Labor Day Lesson Plan

The internet is an extremely useful resource for the homeschooling parent. If you're willing to do the research and visit various websites, you can discover activities, discussion questions, and ideas for just about any topic. Labor Day in the United States is no exception.

Most kids know that Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September; that it is a tribute to American workers; and it signals an unofficial end to summer. This year, we're going to look a little deeper into the history of Labor Day.

Vocabulary for this lesson will include:
Industrial Revolution, mass production, trade union, collective bargaining

History of Labor Day

During the Industrial Revolution, people were needed to work in factories, operating mass production machines. Millions of people left their farms to work in these factories, looking for a secure year-round income source from a job that would also give them shelter from the elements of nature. The reality was not as positive. They found themselves working twelve to fourteen hours a day in dingy buildings and underground mines, sometimes in dangerous conditions.

As people grew frustrated and weary from this arrangement, they began banding together in trade unions to bargain collectively for the benefit of all its members. Eventually, someone suggested a day to honor the laborers. The person responsible for this is in dispute. It has usually been attributed to Peter McGuire of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, who wanted a day to praise the efforts of the everyday people. Other research points to Matthew Maguire, a machinist who later became the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, NJ.

Regardless of who made the initial suggestion, the first Labor Day was celebrated in 1882 by the Knights of Labor in New York City. Other labor organizations soon began observing this holiday, as well, and in 1894, Labor Day became an official national holiday, recognizing contributions the American worker has made to our society.

Discussion Questions

• What are motivations people have for working? What motivates people to work hard? What demotivates them?


• Is all work of equal value? What types of work do you think are most important? Is any work not important? How do you perceive the value of the work of a professional sports player or other entertainment figure versus the value of the work of a police officer? fire fighter? doctor? What type of work situations are created due to professional sports and other entertainment?


• Which types of jobs do you consider desirable? Undesirable? What would happen to society if no one were willing to do the 'undesirable' jobs?


• After viewing these images, discuss how you think factories have changed over the years.

Games and Activities

• Who Am I? (using occupation cards (pdf file)--similar to Twenty Questions--one child will draw a card, and the others will ask questions to determine the occupation the first child is representing)


• Town Planner--divide into groups, give each group a poster board and pencils. Each group needs to plan a town, including the occupations needed to help the town run smoothly. If time permits, each group can also create a brochure promoting their town. Afterward, the groups can get together to vote on the best town plan.

Culminating Activity
A few days after our lesson, we are taking a group field trip to a local factory. I was hoping to tour our local GM factory, but they aren't doing tours until January 2010, so we had to settle for a local fine chocolate factory. Darn! *wink*

Fall Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Mabon Lesson Plan

Twice a year, between the solstices, the earth reaches a state of balance between day and night, signaling an official change of season. In the spring, we call this the vernal equinox. In September, it is known as the fall, or autumnal, equinox.

In many cultures, the fall equinox has been incorporated into other beliefs. This year, we're going to explore both the science and the celebration associated with this astronomical phenomenon.

First, the science. Thanks to National Geographic, I have little preparation to make. We'll start with this video, then take a peek at a celebration centered around an ancient Maya pyramid. We'll try some of the suggested activities (note the lesson plan links in the left corner, too), and even do an eggs-periment.

Thank you, National Geographic. You're my kind of site.

Now, on to the celebration.


For centuries, people of every culture have set aside a time for expressing gratitude for the bounties the earth has provided. Celebrations, often including a feast, are known by many names, including Mabon, Harvest Home, Harvest End, and Thanksgiving. The fact that every culture does this is just one reason I enjoy celebrating the pagan holidays...it's a way to show my children that people around the world have always shared more similarities than one might think. Our modern-day religious holidays originated and were adapted from the old pagan celebrations.

I enjoy celebrating holidays, especially the pagan ones. We don't observe them from a place of worship, but we do acknowledge the cycle of life, celebrate nature, and learn about the mythologies, themes, and rituals associated with each one. In the case of Mabon, the theme is balance.

Mabon, celebrated on the Autumnal equinox*, is a time of balance: darkness and light, generosity and conservation, receiving and sharing, gathering the harvest and setting aside for the coming months.

Mabon is a season of celebration: many crops have been harvested, and there is abundance. We reap the fruits of our labor, not only in regard to food, but in life experience, as well. In keeping with the theme of balance, we reflect upon and celebrate that which is passing, and that which is ahead.

Colors associated with Mabon are the colors associated with autumn: green to red, gold, yellow, orange, and brown.

Our plans include:
History and Mythology
We will read stories associated with harvest-time, including the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone, and the British Isles myth of the Green Man.


Altar/Display Table
We will decorate one of our tables with leaves, berries, acorns, fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, and nuts

Decorations Around the House
Our home will be decorated with Indian corn, spice-scented candles, leaves and wreaths

Activities
Depending on the interests each child, any or all of these activities may take place:

*participate in food drive
*make scarecrow
*make Green Man masks
*make apple candles

*seed mosaics
*plant bulbs
*bonfire
*press leaves

*field trip to orchard, where we will pick apples and purchase produce
*talk about things we've done over the summer, make plans for winter
*finish up projects from summer, prepare house for winter (this is a good time to clear out items we no longer need/want)
*talk about ways to conserve resources: water, electricity; recycling

*prepare a feast, including: roasted chicken with sage, corn, squash, fresh berries, nuts, applesauce and applebutter, bread, fresh melon, grapes, baked apples (cored and filled with butter and cinnamon)

Reading Materials
We Gather Together by Wendy Pfeffer for the younger two
The Story of Mabon, Son of Modron, retold by Starhawk, from the book Circle Round
Persephone and Demeter from D'aulaire's Book of Greek Myths

Art Project
Using fresh leaves, the children will create their own versions of The Green Man.

*The Autumnal Equinox falls on September 22 this year.