We asked our students recently what they believed Labor Day stood for? We had many answers: “It’s like labor, you know..like when Mommy had me and my sister;” “It’s when all you do is work;” “It’s when you LAY and are BORed;” “It’s when people put a flag out so other people can say the Pledge of Allegiance like we do.”
Labor Day is a holiday that is observed on the first Monday in September each year. Labor Day offers an opportunity to help our children learn about those in our community that do various kinds of jobs. Remind the children it is a day to appreciate all the people who work to provide for us. It is a day to celebrate living and working in the United States of America.
Read your children books about Community Helpers and the jobs they do.
Community Helpers from A to Z by Bobbie Kalman [Crabtree Publishing, 1998]
When I Grow Up by Tina Louise [Abrams, Harry N., Inc. 2007]
Teach your preschool students or children the words to one verse of: “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me….
Teach your children the Pledge of Allegiance – example at Voicethread
Patterning – have your children color or paint the circles in an ABC pattern until they reach the FLAG! Labor Day Patterning
Make flags from the United States Flag Template or be creative with the outline Flag Outline_Template for crafts – print to white cardstock and have the children use a variety of collage materials, Wikki Stix, pipe cleaners, paints, crayons, or markers to decorate.
Have a blessed Labor Day weekend!
Great tips and resources! My first grader was just asking me about Labor Day, so I will be checking out what you have linked here. Thanks!
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