Get ready to teach about Labor Day 2026 in your elementary classroom with teacher-created Labor Day printables, activities for kids, and more teacher-created resources to honor this September holiday.

Want to explore the history of Labor Day and make this a meaningful one in your classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including the date of Labor Day in 2026, history of the holiday and some activity ideas for your classroom!

What Is Labor Day? A Kid-Friendly Explanation

If school is in session in your neck of the woods, your students may think of Labor Day as just another day off from school. So, how do you explain what it's really all about? Try this kid-friendly explainer! Labor Day is a special holiday that we celebrate in the United States each September. This holiday is a time for honoring the contributions that workers have made to our great nation throughout history. It is a time for families to come together and celebrate the hard work that has built our country.

When Is Labor Day 2026?

This federal holiday is traditionally celebrated on the first Monday in September every year in the United States. That means Labor Day will be marked on Monday, September 7, 2026.

What Is the History of Labor Day?

They may not learn about the history of labor unions until they hit their high school social studies classes, but even elementary students could use a history lesson about Labor Day! You can use morning meeting time to talk about why we celebrate this day with a quick look back. Here's a simple bit of information to share: The history of Labor Day dates back to the late 1800s, when workers across the country were fighting for better working conditions, fair wages, and a shorter workweek. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making Labor Day a national holiday.

Labor Day Activities for Kids

Because it's a federal holiday, most schools are closed on Labor Day — and some may not even have opened for the school year! But there's still plenty to teach students about this holiday for workers, all the community helpers who put in time to work in our communities, and the many jobs that keep our communities running. Here are some Labor Day activities for kids in the classroom that might tie into your lesson plans!

Career Day

What better way to teach about community and labor than by inviting community members into the classroom to introduce themselves and talk about their careers? Your students can learn about what it takes to become a doctor, lawyer, sanitation worker and more — including the importance of all you are doing right in your own classrooms to prepare them for their dream careers!

Create Jobs Posters

Teaching third or fourth grade? Have your students make their own posters that highlight different types of jobs and careers, including the skills and qualities required for each job. Not only will this give you a chance to assess your students' ability to organize information and be as clear and concise as possible, it also gives students a chance to think about their own interests and even their own skills — and how they might translate into a job.

Write Thank You Letters to Community Helpers

Bring a social and emotional learning component into your Labor Day activities this school year by having students write letters to some of the people who serve your community. Kids build empathy by thinking about the needs and contributions of workers in their community! This is a great way to help students understand the importance of service and its role in creating a strong and vibrant society.

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Community Helpers - Pictures/Posters