Labor Day Video Lessons

Among all the festive days of the year...there is not one which stands so conspicuously for social advancement of the common people as the first Monday in September. – Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor (1886-1924)

Can you imagine life without a 2-day weekend? We can't either.

That's why on Labor Day we celebrate workers and their history of organizing to ensure fair and safe working conditions.

But when you’re a kid, it’s hard to understand just how monumental these changes were at the time.

The following video lessons go over the history of how Labor Day became a holiday and why it continues to be relevant today.

And because they’re Edpuzzle Originals, you can be sure that there’s built-in practice to help students understand what they are learning.

Happy Labor Day teachers!

For Grades 3 - 5:

This video lesson for elementary grades kicks off by asking viewers to think of their favorite ice cream flavor – and all the workers who make it possible to enjoy a delicious ice cream cone: the dairy farmers, the factory workers, the transportation workers, the people who build refrigerators and freezers… and, of course, the person who sells you the ice cream cone!

By the end of the lesson, students will understand the origins of the Labor Day holiday by reflecting upon the contributions of working people and achievements won by organized labor.

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For Grades 6 - 12:

This video lesson for middle and high school students goes in-depth on the origins of the Labor Day holiday by exploring its relationship to the Pullman Strike of 1894.

It also explores the Fair Labor Standards Act, which U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt signed in 1938 and established an eight-hour workday, set a minimum wage, and limited child labor.

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So this Labor Day, teach your students the history behind the holiday with video lessons that engage and spark discussion.