Childhood Lost: Child Labor in the United State

In this lesson, students will use photographs by Lewis Hines and others to describe working conditions that child laborers faced and how these photographs helped change child labor laws.

Weblink address (URL): 
Childhood Lost: Child Labor in the United State
Home Page- source

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Students will:

  • describe the working conditions for child laborers
  • understand that photographs of children at work helped to change labor laws.
Essential and guiding questions: 

What would it be like to be a kid and have a full- time job during the Industrial Revolution and Progressive Era?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying
Extension suggestions: 
  • Allow students to correct and revise paragraphs then display them along with the photograph in a booklet or in the hallway for parents’ night.
  • (11th Grade) Ask students with part-time jobs to describe their working conditions and the regulations that their employers are supposed to follow. Ask them to reflect on the similarities and differences of modern working conditions with those of the past.

Helpful Hints

Materials Used:

  • Child Labor Photo Analysis Worksheet—5 th grade
  • Child Labor Photo Analysis Worksheet—11th grade
  • “Child Labor in U.S. History” from Child Labor Public Education Project