SEASONAL IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Teaching in June: Lesson Plan ideas Elementary Teachers Need to Know

The secret to teaching in June and keeping students engaged and learning is integrating holidays and special days into your instruction. There are so many holidays and special days in June to celebrate with your elementary students. They make great inspiration for June lesson plan ideas! Some of the more popular ones are Pride Month, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Eric Carle’s Birthday, and the first day of summer. You’ll find the full list of June events, holidays, and special days teachers can celebrate and use as teaching topics and themes below!

June Holidays and Special Days

As you starting brainstorming June lesson plan ideas, add these June holidays and special days to your teacher planner.

Month-Long June Events

Below are month-long June events you can use as topics and themes for teaching in June. They are great inspiration as you collect June lesson plan ideas.

Pride Month Activities

Pride Month is celebrated during the month of June internationally every year. This month is dedicated to representing, acknowledging, accepting people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This is the perfect time to educate yourself and others on what different pride flags mean and the meaning behind different terms so you can be an ally and make others feel loved and accepted. Check out the related resources below!

Immigrant Heritage Month Activities

In the United States, people celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month during the month of June every year. This month celebrates and acknowledges diversity and culture within societies. It also encourages people to celebrate their native culture and explore others too! This is the perfect time to explore heritage, culture and traditions from students in the classroom who most likely have many exciting things to share and celebrate! Check out the related resources below!

Caribbean American Heritage Month Activities

In the United States, people celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month during the month of June every year. This month celebrates and acknowledges Caribbean immigrants and their importance in the United States such as government, entertainment, sports, etc. This is the perfect time to explore Caribbean American history along with other diverse cultures to celebrate diversity during the month of June. Check out the related resources below!

June Holidays

Below are June holidays you can use as June lesson plan ideas.

Flag Day Activities

In the United States, people celebrate Flag Day on June 14th every year. This day celebrates and commemorates the adoption of the United States of America flag, which was adopted on June 14th, 1777. This is the perfect day to appreciate the incredible red, while and blue flag with your students and have them explore the history through videos, read alouds and worksheets.

Father’s Day Activities

Father’s Day is always on the third Sunday in June. The exact date changes every year. This day is dedicated to fatherhood and the men who helped raise and teach a child how to be an adult and live a happy life. This is the perfect day to create a father’s day craft with your students who can gift it to their own father or a man in their life who they appreciate and love! Check out the related resources below!

Juneteenth Activities

In the United States, people celebrate Juneteenth on June 19th every year. This day is dedicated to recognizing June 19th, 1865 which was the date where the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas received the news that they were finally free. This is the perfect day to explore this important historic date in your classroom through videos, and books. Check out the related resources below!

National Indigenous People Day in Canada Activities

In Canada, people celebrate National Indigenous People Day in Canada on June 21st every year. This day celebrates and recognizes everything that the first indigenous people did and their importance in Canadian history. This is the perfect day to research the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Indigenous people of Canada to explore the history and importance of National Indigenous People Day in Canada. Check out the related resources below!

Authors with Birthdays in June

Below are June holidays you can use as topics and themes for teaching in June. They are great inspiration for June lesson plan ideas!

Paul Galdones’ Birthday (6/2) Activities

Paul Galdone is a children’s book author and illustrator born on June 2, 1907. Paul Galdone is known for his popular picture books such as The Little Red Hen and The Three Billy Goats Gruff! Check out the related resources below!

Aaron Reynolds’ Birthday (6/4) Activities

Aaron Reynolds is an American author and Illustrator born on June 4, 1970. You may know Aaron Reynolds for his children’s books like Creepy Crayon!, Nerdy Birdy, Creepy Pair of Underwear, and Creepy Carrots. Check out the related resources below!

Cynthia Rylants’ Birthday (6/6) Activities

Cynthia Rylant is an American author and illustrator born on June 6, 1954. Cynthia Rylant is known for her popular children’s books like The Relatives Came and The Scarecrow. Check out the related resources below!

Steve Johnson’s Birthday (6/6) Activities

Steve Johnson is an American scientist and author born on June 6, 1968. He is known for his picture books such as My Many Colored Days, Who Moved My Cheese, Three Little Engines, A Poem for Peter, Shh! Bears Sleeping, A Boy Named FDR, and Dr. Seuss: The Great Doodler. Consider sharing one of these read alouds with your class.

Julia Cook’s Birthday (6/8) Activities

Julia Cook is a former teacher who is now a children’s book author born on June 8! You may know Julia Cook for her children’s books like My Mouth is a Volcano, A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue, and But it’s Not My Fault. Check out the related resources below!

Decibella and Her Six Inch Voice book companion

A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue book companion

Maurice Sendak’s Birthday (6/10) Activities

Maurice Sendak is an American author and Illustrator born on June 10, 1928. You may know him for his children’s books such as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, Chicken Soup with Rice, and Little Bear. Check out the related resources below!

Meg Medina’s Birthday (6/11) Activities

Meg Medina is an America’s children’s book author born on June 11, 1963. She is known for her picture’s books such as Tia Isa Wants a Car, The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind, Mango, Abuela and Me, and Burn Baby Burn. Consider reading aloud one of these stories to your class on this day.

Robert Munsch’s Birthday (6/11) Activities

Robert Munsch is an American-Canadian author born on June 11, 1945. You may know him for his adorable children’s books like Love You Forever, The Paper Bag Princess, Smelly Socks and Mortimer. Check out the related resources below!

Helen Lester’s Birthday (6/12) Activities

Helen Lester is an American children’s book author born on June 12, 1936. Helen Lester is known for her picture books including Hooway for Wodney Wat, Tacky the Penguin, and Tacky and the Winter Games along with many other entertaining children’s books! Check out the related resources below!

Jess Keating’s Birthday (6/15) Activities

Jess Keating is a zoologist and author. She was born on June 15th! She is known for her incredibly entertaining and informative animal and sea creature children’s books. Our favorite is Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist. Check out the related resources below!

Angela Johnson’s Birthday (6/18) Activities

Angela Johnson is an American children’s book author born on June 18, 1961. Angela Johnson is known for her incredible poetic children’s books about African American families, stories, and experiences! The First Part Last, When I am Old with You, The Leaving Morning, Toning the Sweep, Heaven and A Girl Like Me are just a few examples of Angela Johnson’s incredible picture books! All Different Now is our favorite! Consider reading aloud this book to your class today.

Chris Van Allsburg’s Birthday (6/18) Activities

Chris Van Allsburg is an American author and Illustrator born on June 18, 1949. You may know him for his children’s picture books such as Jumanji, The Polar Express, The Sweetest Fig, and Zathura. Check out the related resources below!

Michael Hall’s Birthday (6/24) Activities

Michael Hall is an author and illustrator born on June 24th. Michael Hall is well known for his children’s picture books including: Red: A Crayon’s Story, My Heart is a Zoo, Frankencrayon, It’s an Orange Aardvark! and Little I, along with many other colorful classics! Check out the related resources below!

Eric Carle’s Birthday (6/25) Activities

Eric Carle is an American author and Illustrator born on June 25, 1929. You may know him for his classic children’s books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear Brown Bear, From Head to Toe, and The Grouchy Ladybug. Check out the related resources below!

June Special Days

Below are special days in June that you can use as topics and themes for teaching in June. They are great inspiration for June lesson plan ideas!

National Pen Pal Day Activities

National Pen Pal Day is celebrated on June 1st every year internationally! On this day people are encouraged to write to a friend or make a pen pal tradition with someone you know, or maybe an online friend from a different country! This is the perfect day to have your students write a letter to someone and mail it to them to encourage writing letters while also celebrating National Pen Pal Day! Check out the related resources below!

National Egg Day Activities

National Egg Day is celebrated on June 3rd every year in the United States. This is an appreciation day for the breakfast food laid by a bird known as the egg which provides humans with nutrition! Today is the perfect day to enjoy scrambled, hardboiled, over easy, poached, or even deviled eggs to celebrate National Egg Day! Check out the related resources below!

World Bicycle Day (6/3) Activities

World Bicycle Day takes place on June 3rd every year internationally! This is a day dedicated to celebrating and appreciating the two wheeled vehicle that acts as both a form of transportation and exercise! This day reminds people about the benefits of using a bike which include being an affordable and environmentally friendly form of transportation, along with being an excellent form of fun and exercise during the warm months of the summer, especially June! Check out the related resources below!

National Cheese Day (6/4) Activities

National Cheese Day happens on June 4th every year. This is a day dedicated to celebrating the many varieties of this popular dairy product and to appreciate and celebrate this amazing food discovery. There are many delicious types of cheese such as cheddar, gouda, and American and you can eat it alone or add it to make your dish even more flavorful! Consider studying the history of cheese with your class or sharing related read alouds.

World Environment Day (6/5) Activities

World Environment Day occurs on June 5th every year and is a day dedicated to encouraging people to protect the environment and spread awareness of the importance of helping save the planet! This is the perfect day for you and your students to plant a tree and pick up trash around school grounds. Check out the related resources below!

National Donut Day Activities

National Donut Day is celebrated on the first Friday of June in the United States every year! This is a day dedicated to the morning pastry that’s often covered in chocolate, frosting and sprinkles and makes a great addition to your morning coffee! This is the perfect day to treat yourself and maybe even your students and bring in some yummy donuts to celebrate National Donut Day! Check out the related resources below!

National Best Friends Day (6/8) Activities

National Best Friends Day is celebrated on June 8th every year internationally. This is a day dedicated towards celebrating and appreciating the people you spend the most time with and tell everything to, known as your best friends! This is the perfect day to have your students write little notes of appreciation for all their best friends in their class or outside of the class which will promote kindness while also celebrating National Best Friends Day! Check out the related resources below!

World Oceans Day (6/8) Activities

World Oceans Day takes place on June 8th every year. This day is dedicated to celebrating and appreciating the beautiful blue waters, which are home to so many incredible sea creatures! This day was created to help spread awareness and inform people about the huge impact that humans have on the ocean. Consider reading aloud picture books to your students and playing videos about the ocean and animals living in it to celebrate this day and deepen students’ understanding of the topic. Check out the related resources below!

Ballpoint Pen Day (6/10) Activities

Ballpoint Pen Day is on June 10th every year and is a day to recognize this incredibly useful invention! This writing tool is extremely helpful and deserves to be celebrated. Consider treating yourself to some new ballpoint pens or gifting your class a classroom set!

World Refill Day (6/16) Activities

World Refill Day is on June 16th every year and is a day dedicated to bringing awareness to the importance of illuminating the overuse of plastic! This is the perfect day to start using a reusable water bottle and implementing a new habit of reusing and refilling it every day instead of drinking out of a plastic water bottle that you throw away after every use! This idea prevents plastic pollution, creates less waste, and makes the world more eco-friendly – one reusable water bottle at a time! Celebrate World Refill Day by treating yourself to a new, colorful and fun water bottle to start your refill journey!

National Flip Flop Day Activities

National Flip Flop Day is celebrated on the third Friday of June every year! This is a day dedicated to the summer shoe that’s perfect for the beach, pool or lake known as flip flops! This is the perfect day to find your flip flops in your closet or buy a brand new pair for the summer to celebrate National Flip Flop Day!

National Go Fishing Day (6/18) Activities

National Go Fishing Day is observed on June 18th every year! This national day celebrates the fun lake, pond, and ocean activity where you relax on the water, cast your line and hope for a fish to bite! This is the perfect day to celebrate fishing in your classroom through fish read alouds and activities. Check out the related resources below!

World Refugee Day (6/20) Activities

World Refugee Day takes place on June 20th and is a day to honor and recognize the refugees around the globe! This is an international day to celebrate the strength, perseverance and courage of these individuals who were forced to leave everything behind and flee their home due to war, persecution, or terror. Many refugees fear for their life during this scary time due to their race, religion, political opinion, or nationality. This is the perfect time to explore stories of refugee families with your students like Lubna and Pebble. Check out the related resources below!

First Day of Summer Activities

First Day of Summer is determined by the Summer Solstice which often happens around June 20-21st. This marks the first day of the summer season which means it’s time for summer vacation and warm weather to begin! This is the perfect day to celebrate summer with a cold drink while spending some time outdoors to celebrate the First Day of Summer! Check out the related resources below!

World Rainforest Day (6/22) Activities

World Rainforest Day is celebrated on June 22nd internationally every year! This is a day to recognize, appreciate and celebrate the incredible rainforest around the world. This is the perfect day to explore and learn about a specific rainforest with your students through videos, books and activities to celebrate World Rainforest Day!

National Pink Day (6/23) Activities

National Pink Day is celebrated on June 23rd internationally every year! This is a day dedicated to the beautiful color of pink which symbolizes love, beauty, femininity and sensitivity! This is the perfect day to wear your favorite pink article of clothing and go out and buy yourself some beautiful pink roses to celebrate National Pink Day! Check out the related resources below!

International Women in Engineering Day (6/23) Activities

International Women in Engineering Day takes place on June 23rd every year! This is a day to celebrate and recognize female engineers and encourage girls to pursue their education in engineering. Consider reading a story representing a female engineer. Suggestions include Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect. Check out the related resources below!

Bring Your Dog to Work Day Activities

Bring Your Dog to Work Day takes place on the Friday following Father’s Day each year! This is a fun day where some people bring their furry friend to work and meet their coworkers’ dogs too! Although bringing your dog to school sounds fun, make sure to look into if your school would allow this activity and if not, have your students bring in pictures or videos as a show and tell as a modified way to celebrate Bring Your Dog to Work Day. You can also read aloud the story, Officer Buckle and Gloria. Check out the related resources below!

International Sunglasses Day (6/27) Activities

International Sunglasses Day takes place on June 27th every year and is a day dedicated to the glasses we wear to protect our eyes from the sun. Sunglasses are both fun and helpful. Encourage your students to bring in their own pair of sunglasses and wear your own fun and goofy pair of big sunglasses to put a smile on your students faces, create memories, and make your kids giggle all while celebrating International Sunglasses Day!

Paul Bunyan Day (6/28) Activities

Paul Bunyan Day is celebrated on June 28th every year. This day is dedicated to the tales of the mighty lumberjack, Paul Bunyan. Paul Bunyan first appeared in print around 1906 and was known to be a folktale that was passed along through the lumberjack work/acquaintance circle! This is the perfect day to read aloud Paul Bunyan to your students. Check out the related resources below!

Camera Day (6/29) Activities

Camera Day takes place on June 29th every year. This is a day to celebrate the incredible memory capturing invention known as the camera by exploring the history of the camera. Another great way to celebrate Camera Day in your classroom is to bring in a camera or maybe even just use your phone camera to have a mini class photo shoot, print out the photos, and have your students decorate foam frames to keep as adorable keepsakes to bring home!

Social Media Day occurs on June 30th every year. This is a day to celebrate the world of social media and the large impact it has on our society. Social media is the perfect way to be entertained, learn new things, keep up with pop culture, and stay connected with friends and family members who may live far away. Consider discussing internet safety on this day with your class.