Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth takes place every year on June 19th in commemoration of the day in 1865 when news of federal orders freeing all previously enslaved peoples — issued nearly three years earlier in the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 — finally reached Black Americans in Galveston, Texas. It’s an important day in American history, and it has grown in notoriety over recent years as more and more people learn about its significance. As of June 2021, Juneteenth is officially a U.S. federal holiday. If you’re wondering how to teach about this day and help your students learn more, check out these Juneteenth activities and lessons for students of all ages.
Juneteenth Resources for Elementary School Students
For elementary school students, use these Juneteenth activities to engage young learners and to teach them about the history of this day.
Juneteenth Bundle by Akwaaba Akademy
K-2nd Grade
Incorporate these worksheets into your Juneteenth lesson plan for younger students. This bundle contains a reading comprehension passage with simplified facts about Juneteenth.
Juneteenth Joy Activity Pack by Afrocentric Montessori
K-3rd Grade
Honor Juneteenth with ten activities that will help students learn about this important day in history and build community.
Social Justice Observances Calendar Pieces by Falicia O’Mard
K-5th Grade
Engage students in national and international observances with this Social Justice Observances Calendar Pieces resource. Each observance includes a description and activist actions for young learners.
Juneteenth Flipbook by Jasmine McClain
1st-3rd Grade
Help your students learn about Juneteenth and reflect upon its importance in United States history with this flipbook resource.
Black History Month Juneteenth – Distance Learning by KinderCollege
PreK-6th Grade
This no-prep resource includes reading passages, coloring pages, and more activities to engage students in learning about Juneteenth. It also includes an interactive activity to use with Easel by TpT.
Juneteenth Resources for Middle and High School Students
Middle school and high school students can discover more about this day in history through informational texts, writing prompts, and discussion questions using these Juneteenth activities.
Juneteenth – A Celebration of Freedom by Edventure Themes
4th-9th Grade
Written in an e-zine style, this high-interest informational text will introduce your students to the Juneteenth holiday and its significance.
Juneteenth Black History Presentation by The Lit Health Teacher
6th-12th Grade
This presentation for middle school and high school students introduces Juneteenth and how to commemorate it.
Discover more engaging resources for Juneteenth on TpT.
*This blog was originally published in 2021 and has been updated for 2022.