Background information and resources for including Juneteenth in your classroom.
Teaching Juneteenth and the Meaning of Freedom
Juneteenth reminds us that freedom has never been a single moment; it’s a journey. This NEA resource page helps educators bring that story into the classroom with honesty and care. From historical context to lesson plans and book recommendations, it’s a powerful toolkit for meaningful learning.
Although Juneteenth is commemorated when most K-12 schools are on summer break, it remains a valuable part of our nation's history and an essential reminder of slavery's legacy in the United States, and should be taught within other lessons on American history.
To help educators include it in their curricular materials, we've compiled the following background reading, lessons, and recommended book lists.