A Juneteenth Video Lesson
Teach your students about Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in America and is the newest federal holiday, with an Edpuzzle Original video lesson.
Illustration by Edpuzzle Staff
On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed an act establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Met with overwhelming bipartisan support, Juneteenth was the first new federal holiday to be created in almost 40 years.
During the President’s remarks at the Signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, he said:
“And that’s why we must understand that Juneteenth represents not only the commemoration of the end of slavery in America more than 150 years ago, but the ongoing work to have to bring true equity and racial justice into American society, which we can do.
In short, this day doesn’t just celebrate the past; it calls for action today.”
Inspire your students to action by teaching them the history of Juneteenth with this Edpuzzle Original video lesson.
A Juneteenth Video Lesson for Grades 3-12
The video opens with an animated telling of the story of Molly Harrel, a seven-year-old girl who was enslaved.
We find Molly on June 19, 1865, the day that the plantation owner where Molly was enslaved announced a proclamation from the federal government: all slaves in the state of Texas were now free.
Video length: 7 mins. 23 secs.
The content of the video lesson allows you the flexibility to adapt it to elementary, middle, or high school, so you can use Edpuzzle’s built-in questions or add your own to personalize it to your specific group of students.
Key Takeaways from the Juneteenth Video Lesson
In this video lesson, students will learn about the Emancipation Proclamation, which legally freed all enslaved people in the seceded states in 1863.
The video also reviews the 13th Amendment, which Constitutionally outlawed slavery throughout the entire country, and was not passed until 1865.
It explores the early celebrations of Juneteenth, which included barbecue and dressing up in fancy clothes, and mostly took place in Texas. Formerly enslaved people used Juneteenth to celebrate their independence, survival, and freedom.
It wasn’t until 1980 that individual states began recognizing Juneteenth as an official state holiday, and in 2021, Juneteenth became an official federal holiday.
Finally, students will learn about the Juneteenth flag and what it symbolizes:
- A star for Texas (the Lone Star State, where the holiday originated) and to represent the freedom of enslaved people in all 50 states
- The burst as a symbol of a new beginning
- The arc across as a symbol of a new horizon
- The colors of red, white, and blue for the United States
How will you commemorate Juneteenth with your students? Let us know your feedback on this Edpuzzle Original video lesson by tagging us on Twitter, and share your Juneteenth lesson plans with our incredible teacher community.