25-Minute Elementary Sunday School Lesson: Labor Day

Use this 25-minute Labor Day lesson in your Sunday school class to help kids in grades 1-3 discover that it’s important to rest as we work. 

Lesson: Labor Day

1. A Popping Start

You’ll need:

• balloons (one per person)
• small piece of paper
• marker or pen

Easy prep:

• Inflate a balloon for each child.
• Place a small piece of paper marked with a star in one of the balloons before inflating it.

Give each child a balloon as they arrive and ask if they’re comfortable with the sound of popping balloons. For any who have sound sensitivities or fears of popping balloons, invite kids to find a partner who’s comfortable popping a balloon for a friend. Once everyone’s arrived are ready, have kids sit on balloons until they pop.

Assign the child with the star in his or her balloon a special job such as being line leader or snack helper for the rest of the day. Invite kids to help pick up and discard all balloon pieces as they discuss any special jobs they’ve been given at school or at home.

2. Snack Fixing

*Allergy Alert – Stay aware of any food allergies or other dietary restrictions present in your class. Check these carefully against food ingredient lists, being mindful of any notes about shared processing equipment with problematic allergens, such as peanuts. Be prepared to offer alternatives so each child can have a snack.

You’ll need:

• pre-made crescent biscuit dough (thawed)
• access to an oven
• baking sheet(s)
• antibacterial handwipes

Easy prep:

• If you don’t have access to an oven, bake some bread twists before the lesson that you can offer to everyone during Snack Eating. That way kids can still experience food prep work even if you’re unable to bake them on site.

Clean hands and have each child take a pre-cut triangle of dough, rework the dough to form a strip, and twist it. Tell kids that challah is the traditional bread for the Jewish Sabbath. This twisted bread is similar to challah.  As everyone works, discuss favorite food prep work or meals and desserts everyone would like to try to make.

You or an adult helper can get the bread twists in the oven and bake according to packaging instructions (often around 12 minutes). Be sure to watch the time and bring them back to the room when they’re done.

3. My Week

You’ll need:

• Bible
• bulletin board paper
• masking tape
• washable markers

Easy prep:

• Adhere a long sheet of bulletin board paper to a wall at a level where kids can easily draw on it.
• Using a marker, draw vertical lines to divide the paper into seven sections, writing one day of the week over each section.

Invite kids to draw different activities and work they often do on each day of the week. Have everyone complete only six days, leaving the Sabbath blank. As children work, say things such as, “God thinks work is good and wants us to do our jobs well.” Let kids share details about the work they do during the week.

Form a circle and read aloud Exodus 20:8-11. Have kids share ideas for different ways of resting on the Sabbath.

Say: Even God rested! It’s important to make the Sabbath a special day to relax with God. We also celebrate a holiday of resting each year on Labor Day. It’s a day for workers to rest.

4. Rest Reminder

You’ll need:

• 4X5-inch pieces of cardstock (one per person)
• glue
• clear tape
• child-safe scissors
• washable markers
• glitter
• ribbon
• crayons

Give each child a piece of cardstock. Set out the other craft supplies. Have children write on one side of the card, “I am resting!” and on the flip side, “I am working!”

Let kids decorate their cards to make door hangers for their bedroom doors (or other doors at home). Have them attach ribbon so their cards can hang over a doorknob. Their eye-catching signs can remind kids that God wants us to work and rest.

5. Snack Eating

You’ll need:

• baked bread twists
• honey (optional)
• butter (optional)
• paper plates

Once the bread is ready and the baking work is done, invite everyone to clean hands once more and eat the bread with honey and butter as optional additions. Rest together with satisfied bellies and talk about any traditional meals or food kids have on the Sabbath, or comfort foods and activities that make them feel restful.

6. My Sabbath

Have children return to the mural and finish the blank Sabbath day. Have kids share ways to celebrate God’s day of rest. Close in prayer, thanking God for giving us the gifts of work and rest.

Find more great Sunday school lessons to help kids grow in their faith.

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