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This article updated June 14, 2024
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Texans first learned of their freedom as directed by the Emancipation Proclamation. Known also as America’s second Independence Day, the holiday has periodically been celebrated within African-American communities, but not recognized in the wider culture. That changed in 1980, when Texas established Juneteenth as a state holiday. Since then, many other states have followed suit in acknowledging the importance of this anniversary. Finally on June 17th, 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday.
Teaching about Juneteenth can be not only an exploration of American history and civil rights, but also a chance to inspire students’ reflections and creativity.
The following top Juneteenth lessons and activities are all free or modestly priced.
- Juneteenth Art for Kids and Juneteenth Coloring Page A free Juneteenth-themed art lesson that includes a step-by-step guide and template for creating a simple but powerful sketch representing the freedom promised by the Emancipation Proclamation. Ideal for kids up to grade five.
- Juneteenth Lesson: Emancipation Through The Art Of Meta Warrick Fuller From the Danforth Art Museum and Art School at Framingham State University, this free Juneteenth lesson is based on the sculpture Emancipation by the Harlem Renaissance artist Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller. The free PDF lesson includes close-up views of the sculpture, accompanied by probing, open-ended questions designed to spur students’ thinking. The Educator Companion Guide provides learning goals, vocabulary, and standards, as well as links to additional resources.
- Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: Juneteenth and Emancipation This comprehensive, four-unit lesson on Juneteenth is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and includes primary source documents, essential questions, background, discussion and pre- and post-activities. An excellent investigation of the history behind the holiday, it’s fully free, with no account setup required.
- Minecraft Lesson: Juneteenth: Freedom Day A complete Juneteenth lesson plan that incorporates Minecraft design and building skills, this instruction is ideal for students in grades 6-12. Included are lesson ideas and questions, historical context, and a downloadable Word document with detailed guidance for educators. Free.
- The African Americans: What Is Juneteenth? An in-depth exploration of Juneteenth from Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., this article probes the importance of Juneteenth in relation to other Civil War-era anniversaries, and its continued relevance today. A great starting point for high school discussions or assignments.
- Austin PBS: Juneteenth Jamboree Since 2008, the Juneteenth Jamboree series has marked each year’s celebration in the context of African-American culture and history and the ongoing struggle for equality. A fascinating look at not only the joy of Juneteenth celebrations, but also the opinions and goals of community leaders. Be sure to check out the Juneteenth Jamboree Retrospective created during the height of the pandemic.
- The Birth of Juneteenth; Voices of the Enslaved A look at the events of Juneteenth through the voices and views of former enslaved persons, with links to related historic documents, images, and American Folklife Center recorded interviews. An excellent research resource.
- Celebrating Juneteenth Celebrate our country’s “second Independence Day,” with help from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Take a virtual tour through the its Slavery and Freedom exhibition, guided by Founding Director Lonnie Bunch III, who highlights the stories of freedom represented by popular historical artifacts.
- Google for Education: Create a Flyer for a Juneteenth Celebration A guide for students to create a Juneteenth celebration flyer using Google docs. Sample rubric, lesson plan, and printable Certificate of Completion are all included.
- Juneteenth Activities for the Classroom Students’ reading, writing, research, collaboration and graphics arts skills are all put to good use in this collection of Juneteenth class activities for elementary, middle and high school students.
- Library of Congress: Juneteenth A wealth of digital resources, including webpages, images, audio recordings, and video related to Juneteenth. Search by date, location, and format. An ideal start to a Juneteenth paper or project.
- PBS: Juneteenth VideoThis brief and lively animated video is perfect to get young kids (K-5) up to speed on the basic facts of Juneteenth.
►Best Digital Resources for Teaching Black History Month
