Labor Day Lesson Plan for Kindergarten and First Grade Students

Labor Day is coming up, and even though students won't be attending school, help them understand the meaning of the day with a lesson plan based on these Labor Day themed activities.

Labor Day Collage

Have your students find pictures of people working in magazines and cut them out. Provide a large poster board or cardboard and glue sticks. Have your students glue their pictures to the posterboard. Talk about the many different ways people work and the importance of each job.

"When I Grow Up" Bulletin Board

Have students draw pictures of themselves as an adult working at the profession of their choice. Help them write the name of their chosen profession as the title of their picture. Decorate a bulletin board with their pictures.

Tools of the Trades

Bring in a variety of tools that different people use in their professions. Hold up each tool during circle time and have students guess what person uses each tool and how the tool helps that person. Tools you may want to use include: a hammer, a stethoscope, a rake, a paintbrush, a cookie sheet, a toy cash register, etc...

Community Workers

Invite community workers to come in throughout the week of labor day and give a short talk about their profession. Allow students a time to ask questions and answers. Professionals that often enjoy sharing their professions with children include veterinarians, doctors, police officers, firefighters, and postal workers.

Labor Day Thank You Cards

Let your class choose a group of community workers to thank, such as postal workers, garbage collectors, or firefighters. Provide each student with a piece of construction paper to fold in half and decorate the front of with a picture of a worker in that profession. Give them a small piece of paper with the phrase "Thank you for all of your hard work" printed on it to glue on the inside. Have each student write their name and mail all of the cards to the local office of the chosen community workers so they will receive them in time for Labor Day.

Profession Stations

Set up stations around the room with the tools of trade for various professions. Introduce each station and discuss what the different tools are used for. Divide students into groups and allow them a set amount of time at each station to explore the tools before rotating them. Ideas for stations include:

Baker: rolling pins, cookie cutters, baking sheets, plastic food, measuring spoons and cups, bowls

Gardener: plastic trowels, pots, empty seed packets, watering can, knee pads

Doctor: Play doctor set, cloth bandages

House Cleaner: bucket, duster, broom, dustpan, sponges, empty squirt bottles

Construction worker: Plastic tools, hard hats, tool belts, tool boxes