Historical Resources

• American Labor Studies Center 
  This site offers an array of resources, links, and materials, including labor lesson plans, labor songs, labor quotes, timelines, biographies, and more.  
• American Labor Museum
  Here's another great site for historical material and images.
• NEA: Combatting Negative Views of Unions: A Defense of Labor Studies (PDF, 12pp)
  Victor G. Devinatz, professor of labor relations at Illinois State University, talks about the role of unions in promoting social justice, helping to pass employment-related legislation that has benefited both unionized workers and non-union employees, having positive effects on productivity, and unions' importance in maintaining a healthy democratic society.
• United Association for Labor Education
  You'll find resources for including labor education in K-12 classrooms.

Lesson Plans

• Education World: American Labor Day
  This site offers numerous lesson ideas and activities for the holiday.
• Instructor Web: American Labor Day
  See an excerpt from a lesson plan on Labor Day for grades 3-5. You must enter your e-mail address to download the lesson plan and worksheet.
• Teachers Corner: Writing Prompt Activity
  This activity for elementary and middle school students has a photo and prompts them to write about the most important jobs in their communities.
• Library of Congress: Child Labor and the Building of America
  Middle and high school students can see the factors that contributed to the Industrial Revolution in the United States.
• National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Hardball and Handshakes
  This instructional unit uses the history of labor relations in major league baseball as a case study to probe the question: Why have professional athletes formed unions? It presents the labor contract and negotiations side of baseball.
• American Labor Studies Center: Labor Songs
  These labor songs could be used in music classes or regular classes. Some language (profanity) in the music may make it unsuitable for younger students.
• VIDEO: Workers Compensation History
  This ten-minute YouTube video created by high school students in Houston, Texas uses historical photographs and documents to discusses workers' compensation.

Pro-Union Resources

• American Rights at Work
  Since 2003, American Rights at Work has informed the American public about the struggle to win workplace democracy for nurses, cooks, computer programmers, retail cashiers, and a variety of workers who we all depend on every day.
• AFL-CIO's "The Union Difference"
  Learn the advantages of joining a union.
• "Understanding the Attacks on Public Employees"