Free Juneteenth Resources: Books, Printables & Lesson Plans

Juneteenth, observed each year on June 19, marks the moment in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas were finally informed of their freedom — over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth is a powerful celebration of freedom, Black history, resilience, and identity.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, librarian, community organizer, or lifelong learner, having accessible, high-quality, and free Juneteenth resources can make a big difference in how we share and honor this history.

In this guide, you’ll find curated lists of free books, printables, and lesson plans to help educate, inspire, and commemorate Juneteenth in classrooms, homes, and communities.

📚 Free Books & Read-Alouds (For Kids and Adults)

1. Children’s Picture Books (with Read-Alouds Available)

• “Juneteenth for Mazie” by Floyd Cooper
  🟢 YouTube Read-Aloud: [Search “Juneteenth for Mazie read aloud” on YouTube]*
  A gentle story that introduces young readers to the concept of freedom and resilience through Mazie’s eyes.
• “All Different Now” by Angela Johnson
  🟢 Free teaching guides available from publisher websites
  A poetic narrative of the first Juneteenth morning seen through the eyes of a child.
• “Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free” by Alice Faye Duncan
  🟢 Educator guide available on publisher’s site
  Tells the true story of Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” and her activism for making it a national holiday.

2. Middle Grade and YA

• “Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre” by Carole Boston Weatherford
  🟢 Available through library apps (Libby/OverDrive)
  While not specifically about Juneteenth, it gives powerful context to racial history in America.
• “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
  🟢 Free curriculum materials from the publisher or Teaching Tolerance
  A powerful remix of historical narratives designed for young adults.

3. Books for Adults (Free PDF and Open Access Options)

• “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”
  ✅ Free public domain copy: Project Gutenberg
  An essential firsthand account of slavery and liberation.
• “The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B. Du Bois
  ✅ Free access: [LibriVox audiobook & Internet Archive]
• Black Freedom Struggle in the United States
  ✅ Free primary sources database: blackfreedom.proquest.com

🖨️ Free Juneteenth Printables for Classrooms and Home

1. Coloring Pages and Posters

• Juneteenth Flag Coloring Sheet
  ✅ Available at [ColoringPageDB.com], [TeachersPayTeachers Free Section]
• Juneteenth Symbols (Chains breaking, fists raised, red foods)
  ✅ Printable art and word searches for grades K–5
• “I Am Free Because…” Printable Writing Prompt
  ✅ Use this as a reflective journal or bulletin board display

2. Interactive Worksheets

• Timeline matching: Events from slavery to Juneteenth
• Vocabulary builder: emancipation, liberation, resistance, celebration
• Acrostic poems for “FREEDOM” or “JUNETEENTH”
• Word scrambles and crossword puzzles

All are available for free from websites like:

• [Education.com]
• [TeachersPayTeachers] (search “Juneteenth” + filter by price: free)
• [Twinkl USA] (free trials available)

3. Printable Crafts

• Juneteenth Freedom Chains
  ✅ Students write things they’re grateful for on paper links and form a chain
• Pan-African Flag Banners
  ✅ Decorate classrooms or libraries with student-made flags

📚 Free Lesson Plans and Curriculum Guides

1. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)

🟢 Juneteenth Learning Lab
Includes downloadable activities, timelines, videos, and lesson plans for elementary through high school levels.
🔗 https://nmaahc.si.edu

2. Teaching Tolerance (Now Learning for Justice)

🟢 Curriculum kits on slavery, civil rights, and liberation
Includes:

• Lesson plans on Reconstruction
• “Hard History” resources for teaching beyond surface-level content
  🔗 https://learningforjustice.org

3. PBS LearningMedia

🟢 Juneteenth videos and standards-aligned lessons
Includes:

• Short documentaries
• Student reflection guides
• Reading comprehension worksheets
  🔗 https://pbslearningmedia.org

4. Zinn Education Project

🟢 Critical thinking-based lesson plans on emancipation, resistance, and people’s history
✅ Lessons like “Who Freed the Slaves?” or “Reconstructing the South”
🔗 https://zinnedproject.org

💡 How to Use These Resources Effectively

Whether you’re teaching in a classroom or discussing Juneteenth at home:

• Start with storytelling: Books and videos set the emotional and historical tone.
• Make it visual: Use art, crafts, and symbols to bring the day to life.
• Invite reflection: Use journal prompts or group discussions to deepen understanding.
• Connect it to today: Discuss the legacy of freedom and the continued work for justice.

👨🏽‍🏫 Who These Resources Are For

• K–12 teachers and homeschoolers
• Parents looking to start meaningful conversations
• Community leaders organizing events or youth groups
• Librarians curating Juneteenth displays
• Churches and faith-based programs
• HR teams planning educational Juneteenth observances

📢 Bonus: Where to Share and Promote These Resources

• School newsletters
• Church bulletins
• Social media (use #JuneteenthEducation)
• Community centers
• Neighborhood Facebook groups
• PTA and DEI group meetings

By sharing free, accessible Juneteenth tools, we help grow understanding — and build bridges between past and present.

🖤 Final Thoughts

Juneteenth education isn’t just about history — it’s about healing, identity, and liberation. When we equip our homes, schools, and communities with free resources, we make space for truth-telling, empathy, and empowerment.

Let Juneteenth be more than a day off — let it be a day to read, teach, create, and honor the journey toward freedom.