Check out Good Trouble for Juneteenth!

Juneteenth: Why We Celebrate

This lesson introduces the ideas behind Juneteenth to elementary students aged 6–10. They’ll learn about the holiday, then pretend that they’ve been hired to create a Juneteenth celebration in their community’s local park to commemorate the event. Learners will need to research Juneteenth to find out what it represents and why it’s celebrated. Then they create a scene that depicts how families across the United States observe the occasion. They can even include a parade! 

Juneteenth: Freedom Day

This version of the lesson is intended for middle and high school students aged 11–18. Learners will conduct more advanced discussions and research before moving on to two build activities in Minecraft. First, they’ll create an aerial view of a self-designed book cover that would grab the attention of a fellow student who wants to learn more about Juneteenth. The second activity invites students into a museum world where they’ll develop exhibits displaying the ways their families celebrate important occasions and statues that represent Juneteenth.  

Juneteenth Build Challenge

The build challenge is appropriate for learners of all ages – or for anyone else interested in educating themselves on this important day. For this activity, students play the role of museum curators for the new Juneteenth Museum that’s opening in 2021. They’ll need to research the holiday to learn what it is and why it’s significant. As the curators, they’re tasked with including artifacts that commemorate the historical significance of Juneteenth — representing people, places, events, documents, and more. They can also add images of the various ways people celebrate the holiday across the United States. 

"These lessons are powerful tools for helping you inspire empathy and a sense of social justice in your students. You can also join a special lesson jam with Felisa and Natasha on June 16 to help lead these activities. Get your learners ready for a meaningful Juneteenth and important discussions of racial equity!"

For more information about game-based learning with Minecraft: Education Edition, check out how to get started here.