Free Printable May Day, Labor History, Union Organizing Lesson Plans

Labor Day in the U.S. is celebrated in September, but spring is poignant for labor history. March 25, 1911 lost 146 workers in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. April 28 is Workers Memorial Day, honoring fallen in workplace accidents or in organizing struggles. May 1 is May Day, International Worker's Day. May 4 commemorates casualties at Chicago's Haymarket riot in a 1886 labor rally. On May 19, 1920 saw the Matewan massacre of coal miners. On May 26, 1937 union organizers were beaten at Ford's River Rouge plant "Battle of the Overpass." Labor history is American (and world) history: it impacts every industry, occupation and person. Teachers and homeschoolers, why not educate students about unions with these free printable labor history lesson plans? I've listed websites, activities, worksheets, movies and books.  Free Printable May Day, Labor History, Union Organizing Lesson Plans

Free Printable May Day, Worker Memorial Activities

Labor Day honors the achievements and contributions of organized labor as well as the efforts of every working person. The September observance is a national U.S. holiday, but the real Labor Day is a world-wide worker commemorative, celebrated on May 1 or May Day.  This is also called Worker Memorial Day and recognizes those who have suffered and died in the struggle for fair wages and working conditions. Some mistakenly think it's just a socialist holiday. Really, it's for everyone who works. Here are several websites which offer free printable coloring pages, games, puzzles and party decorations. For those who want to explore the more educational aspect of Labor Day, I listed some links and websites with free printable lesson plans and activities as well. Collective Bargaining, May Day Worksheets