Museum of Labor Industry Lesson Topic: Labor Unions Related Display in Museum: • Union Hall Enduring Understandings: • The Labor Union Movement began to help people improve their working conditions. • Unions were created because groups have more power than individuals. • Unions provided workers with better working conditions, benefits, job security, and fair wages. Essential Questions: • Why were Labor Unions developed? • What benefits did labor Unions provide to workers? • Why would employers resist workers organizing unions? Common Core Standards: • RI.5.6 • RI.5.7 • RI.5.9 • RH.6-­‐8.1 Assessment: • Teacher will circulate the room and check for student understanding during the primary source document analysis. Sources Used: • www.loc.gov • www.bringinghistoryhome.org Activity and Procedures: • Set: Ask students to think of the worst job that they ever had to do. Then ask them would they want to do that job for 12 hours a day, six days a week. Explain to the class that they will be analyzing primary source documents about working conditions in the 1800’s. • Divide the class into groups of three or four. Give each group the photo analysis sheet from the website http://www.bringinghistoryhome.org • Give each group a photo or document and have them fill out their photo analysis sheet based on their primary source. When students have completed their analysis sheet, have each group share their findings to the class. • Discuss the following questions as a whole class: 1. What did you notice about the working conditions in your documents? Were they smoky, dirty, crowded, hot/cold? 2. What do you think the wages were? 3. Do you think the workers were treated fairly and had job security? 4. What would you do if you had to work in these types of conditions? 5. Would you try to make conditions better by yourself or try to persuade other workers to join you? • Put the students back into groups and have them read about Labor Unions and compare the photograph to their earlier photo. • As a whole class discuss what they notice about the picture compared to the ones they previously analyzed and how Labor Unions are beneficial to workers. Wrap up/homework: • Have students ask parents or other family members if they belong to a union and if they find it beneficial. • Students will share what they found with the class the next day. Suggestions For Teachers: • If possible take a class field trip to the Belleville Labor and Industry Museum. Be sure to check out the exhibit on the “Union Hall.” • If class trip is not possible for extra credit students can visit the Museum on their own and write about their experience. • Students could also visit the website: www.laborandindustrymusuem.org •
•
•
•
•
•
•
What are Labor Unions? Organization of workers Grew as industry expanded in the late 1800’s Unions attempt to gain higher pay, shorter work hours, and better safety conditions. Unions negotiate with employers every few years to agree on pay rates and benefits. Being in a union gives workers a stronger voice Example: The United Auto Workers Union http://www.fasttrackteaching.com/burns/Unit_5_Progressive/Union_auto_Fo
rd_RRouge_dbloc_1941.JPG Mill Workers from 1800’s www.oocities.org Coal Miners http://www.coalcampmemories.com/images/Loading-­‐Coal.jpg Glass Makers http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/hine-­‐photos/images/glass-­‐
blower.gif Meat Packing Industry www.beggarscanbechoosers.com The Song of the Shirt
By: Thomas Hood
(Shortened Version)English
With fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sat, in unwomanly rags,
Plying her needle and thread
Stitch! stitch! stitch!
In poverty, hunger, and dirt,
And still with a voice of dolorous pitch
She sang the "Song of the Shirt."
"Work work work
Till the brain begins to swim;
Work work work
Till the eyes are heavy and dim!
Seam, and gusset, and band,
Band, and gusset, and seam,
Till over the buttons I fall asleep,
And sew them on in a dream!
"Oh, Men, with Sisters dear!
Oh, Men, with Mothers and Wives!
It is not linen you're wearing out,
But human creatures' lives!
Stitch stitch stitch,
In poverty, hunger, and dirt,
Sewing at once with a double thread,
A Shroud as well as a Shirt.
"Work work work!
My Labour never flags;
And what are its wages? A bed of straw,
A crust of bread and rags.
That shatter'd roof and this naked floor
A table a broken chair
And a wall so blank, my shadow I thank
For sometimes falling there!