June’s Joys: Exploring Festivities and Cultural Celebrations with Kids!

 


June arrives with a burst of vibrant celebrations and acknowledgments! From cultural observances to global events, this month offers a rich canvas of learning experiences for young minds. Let’s embark on an exciting journey through the wonders of June together!


Embracing June’s Diversity

Engaging Activities


Pride Month: Recognize and celebrate LGBTQ+ communities. Discuss equality, diversity, and inclusivity. Encourage acceptance and understanding.

World Environment Day: Highlight environmental conservation. Engage in eco-friendly activities, plant trees, or participate in nature walks.

Juneteenth: Explore the significance of Juneteenth and its importance in African American history. Discuss freedom, equality, and cultural heritage.

Father’s Day: Celebrate fatherhood and paternal figures. Engage in activities expressing gratitude and appreciation for caregivers.


What can you do with these printables?

These are some suggestions:
  • Talk about each special day
  • Have students do a blog about it
  • Organise a writing competition
  • Get students to write a song or rap about it
  • Do a role-play about it
  • Have students design a poster about it
  • Watch a video about it
  • Display a quiz about it
  • Go to a museum about it
  • Create a reading list about it
  • Research more about it online


Every day is a special day in the ESL classroom – but these are our favorite!

June is…

Aquarium Month

Candy Month

Dairy Month

National Gardening Week - First full week of month

Adopt a Cat Month

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month

Rose Month

Fishing Month


Special Days:

5- Hot Air Balloon Day

5- Doughnut Day 

5- World Environment Day

5- Dragon Boat Festival

6- Yo-Yo Day

7- Chocolate Ice Cream Day

12- Flip Flop Day 

12- Red Rose Day

14- Flag Day

17- Eat your Vegetables Day

18- Go Fishing!

19- International Picnic Day

19- Juneteenth

21- Summer Day / Winter Day

21- Fathers’ Day

22- World Rainforest Day

28- Paul Bunyan Day

29- International Mud Day

30- Meteor Day


Read-aloud

Here's a list of engaging read-aloud books perfect for young learners in June:

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle: A classic story about the life cycle of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, great for discussing change and growth. Grab more ideas here

"Summer" by Alice Low: A book that explores different aspects of summer, perfect for discussions about the season and its activities.

"Jamberry" by Bruce Degen: A delightful rhyming story about a boy and a bear going on a berry-filled adventure, perfect for exploring rhymes and summer fun.

"The Watermelon Seed" by Greg Pizzoli: A humorous story about a crocodile who's afraid of swallowing a watermelon seed, perfect for laughs and discussions about overcoming fears.

"A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee" by Chris Van Dusen: Join Mr. Magee and his dog as they go on a camping adventure full of mishaps and surprises, perfect for discussions about camping and outdoor activities.

"Ladybug Girl at the Beach" by Jacky Davis and David Soman: Follow Ladybug Girl as she explores the beach and discovers the wonders of the seashore.

"The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark" by Deborah Diesen: A story about a fish who discovers that the dark isn't as scary as he thought, great for discussing fears and courage.

"How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by Mark Teague: A humorous story about a boy's exaggerated tale of his summer vacation adventures, perfect for sparking imagination and storytelling.


These books cover themes of summer, outdoor activities, nature, and adventures, providing ample opportunities for discussions, vocabulary building, and imaginative storytelling for young learners in June. Enjoy sharing these delightful stories with your students!


Themes to teach during June

June offers a variety of thematic opportunities for ESL classes. Here are some engaging themes that could be relevant and interesting for ESL learners during this month:

Summer and Vacation: Exploring vocabulary related to summer activities, discussing travel plans, and summer holidays. Grab some ideas here

World Environment Day: Discussing environmental issues, conservation, and ways to protect the environment. 


Outdoor Activities: Exploring vocabulary related to outdoor sports, hobbies, and activities, discussing the benefits of being active outdoors.

Father's Day/Family: Discussing family relationships, honoring fathers or caregivers, and exploring family traditions. 
Grab some ideas here

Weather and Seasons: Discussing the arrival of summer, comparing and contrasting seasons, and how weather affects activities.

Cultural Celebrations: Learning about cultural celebrations or events that occur in June worldwide.

End of School Year: Reflecting on the academic year, discussing achievements, and looking forward to summer break.

Healthy Living: Focusing on health-related vocabulary, discussing summer diets, exercise routines, and staying healthy during the warmer months.


These themes offer ample opportunities for vocabulary expansion, cultural understanding, discussions on global issues, and language practice within an ESL classroom. Tailor these themes to suit the language proficiency level and interests of your students for a more engaging learning experience.



June cultural celebrations and observances across the globe:


Dragon Boat Festival (China and East Asian countries): Typically observed in June, this festival involves dragon boat races, eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and honoring the ancient poet Qu Yuan.

Juneteenth (United States): Celebrated on June 19th, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It involves parades, historical reenactments, music, and cultural celebrations.

Inti Raymi (Peru): Celebrated on June 24th, it's an ancient Incan festival honoring the Sun God Inti. It involves ceremonies, processions, and traditional dances in Cusco.

Eid al-Fitr (Islamic holiday): The date varies based on the Islamic lunar calendar, marking the end of Ramadan. It includes prayers, feasting, giving to charity, and family gatherings.

Glastonbury Festival (United Kingdom): Held in June (or sometimes July), it's one of the world's largest music and performing arts festivals, featuring diverse musical genres, arts, and culture.

Midsummer (Scandinavia and Baltic countries): Celebrated on June 21st, it marks the summer solstice with bonfires, dancing around maypoles, singing, and traditional foods.

Dia de São João (Brazil and Portugal): Celebrated on June 24th, it honors St. John the Baptist with festivals, dancing, fireworks, and traditional foods like barbecued sardines.

Naadam Festival (Mongolia): Held in July, but some regions celebrate in late June. It includes traditional Mongolian sports like horse racing, archery, and wrestling, along with cultural events.

These celebrations in June showcase a diverse array of cultural traditions, historical commemorations, and festive customs celebrated by various communities worldwide. Each celebration carries its unique significance and offers insights into the values and customs of different cultures.


Let's make this June a time of acceptance, environmental awareness, and celebration in our ESL classroom! Embrace diversity, honor heritage, and promote environmental stewardship.


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How do you plan to celebrate these significant days in your classroom? Share your ideas below, and let's create a vibrant learning community together!
Happy June!

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