• The church is important to black history.church image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
  
  The church is an appropriate place to learn black history considering the importance of the church throughout black history. There is a lot of information for children to learn, and they learn most of it in school. The church, however, can add to children's knowledge in ways that can be more informal and creative. There is a lot to focus on for black history and many age-appropriate ideas for children to learn and share with others.
  
  

Black History Collage and Museum

• Have younger children cut out pictures from magazines and old books to make a large collage for display. The children can talk about the people and events as they make the collage. Older children can create a museum in a room or even a hallway, placing photos, drawings and other objects that tell the black history story. Have the youth lead visitors through the museum and explain the exhibits.
  
  

Black History Through Song

• Teach the children songs that people sang during or about important episodes in black history. While learning the songs, the children can discuss the history each song represents and, later, present a performance to the church.
  
  

Who Am I? or Who Did This?

• Have each child represent a person from black history or bring in an item (or an image of an item) invented by a black person. The child gives information about the person or item, and the audience attempts to guess the answer. Print an answer sheet that you can hand out to the audience.
  
  

History Quilt

• Make a teaching quilt. Have each child contribute her own square to the quilt. Each square should represent a person or event in black history. Have adult quilters work with the children to complete the quilt. Display the quilt, and ask the children to explain their squares.
  
  

Oral History

• Have children invite older church and community members to the church and interview them about their experiences. Record the interviews and transcribe them to make a booklet.
  
  

Black History and the Church

• Older children can learn about the contributions of the church during and after slavery and during the civil rights movement. Create a presentation that the youth can share with the church membership
  
  

Juneteenth

• Juneteenth is the celebration of the emancipation of slaves in America. Children in church can develop a church and community jubilee celebration. The event could be an outdoor fair or a performance of music, dance and narrative.
  
  

Black History Sundays

• Have youth make a brief presentation each Sunday before church service during Black History Month. Present information about an historical person, event or fact.
  
  

Tips

• Black history websites provide free downloads of documents children can use for black history: coloring pages, quizzes and other materials.