High School Economics: Labor Unions Reading Lesson

Do you want to teach your high school students in English, Social Studies, History, or Economics classes about Labor Unions? Do you want to mix up your reading comprehension passages with something new? Check out this ready-to-use lesson!

Just imagine that one day, not so far in the future, your students will be getting jobs and starting careers. Will they be in a union? Will they be able to afford to live in their desired city, and will they have good health, retirement, and safety benefits?

This economics, social studies, and current events package for 9th to 12th grade students contains four parts. It is a great way to integrate English skills such as close reading, vocabulary learning, reading comprehension, and sharing an opinion with other subject material: basic economics, labor history, and social issues.

What's Included: A 7 Page PDF that is ready to print and use immediately!

• A clear two-page reading passage that is written around a 10th grade level. It walks students through the history and development of labor unions, what they do, and their current state of affairs.

• 12 new vocabulary words for students to learn and define (examples: pensions, strikes, union dues).

• 10 reading comprehension questions that students can answer in complete sentences based on the reading.

• A one-paragraph written reflection where students can share their personal opinions. There is no right answer here. Some students may feel that unions have served their purpose and are no longer needed. Others may feel that unions are important parts of a democratic society to protect workers' rights and income equality. The point is for students to argue their opinion using evidence from the reading (and perhaps their own further research).

Grades to Use With:

This lesson is designed for use with high school students in grades 9-12. The writing is at a 10th grade level.