There has always been something magical about the month of June for me. I suspect it’s a result of the lingering feelings from childhood when June meant school was out, and I could spend my days traipsing through the creeks near my house, and spend the evenings in the cool summer air stargazing and catching lightning bugs. Regardless of the reason, each year a giddiness goes through me when I realize June is here.
June may mean school is out for many students, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. Whether you are an educator teaching summer school or a parent/guardian who is looking for educational resources to use with your children this summer, the month of June is rich with events that provide perfect opportunities for learning. Explore these five topics with accompanying lesson plans that you may want to teach this month:
Anne Frank’s Birthday
Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929. Her birthday is an ideal time to teach secondary students about her story and the Holocaust.
Father’s Day
Father’s Day is June 18 this year, and it can be the perfect time to engage children in not only celebrating Father’s Day but also in improving their literacy skills. Explore these two resources for grades K-8 below.
Onward: Developing Literacy Skills with the Disney Pixar Film
Activity | Grades 3-8
Juneteenth
On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger proclaimed the end of slavery to individuals in Galveston, Texas. Abraham Lincoln had outlawed slavery more than two years before with the Emancipation Proclamation, but the enforcement of the end of slavery in Texas had been poor and inconsistent until Granger arrived. President Biden declared it as a national holiday in 2021. Use these grades 1-12 resources to celebrate Juneteenth.
World Refugee Day
The United Nations organizes World Refugee Day each year on June 20, as a day to recognize and honor refugees across the globe. Use these K-12 resources to educate young people on the challenges that refugees face.
Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots began on June 28, 1969, sparking what many consider to be the start of the organized LGBTQIA+ rights movement. Today, we continue to recognize the anniversary of this important event. Teach young people about the history of the riots with these two resources.
Stonewall Outloud: Personal Accounts of the Riots
Activity, Handout | Grades 9-12, Higher Education
If you’re looking for additional resources to teach this month, check out these curated collections covering June recognitions: Black Music Appreciation Month, Caribbean American Heritage Month, Immigrant Heritage Month and Pride Month.
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Megan Ortmeyer is an SML Team Member and has worked in the AFT Educational Issues Department since fall 2018. She received her M.A. in education policy studies in May 2020 from the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the George Washington University.
