Annenberg Foundation
Industrializing America
Imagine an eight year old spindle boy working barefoot in a factory in the late 1800s. Scholars research the industrial period in American history in the 14th lesson of a 22-part series that explores the country's background. Groups...
Curated OER
Industrialization of the American Landscape - Language Arts
Young scholars examine poetry , editorials, and other writings during the Industrial Revolution. They perform a "chalk talk" to explain perceptions, ideas and observations of the working world. Students write poetry and essays modeled...
Curriculum Development Institute
Life in the Age of Machines
What was life like during the Industrial Revolution? Using a variety of activities, including writing out the dreams of laborers, industrialists, and urban dwellers, learners consider the positive and negative impacts of the Age of...
Curated OER
Development of Labor Unions
Students examine the conditions that led to organized labor unions. In this 20th century America instructional activity, students compare and contrast the Knights of Labor Constitution, the American Federation of Labor Constitution, and...
Curated OER
Child Labor in the Carolinas
Fifth graders explore child labor and how children were exploited and used in the work place. In this Industrial Revolution lesson plan, 5th graders research child labor by reading, looking at photographs and drawing conclusions then...
Curated OER
A Changing Society: Industrialization and Urbanization
Students participate in activities that teach them about the Gilded Age of industrialization and urbanization. In this social changing lesson plan, students answer questions, watch videos, have discussions, read texts, and more to teach...
Curated OER
Child Labor and the Building of America
Students analyze the growth of America from the 1880's-1920's. In this Industrialization era instructional activity, students use primary resources from the time period to investigate child labor, and determine the contribution of...
Curated OER
Child Labor in America
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary sources. In this child labor activity, students examine the issue of child labor and determine how citizen action prompted...
Curated OER
The Large Animal Industry
Focusing on the large animal industry the production of meat products, this information may prove to be sensitive matter to some members of your class. However, the slides are relevant. They delve into the topic of animal labor. This...
Curated OER
The Rise of U.S. Business and Industry
Eleventh graders focus on the rise of American business and industry and how it led into the response by labor forces that helped to shape the present situation of United States business, government, and working conditions.
Center for History Education
Methods of Reform: The Lowell Mill Girls
Although the girls and women who worked in the Lowell Mills are not often seen this way, they are the forbearers of the American labor movement. Pupils examine primary sources, including testimony about life at Lowell and labor laws, as...
Curated OER
Labor History in the United States
Eleventh graders read several articles regarding ethics and ethical behavior. They analyze the reasons for tragedies and circumstances surrounding the relationships between labor and owners. In small groups, 11th graders write a report...
Curated OER
Division of Labor
Learners study the Industrial Revolution and its effects on workers and productivity in order to explain the concepts of division of labor and cottage industry.
Curated OER
The Growth of America's Production System
Students, assessing a variety of sources, explore the growth of inventions that were brought about by the Industrial Revolution. They analyze labor practices and philosophies within the history of the United States. A timeline is set in...
Curated OER
The Incorporation of America
The incorporation and industrialization of America is covered in this image-rich slide show. While text is limited, there is no shortage of great images showing the progression and causes of American Industrialization. Perfect...
Curated OER
The Experience of the Child Laborer
Students make discoveries about the child laborer through a selection of readings. They make connections between the website readings of the child laborers' personal stories and the images that they saw in the previous lesson.
Curated OER
Lord Shaftesbury
One of the negative effects of the Industrial Revolution was the advent of child labor. Discover the good deeds and law making powers held by Lord Shaftesbury. Each slide describes his life and his contributions to child welfare,...
Curated OER
Narrative Writing
Imagine a day in the life of a child who has to work 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week. After viewing images and reading stories of child laborers, class members select an image and write a richly detailed narrative about a typical...
Curated OER
Labor Matters
Young scholars examine the labor movement. In this labor issues lesson, students discuss the role of labor organizations and research their beginnings in order to better understand the debate over the Employee Free Choice Act.
Curated OER
Triangle Fire and Labor Movement
Tenth graders, in groups, explore the garment industry before, during, and after the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire to learn about the Labor Movement, unions, and some of the people who impacted working conditions for both adults and children...
Curated OER
The Rise of U.S. Business and Industry
Eleventh graders examine the industrialization of post-Reconstruction America. In this 20th century American history lesson, 11th graders listen to a lecture about the industrial age and then conduct their own research to determine the...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Alabama's New South Era
The industrialization and urbanization of Alabama during the New South era (1865-1914) is the focus of a lesson that asks class members to use primary source documents to examine the impact of industrialization on Alabama workers and...
PBS
Unions Today
Three scenarios that examine the role of unions in the fast-food industry and pro sports are used to launch a discussion of present-day union influence.
California Department of Education
Hazards in the Workplace
Safety first! Safety first! A short video and a PowerPoint presentation introduce job seekers to child labor law awareness, safety standards, and ways to reduce workplace injuries. Class members first take a short workplace safety quiz...