Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Jubilee Day, is an American holiday celebrated on June 19. It memorializes June 19, 1865, when Union general Gordon Granger read orders in Galveston, Texas, that all previously enslaved people in Texas were free. Juneteenth is also celebrated in a number of countries around the world who use the day to recognize the end of slavery and to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans.
The free Evan-Moor activities and projects below will help your children or students celebrate African American history and culture through well-known artists and writers.
Faith Ringgold – Story Quilt Art Project
Grades 1–6
Faith Ringgold is an important African American artist. She was born in Harlem, New York, in 1930. Her artwork has a fun, imaginative quality. Most of her works are quilted paintings. She paints on canvas and then quilts a border to sew on the edges. Quilted paintings were photographed for the illustrations in her book Tar Beach. Faith Ringgold often includes herself and people she knows in her paintings. In this art lesson, children learn about Faith Ringgold through her art and create their own story quilt.
Download the story quilt art lesson here from How to Teach Art to Children.
Augusta Savage – Reading and Writing Activities
Grade 5
Augusta Savage is a well-known sculptor, remembered for her extraordinary determination, groundbreaking art, and activism. This activity provides three articles describing the life and work of sculptor Augusta Savage, written at three levels of reading difficulty. Each article has a corresponding comprehension page and a text-based writing prompt. This unit also includes a visual literacy page, leveled vocabulary lists, a writing form, and graphic organizers. In this nonfiction reading activity, students will learn and reflect about Augusta Savage’s life’s work and how it affected future generations.
Download the Augusta Savage reading activities from Nonfiction Reading Practice.
Harriet Jacobs – Northward Bound Reading Activity
Grade 6
Harriet Jacobs was born in slavery, escaped, and spent nearly seven years hiding. She eventually came to New York and wrote about her life in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. In these reading activities, students read a one-page biographical sketch about Harriet Jacobs and a chapter from her book entitled “Northward Bound.” The additional reading comprehension activities help students better understand Harriet Jacobs’ narrative.
Download the Harriet Jacobs reading activity from Skill Sharpeners: Reading.
FREEDOM drawing and writing activity
Grades PreK–2
In these printable coloring pages, children color the words “Freedom” and “Juneteenth,” and then draw pictures and write to show what these words mean to them.
Download the Evan-Moor coloring pages here.
Suggested Books to Read
All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson
Suggested age range: 5–9 years
Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper
Suggested age range: 6–9 years
The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure by Steven Otfinoski
Suggested age range: 8–11 years
For more educational ideas and resources for grades PreK–8, subscribe to Evan-Moor’s free education newsletter.
Lisa Vitarisi Mathews is Evan-Moor’s executive editor. She has over 20 years’ experience in PreK–8 education, and has worked closely with teachers across the United States through Evan-Moor product training and workshops.