Labor Day (US)

Holidays & Events

Int
Teens & Adults
Grades 6–12

Many people think of Labor Day as a day off to enjoy a backyard barbecue or fireworks display. What caused the US government to declare an official holiday for workers? In this lesson, students learn the history behind this American holiday.

Note: For a lesson on the Canadian holiday, go to the Labour Day lesson in our Holidays & Events section.

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Focus

topic-based
4-skills
interpretive

Vocabulary

labor
federal
establish
strike (noun)
union
wage
layoffs
interfere
ease
speech
A spinning paper plane
A spinning paper plane