Juneteenth, now a federally acknowledged vacation, is gaining well-deserved recognition throughout the nation. As academics, we should always foster understanding, empathy, and appreciation of Black historical past and tradition in our school rooms all year long, however Juneteenth is a particular alternative to do it. Use these Juneteenth actions to spark dialogue, essential considering, and creativity in your college students whereas empowering them to develop into change brokers for a extra inclusive and equitable world.
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Juneteenth Actions Bundle
Assist train your college students about this essential day with our bundle of Juneteenth actions. The bundle consists of studying passages and comprehension questions, a poster, a podcast challenge rubric, “What Freedom Means to Us” interview questions, and a math worksheet.
What’s Juneteenth?
Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African People in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Previous to this date, many enslavers withheld discover of freedom from these they enslaved. Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had taken impact within the Confederacy (on paper), federal troops arrived in Galveston and Main Basic Gordon Granger lastly issued the next order, informing folks of emancipation: “The folks of Texas are knowledgeable that in accordance with a proclamation from the Government of america, all slaves are free …,” Basic Order No. 3.
Whereas not all African People in Texas have been freed on this date as a result of refusal of their enslavers or assaults in opposition to them that result in excessive hurt or demise, Juneteenth, also called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Liberation Day, and Jubilee Day, is essentially the most broadly celebrated days of emancipation in america. In its 128th yr, Black People proceed to seek out methods to rejoice, together with cookouts, parades, public occasions, musical performances, activism, and group work. For educators, Juneteenth offers a gorgeous alternative to rejoice Black People and to show genuine U.S. historical past to their college students.
Juneteenth Actions
Listed below are 19 Juneteenth actions to assist get you began.
1. Create footage, posters, or journal entries
The National Museum of African American History & Culture has created a information full with Juneteenth actions, sources, and a e book checklist to assist college students with celebrating and understanding this vacation. One exercise asks college students to create posters, footage, or journal entries about modifications they wish to see on the earth after which talk about how they may also help make them occur.
2. Learn books about Juneteenth
Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop tells us that books might be mirrors (see your self mirrored), home windows (look by way of to see the expertise of others), and sliding glass doorways (enable us to enter that world). First, watch the video under to be taught extra about this essential thought. Then share a collection of books that enable your college students to see themselves or view the experiences of others within the context of African American historical past and tradition. Listed below are some Juneteenth e book suggestions from PBS Kids and Essence.
3. Watch movies and talk about along with your college students
For instance, use this video illustrated by Los Angeles–primarily based artist Loveis Smart and narrated by LeVar Burton. Then talk about the photographs and poetry within the video.
Or use this video about Juneteenth on TED Ed.
Artwork is an accessible type of studying for college students to share their understanding by way of creativity and expression. On this lesson from Learning for Justice, college students can create public artwork to share their data about Juneteenth with their communities.
5. Introduce and talk about main sources just like the Emancipation Proclamation
The Colorado Department of Education describes main sources as “the uncooked supplies of historical past—unique paperwork and objects which have been created on the time below research.” For Juneteenth, share the Emancipation Proclamation along with your college students and put together questions and dialogue on your class as you research this supply.
6. Learn and write about Frederick Douglass’ keynote “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass gave this speech and said, “The Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You might rejoice, I need to mourn.” Share the speech along with your college students and full a writing exercise asking college students about their ideas on the 4th of July and Frederick Douglass’ speech. Did it change their perspective on the vacation?
You may watch the speech, as learn by Douglass’ descendants, within the video under.
7. Train about reparations
On this lesson from Zinn Education Project, college students will “tackle the function of activist-experts to enhance upon a Congressional invoice for reparations for Black folks.” You may also be taught from Motion for Black Lives (M4BL) and do some studying of your personal on the meaning and purpose of reparations.
8. Invite a particular visitor to talk about Juneteenth
Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau has a listing of audio system whom you possibly can invite to talk about Juneteenth. You may also ask somebody out of your local people to contribute!
9. Deliver Black Pleasure to your classroom
The National Museum of African American History & Culture teaches us that Black Pleasure is “resistance, resilience, and reclamation.” Do some self-learning by studying this text with various views on Black Pleasure to present you concepts of how and why to carry this into your classroom throughout Juneteenth and all the time.
10. Learn to have a culturally responsive classroom from Unearthing Pleasure
Juneteenth (and all the time!) is a crucial time to judge your instructing practices, and Unearthing Pleasure by Gholdy Muhammad is the right place to begin. In this article, you’ll be taught all about what it means to have pleasure in a culturally and traditionally responsive classroom.
11. Have fun Black creatives
In a time when Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” was removed from an elementary school due to a parent complaint, it continues to be essential that we share the work of Black authors, artists, and creators.
12. Assist native Black companies
You are able to do this by sharing about companies along with your college students, inviting native enterprise homeowners to be visitor audio system, creating commercials, or just buying from them! In case you are searching for Black companies in your space, start with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
13. Attend an area Juneteenth celebration
In lots of cities across the nation, Juneteenth is well known with festivals, barbecues, reside music, and extra. When you can attend a area journey to an area celebration, do it, or spend a weekend doing a little bit of celebrating by yourself or with family and friends.
14. Take a digital area journey to a Black historical past museum
When you can’t go to an area Juneteenth celebration along with your college students, or if there isn’t one accessible to you, take a digital go to to one of these 12 museums across the nation.
15. Be taught the Juneteenth music
https://youtu.be/vMR11wbKrmg?si=xr_6tkwyVJ2kE5ao
When you haven’t heard of the YouTube channel Gracie’s Nook, now’s the time! Share this Juneteenth music along with your class and be taught the lyrics collectively.
16. Begin a dialogue along with your class about freedom
On this article by Time magazine, the creator writes concerning the various definitions of freedom. What does freedom imply to your college students? Is everybody free? Use this list of discussion protocols from Cult of Pedagogy to pick out which protocol will work greatest on your group.
17. Learn and replicate about June 17, 2021
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden consecrated Juneteenth as a nationwide vacation. Read Biden’s speech and have college students do some reflective writing on the next query: Why did it take so lengthy for Juneteenth to be consecrated as a nationwide vacation?
18. Have fun with crimson meals and find out about its cultural significance
Like many cultural celebrations, you’ll typically discover Black People celebrating Juneteenth with meals! Be taught the historical past of the meals eaten on this vacation, together with the significance of red foods.
19. Decide to anti-racism and celebrating Black historical past all yr lengthy
This Juneteenth, proceed your journey in anti-racism and decide to lifelong studying and even unlearning potential biases. Have fun the true, full, and delightful historical past, tales, literature, and creativity of Black People all yr lengthy.
Get your free Juneteenth printable actions bundle!
We created a Juneteenth actions bundle to assist train your college students about this essential day. The bundle consists of studying passages and comprehension questions, a poster, a podcast challenge rubric, “What Freedom Means to Us” interview questions, and a math worksheet.
Plus, try our checklist of 75 Inspiring Juneteenth Quotes to share with everybody!
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