Summary
Each June we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States in 1865. Across the country, family and friends gather to celebrate and learn more about the history and experience of African Americans before and after slavery.
Viewer safety
Ages 7+Emotional themes
Covers the end of slavery in the United States -- a heavy topic handled plainly and briefly. Preview so you can set it up for your class.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Short explainer (1 min) from PBS LearningMedia's *All About the Holidays*.
- What news finally reached Galveston, Texas in June of 1865?
- Why did that news arrive so long after freedom was declared?
- How do families and communities mark Juneteenth today?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: emancipation, freedom, Union, celebration.
Try it: Write two sentences: one about what changed on Juneteenth, and one about why people still gather to remember it.