MYSTERY
Historians are observant. In this lesson, students will explore the history of Juneteenth and how it developed organically and has recently been adopted as a civic holiday in the majority of U.S. states. They will use primary sources to discover how African Americans use this holiday to demonstrate resistance to the history of enslavement while also celebrating the joys of freedom, community, and traditions.
“As a second and third grade teacher for the entirety of my career I had long taught students history through inquiry. Seeing students explore history in this way has been SUCH a joy! Lightbulb moments galore! A teacher’s dream!...unlike lessons I had taught in the past, I didn’t have to find the primary sources. I didn’t have to research them. I didn’t have to write the lesson plan from scratch. I didn’t have to do anything but read the lesson plan… and teach the lesson!”
“I just used the first lesson in the Mapping Unit. It was so great to get students talking about what they noticed and also expand their thinking on how maps have a special purpose to the user.”
"I love that students got to look at REAL court cases! And it was so easy to use!"
"I liked the simplicity of the handouts. Not too much there to be overwhelming--just enough. Simple, clear directions. The photographs of the clues were great for the students to have."
This Mystery is included in the following Private i History Detectives Unit:
How Do We Celebrate Our Shared Traditions?
Other Mysteries in this Unit: