lumberjacks through a living history slide show presentation. They compare and contrast life 150 years ago with the present. Students describe the history of logging in...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research the Industrial Revolution. In this Industrial Revolution lesson plan, students research on the Internet, with books, magazines, fill out worksheets, and more to learn about inventions that were made out of necessity or...
Interactive
Curated OER

The Rise of Big Business & the Labor Movement (5)

For Students 9th - 12th
For this online interactive American history worksheet, high schoolers answer 13 fill in the blank questions regarding the rise of big business and the labor movement. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

The Significance of Labor Day

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Labor Day provides a way to introduce students to the issues of the labor movement.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lattimer Massacre: What's Beneath the Surface?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research the growth of unions due to issues related to the Lattimer Massacre. They research primary source documents and create posters, skits and role plays.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Labor Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine international labor laws. In this labor rights lesson, students analyze labor laws around the world. High schoolers also read 2 case studies and determine how they do or do not fall into line with International...
Interactive
Curated OER

The Rise of Big Business & the Labor Movement (6)

For Students 8th - 12th
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students answer 13 fill in the blank questions regarding the rise of big business and the labor movement. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
PPT
Curated OER

The American Civil War: A Nation Divided (1861-1865)

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Intended for use with atlases, this presentation details the causes and effects of the Civil War. It includes historical pictures of battles and discussion points about the technology which emerged during (and for) the war. The final...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Land is My Land: A Look at Bootleg Coal Mining During the Depression

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the extreme conditions of unemployment during the Great Depression.  For this multiple perspectives lesson, students analyze photographs of coal mining, research and adopt the perspective of a person affected by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering and Covering the Battle of Homestead

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the general events of the Homestead strike through reading comprehension of a one-page synopsis. They locate the events of the Homestead Strike. Comprehend multiple perspectives of the reasons, relationships and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Hear the Locomotives: The Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the effects the Transcontinental Railroad had on the regions through which it passed. They analyze and discuss maps, view and describe online images, and use photos and documents to develop a cause-and-effect ladder.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Industrializing America

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Imagine an eight year old spindle boy working barefoot in a factory in the late 1800s. Scholars research the industrial period in American history in the 14th lesson of a 22-part series that explores the country's background. Groups...
Lesson Plan
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Constitutional Rights Foundation

Driver’s Licenses And Unauthorized Immigrants

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Should driver's licenses be granted to unauthorized immigrants? That is the question class members grapple with in a lesson plan that asks them to first read a fact sheet that details the arguments for and against...
Lesson Plan
Federal Reserve Bank

What Do People Say?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
After reading a series of fictitious letters that represent actual events during the time period, young historians craft a small town newsletter to explain the causes of the Great Depression.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Chinese Expulsion Act of 1880

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the Chinese Expulsion Act of 1880. In this History lesson, students explore the issues of immigration and exclusion surrounding the Chinese Expulsion Act. Students will use a variety of primary sources to write an essay...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Struggle to Organize

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze correspondence and a news release regarding the Harlan, Kentucky, mine strike of 1931-1932. They use these documents to discuss the problems of organizing industrial trade unions before the New Deal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Great Depression's Impact on Organized Labor

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate that labor unions recruited more workers to join their ranks during the Depression, and speculate as to why this growth occurred when it did. They research the impact of federal legislation of the New Deal (esp. the...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Fire! The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Trial and It's Aftermath

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research, examine and are provided the opportunity to re-enact one of the most exciting trials of the 20th century, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Trial. They research the history of the trial and then divide into...