Instructions
Welcome to your Juneteenth Discovery Journey! Follow these steps to complete the worksheet:
- Read the short story about Juneteenth.
- Answer the discovery questions that follow.
- Match the historic symbols to their meanings.
- Fill out the Juneteenth Jubilee Planner to design your own community celebration.
- Reflect and Draw your ideas about freedom.
- If you want an extra challenge, try the Super Explorer Challenge at the end!
The Story of Freedom: What is Juneteenth?
Long ago in the United States, millions of Black people were enslaved. They were forced to work without pay and were not allowed to make their own choices.
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed a very important paper called the Emancipation Proclamation. This paper declared that all enslaved people were now free!
However, back then, there were no cell phones, computers, or TVs. News traveled very slowly by horse and boat. Because of this, many people did not hear the good news right away. In Galveston, Texas, enslaved people had to wait two and a half years to find out they were free!
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston and read the news out loud. The people cheered, danced, and celebrated. This historic day became known as Juneteenth (combining "June" and "Nineteenth"). Today, it is a national holiday celebrated with picnics, parades, music, and family gatherings.
Part 1: Quick Discovery Questions
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
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Juneteenth is a blend of which two words?
Answer: ___
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Why did it take two and a half years for the people in Galveston, Texas, to learn they were free?
Answer: ___
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In what year did the news of freedom finally arrive in Galveston, Texas?
Answer: ___
Part 2: Decode the Symbols
Draw a line from each Juneteenth symbol to its special meaning!
| Symbol | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Red Foods & Drinks (like red velvet cake and strawberry soda) | A. Represents a brand-new beginning and hope for the future. | |
| The Juneteenth Flag Star | B. Represents Texas (the "Lone Star State") where the holiday began. | |
| The Curved Horizon Line on the Flag | C. Represents strength, resilience, and honoring the ancestors who survived. |
Part 3: My Juneteenth Jubilee Planner
Imagine you are in charge of planning a Juneteenth celebration for your neighborhood or school! Use the planner below to design your event.
We have filled in the first row as an example to help you get started.
| Celebration Category | What We Will Do | Why This Shows the Spirit of Juneteenth |
|---|---|---|
| Example: Food & Drink | We will serve strawberry lemonade and red cupcakes. | Red foods honor the strength and joy of ancestors. |
| 1. Music & Dance | ||
| 2. History & Learning | ||
| 3. Community Art Craft | ||
| 4. Games & Play |
Part 4: Reflect on Freedom
Freedom means having the right to make your own choices, learn, grow, and live safely.
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What does "freedom" mean to you in your daily life?
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In the box below, draw a picture of what freedom looks like to you (e.g., a bird flying, people holding hands, reading a book you love). If you prefer, write a poem about freedom instead!
| +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | |
|---|---|
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Part 5: Super Explorer Challenge (Optional)
The Juneteenth Flag uses three main colors: Red, White, and Blue. Why do you think the creators of the flag chose the exact same colors as the American flag?
Hint: Think about where the newly freed people lived and their rights as citizens.
Answer: _____
Answer Key
Part 1: Quick Discovery Questions
- June and Nineteenth.
- News traveled very slowly because there were no phones, internet, or modern technology, and Texas was very far away from where the Union soldiers started.
- 1865.
Part 2: Decode the Symbols
- Red Foods & Drinks -> C. Represents strength, resilience, and honoring the ancestors who survived.
- The Juneteenth Flag Star -> B. Represents Texas (the "Lone Star State") where the holiday began.
- The Curved Horizon Line on the Flag -> A. Represents a brand-new beginning and hope for the future.
Part 3: My Juneteenth Jubilee Planner
(Student answers will vary. Sample ideas below:)
- Music & Dance: Play African drums or listen to freedom songs / To share joy and celebrate culture together.
- History & Learning: Read a book about Harriet Tubman or Juneteenth / To remember and honor history.
- Community Art Craft: Paint a collaborative mural of a giant star / To show we are stronger when we work together.
- Games & Play: Have a three-legged race or potato sack race / To celebrate the freedom to play and enjoy community.
Part 4: Reflect on Freedom
(Student answers will vary. Look for reflections on choice, safety, education, or self-expression.)
Part 5: Super Explorer Challenge
Sample Answer: The colors red, white, and blue were chosen to show that formerly enslaved people and their descendants are Americans, and they are entitled to all the same rights, freedom, and liberty as any other citizen of the United States.