What are the children in the picture doing? What year do you think it is?

Do you know of holidays for workers? Title: Labor Day inany the United States What are the children in the picture doing? What year do you think it is? Do you know of any holidays for workers?

LABOR DAY

12 Unit 12

It is the 1800s. Men and women work 12 to 16 hours a day. They work 7 days a week. They make very little money. Workers have no benefits. They do not get any money when they are sick. They do not get 1800s. vacations. work, too. It is the Men Children and women work 12 Women and children work for very little to 16 hours a day. They work 7 days a money in themake factories. these week. They very One littleofmoney. children is Peter McGuire. It is 1863. He Workers have no benefits. They do not get is 11-years-old andthey he works in a They factory. any money when are sick. do The workers want a better life. But not get vacations. Children work, too. they are afraid to ask for better pay. Women and children work for very little They doin not want to lose their But money the factories. One jobs. of these when workers come together, they are children is Peter McGuire. It is 1863. He not afraid. When they all ask for benefits, it is easier. workers come together in labor unions. is 11-years-old and he Finally, works in a factory. It is 1869. The first labor union starts. The workers want a better life. But The unions help workers improve their Peter to McGuire becomes president of a labor union. He wants a they lives. are afraid ask for better pay. holiday workers. is September 5, 1882. His dream comes true. There They dofor not want to It lose their jobs. But is a big parade in Newtogether, York City they for allare thenot workers in the United when workers come afraid. When theyStates. all askAnd for in 1894 Labor Day becomes national holiday. benefits, it is easier. Finally, a workers come together in labor unions. Now Labor Day always first Monday inunions September. Most people do It is 1869. The is first labor the union starts. The help workers improve not go to work on McGuire this day. becomes They have a three-day weekend. Some people go their lives. Peter president of a labor union. He wants a to the beach. Others have a barbecue or a picnic, or watch the Labor Day holiday for workers. It is September 5, 1882. His dream comes true. There parades. is a big parade in New York City for all the workers in the United States. And in 1894 Labor Day becomes a national holiday. Now Labor Day is always the first Monday in September. Most people do not go to work on this day. They have a three-day weekend. Some people go to the beach. Others have a barbecue or a picnic, or watch the Labor Day parades.

LABOR DAY

45

Source: Broukal, A First Look at the USA Pearson PHOTOCOPIABLE

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LABOR DAY

45

Title: Labor Day in the United States

VOCABULARY
Write the correct word in the blanks.

lose benefits

barbecue improve

factories labor unions

1. It is the 1800s. Workers want to make their lives better. They want to their lives. 2. It is the 1800s. Women and children work in and many other things there.

improve

. They make clothes, shoes, their jobs .

3. Workers are afraid to ask for more money because they will and not have any work. 4. Workers finally come together in groups. These groups are called

5. Todays workers get money when they are sick. They get vacations. These are examples of . outdoors. They cook chicken, 6. On Labor Day, many people have a hamburgers, or hotdogs over a fire.

COMPREHENSION
Following the Sequence
Which happens first? Write 1 on the line. Which happens next? Write 2 on the line.

1.

1 Men and women work 14 hours a day. They work 7 days a week. 2 Peter McGuire works in a factory. He is 11 years old.
Workers decide to work together. Workers want to improve their lives.

2.

3.

It is 1869. Workers come together in labor unions. Peter McGuire becomes president of a labor union.

4.

There is a big parade in New York City for all the workers. Peter McGuire wants a holiday for workers.

5.

People go to the beach, have barbecues, and watch parades. Labor Day becomes a national holiday.

Source: Broukal, A First Look at the USA Pearson 46 UNIT 12 PHOTOCOPIABLE

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Title: Labor Day in the United States

Looking for Details

Which sentence is correct? Circle a or b.

1. a. Before labor unions exist, workers have no vacations. b. Before labor unions exist, workers get money when they are sick. 2. a. Before labor unions exist, women and children work for very little money. b. Before labor unions exist, women and children make a lot of money. 3. a. Labor unions do not help workers. b. Labor unions help workers improve their lives. 4. a. Peter McGuire becomes president of a labor union. b. Peter McGuire becomes mayor of New York City. 5. a. Labor Day is always the first Monday in September. b. Labor Day is always on September 5.

ACTIVITY
Work with a partner. Think about the perfect job. Discuss the following questions with your classmates:

1. What is the job? 2. Where is the job? 3. How many days do you work each week? 4. How many vacation days do you have? 5. How much do you earn?
Do many students have the same ideas?

WRITING
Write about the job that you have. If you do not have a job, write about a job you want to have. EXAMPLE:

I am a clerk in a shoe store. I work five nights every week. I start work at 5:30 and leave at 10:00. I like my job because it is close to home. I can walk to work. I also like to meet people.
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Source: Broukal, A First Look at the USA Pearson