The Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation proudly presents "Teaching About Labor: An Elementary and Secondary Curriculum," developed in coordination with Saint Paul Federation of Teachers Local 28 in 2006. Teachers are invited to download and make use of the labor curriculum in their classrooms. Our hope is that these lessons will improve students' understanding of the labor movement and prompt students to reflect upon the important place unions hold in all our lives.

Grades 1-5 of the curriculum include fun and challenging activities that introduce students to the concept of labor, the history of the labor movement and much more. Lessons for older grades, meanwhile, call for students to interview someone who is a union member, participate in a mock bargaining and negotiating session and analyze current news articles. The Regional Labor Federation hopes teachers will use this curriculum in a way that challenges their students, but also keeps the classroom a fun place to learn lessons in labor that students may not have experienced before.

Grade 1: "Spotlight on Services" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 2, Lesson 1: “Honoring Workers” (web page) (PDF)
Grade 2, Lesson 2: "All Kinds of Work" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 2, Lesson 3: "Your Workworld" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 2, Lesson 4: "Working in the Workplace" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 2, Lesson 5: "Workworld of Yesterday" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 2, Lesson 6: "Changes in the Workplace" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 2, Lesson 7: "Workworld of Tomorrow" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 3, Lesson 1: “Preparation for the World of Work” (web page) (PDF)
Grade 3, Lesson 2: "Jobs: Reflecting Changing Needs" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 4: "Puzzling Over Labor Day" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 5: "What Unions Do" (web page) (PDF)
Puzzles and word scrambles for Grades 1-5 (web page)

 

Introduction to Grade 6 Curriculum (web page) (PDF of full Grade 6 Curriculum)
Grade 6, Lesson 1: "The Exploitation - Part I" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 6, Lesson 2: "The Exploitation - Part II" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 6, Lesson 3: "The Exploitation - Part III" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 6, Lesson 4: "The Bargain - Part I" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 6, Lesson 5: "The Bargain - Part II" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 6, Lesson 6: "The Bargain - Part III" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 6, Lesson 7: "The Contract - Part IV" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 6, Lesson 8: "The Facts" (web page) (PDF)
Grade 6, Lesson 9: "The Terms" (web page) (PDF)

 

A Voice in the Workplace: Introduction (web page) (PDF)
A Voice in the Workplace: Lesson 1 (web page) (PDF)
A Voice in the Workplace: Lesson 2 (web page) (PDF)
A Voice in the Workplace: Lesson 3 (web page) (PDF)
The Wage Factor: Introduction (web page) (PDF)
The Wage Factor: Lesson 1 (web page) (PDF)
The Wage Factor: Lesson 2 (web page) (PDF)
Labor and Laws: Introduction (web page) (PDF)
Labor and Laws: Lesson 1 (web page) (PDF)
Labor and Laws: Lesson 2 (web page) (PDF)
Plant Closings: Introduction (web page) (PDF)
Labor and Laws: Lesson 1 (web page) (PDF)
Labor and Laws: Lesson 2 (web page) (PDF)
Workers' Rights: Introduction (web page) (PDF)
Workers' Rights: Lesson 1 (web page) (PDF)
Workers' Rights: Lesson 2 (web page) (PDF)
Workers' Rights: Lesson 3 (web page) (PDF)