Since 2021, the U.S. has recognized Juneteenth (June 19th) as a national holiday. You can bring Juneteenth activities into your classroom with Formative, or share out activities as part of your summer learning resources (print or digital!) to help students understand why this holiday matters.
Juneteenth was a significant turning point in American history, but students might not understand its actual purpose. Use this activity to help your students dig into the real story of June 19, 1865. It’s a great way to build background knowledge of the holiday and spark thoughtful discussions about freedom and history.
Formative’s “Celebrating Juneteenth” activity helps students understand that earning “freedom” after the Civil War wasn’t just a single moment. It was actually a longer process. Use the roadmap and the steps included to run this lesson without adding additional prep time to your schedule.
Teaching about Juneteenth can bring up heavy history topics. Set a respectful tone early and remind students that the classroom is a space for thoughtful discussion, and to do that, you need to use precise language.
Preview vocabulary words like “emancipation” and “federal holiday” first. Then, set the stage for the lesson by asking, “What happens if a law passes and nobody tells you?” This is a quick way to help them grasp the gap of what happened between the Emancipation Proclamation and the first Juneteenth.
As students work through this activity, watch out for their “aha” moments and points of confusion. Check in periodically throughout reading to ensure they understand why the article discusses a two-year gap. If they get stuck, point them toward evidence in the text.
Use the last phase of the lesson to drive home the difference between passing a law and enforcing it. Clarify that the Emancipation Proclamation required additional Union intervention for it to actually take effect in Texas.
Once students understand the big picture, move on to ask them a question like “Why do we make holidays?” This gets them thinking about what federal recognition changes and what it doesn’t. These reflections can help turn the historical part of a lesson into real-world connections.
This lesson is designed to fit into a traditional 45-minute classroom block. If you’re short on time, focus on the reading and the final discussion. Have an extra 10 minutes? Use the extension prompts to dive into the civics of federal holidays.
You can also differentiate this lesson to address any barriers some students may experience with reading or the content. Try partner reading or pre-highlight the major dates in the text. For your fast finishers, challenge them to research the 13th Amendment and explain how it differs from the Emancipation Proclamation.
Adding primary sources to your Juneteenth lessons turns what could be dry information into real stories and perspectives.
These Formative activities work great on their own, but if you want to slash your prep time, pair them with Newsela Social Studies. You’ll get leveled texts that meet every student where they are without the extra work. Ready to see them work better together? Start a 45-day free trial of Newsela to unlock the full power of leveled primary sources and real-time insights.
Ready to go off-script? If these activities don’t hit the mark, just build your own! Log in to Formative to customize existing lessons or start fresh. Add audio, video, or enhance a PDF you already love. It’s the easiest way to tailor instruction for Juneteenth and every lesson that follows.
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