Curated OER
Cotton And Child Labor
Eleventh graders investigate the practice of child labor as found in the history of the United States. The teacher reads the class a story from the year of 1914. This creates context for the lesson and then students answer teacher...
Curated OER
Factory Conditions
For this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions pertaining to factory conditions and the rise of labor unions. A short answer question is included as...
Curated OER
Three Centuries of Child Labor In America
Fifth graders investigate the history of child labor that is found in America. They use a variety of resources to conduct research. Students create cause and effect arguments using the information that is found. They also compare and...
Curated OER
Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan: Photographs of Lewis Hine: Documentation of Child Labor
High schoolers interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this child labor lesson, students examine photograhs by Lewis Hines and discuss the implications of child labor in America.
Curated OER
Freedmen's Bureau: Labor Contract or Re-enslavement?
Students examine the topics of the Freedman's Bureau and labor contracting. They analyze the economic conditions in Alabama after the Civil War. They draw conclusions about the problems with sharecropping.
National First Ladies' Library
Workers, Take a Holiday! the Beginning of Labor Day
When your upper elementary class returns in the fall, have them identify and define the beginnings of the labor movement and Labor Day in the United States. They thoughtfully reflect on changes that have occurred in the way we think...
Curated OER
The Ethics of Outsourcing to China
After viewing clips from a documentary on factory work in China and US outsourcing, learners have a fishbowl discussion. They work in groups to build both personal points of view and strong arguments on the effects of outsourcing in...
Curated OER
Student Handout 5B: Group Discussion
A fantastic discussion awaits your class! They read position statements from both Taco Bell and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. They consider the statements fully. and then use three questions to engage in a class discussion on the...
National Woman's History Museum
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
On March 25, 1911, 146 garment workers died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Class members use primary source documents to research the tragedy and how it lead to the creation of labor unions and new labor laws. As an exit...
PBS
Organizing the Farm Worker Movement
The food on young scholars' tables was likely harvested by hands that fought for fair wages and working conditions. By examining the life of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, learners connect their daily meals with the struggles of those...
EngageNY
Speech Structure: Part 2 of the Commonwealth Club Address
Scholars continue reading and analyzing César Chávez's 1984 speech, "Address to the Commonwealth Club of California." Working with partners, they answer text-dependent questions about how governments and consumers affect working...
Curated OER
Labor Markets
Students examine labor markets by participating in an employer/employee simulation and in group discussions. They discuss mandated employee benefits and predict the effect they have on various parties.
Texas Center for Learning Disabilities
Chapter 10 Teacher Guide and Student Log
Intended to be used with the 10th chapter of Francesco D’Adamo’s novel, Iqbal, a novel about child labor. The 42-page packet of intervention materials is designed to improve the reading comprehension of learners with special needs. As...
Texas Center for Learning Disabilities
Chapter 13 Teacher Guide and Student Log
Inderjit Khurana, Betty Makoni, and Cynthia Maung. As part of a study of the rights of children launched by a reading of Iqbal, Francesco D’Adamo’s historical novel about child labor, class members review information about these three...
Texas Center for Learning Disabilities
Chapter 14 Teacher Guide and Student Log
Class members generate Level 1, 2, and 3 questions for Chapter 14 of Francesco D’Adamo’s Iqbal, a novel about child labor and abuse. In addition, they learn how to summarize a narrative text.
Curated OER
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Tragedy
Students research the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. In this labor reform lesson, students research the fire and write a newspaper article report from the perspective of the time. Students evaluate the perspective of the workers and create...
Curated OER
Vital Work
Students consider the role of women in the food industry. In this gender exploitation instructional activity, students work in groups to examine unfair labor practices. Students watch a video and write a fictional letter from a female...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Slaves and Indentured Servants
In theory, at least, indentured servitude and slavery were two different practices in the American colonies. Class groups conduct a close reading of two primary source documents, one written by a slave and one by an indentured servant,...
Curated OER
Labor Rights
Students examine international labor laws. In this labor rights instructional activity, students analyze labor laws around the world. Students also read 2 case studies and determine how they do or do not fall into line with International...
Curated OER
ESL Holiday Activity-Labor Day
Several resources are provided through this website about Labor Day. Elementary learners read two short paragraphs, then complete matching, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, spelling word scramble, ordering events, and survey...
Curated OER
Early Industrialization
Eighth graders analyze primary source documents emphasizing young people in factory labor (mill workers during 1840-1860). They study hours of labor, ages of laborers, reasons for working, and working conditions. They write a poem or song.
Curated OER
Dolores Huerta
Students examine the life of Dolores Huerta and her contributions to the development of labor unions. They read the book "Cesar Chavez: Triumph of Spirit," and in groups create a quiz, complete a Venn diagram, listen to a guest...
Curated OER
Work, Lyddie! Work!
Students research links concerning early factory labor, child labor in today's world, and diseases on young laborers. They work on a loom, analyze a mill bell schedule, read a mill girl's diary, and write a poem or song exhibiting empathy.
Curated OER
The Most Dangerous Woman in America: Mary Harris "Mother" Jones
Students discover labor issues of the 1800's. In this Pennsylvanian history lesson, students research the case of Mary Harris Jones and discover her work as a labor activist. Students discuss the case together in class.