Black history, from ancient African culture to famous black Americans, was the focus of a new learning experience for some of Indian Land Middle School's sixth graders.

English teacher Michele Wallach and social studies teachers Robin Mitchell and Sue Fennell created collaborative lessons that immersed the students in the subject. In Wallach and Fennell's classes, the students learned about ancient African civilization. In Mitchell's class, students listened to Gullah speakers and storytellers on gullah.net, a South Carolina Educational Television-sponsored site. They also read books that sparked discussions on black history, such as "Tar Beach" and "The People Who Could Fly."

"Tar Beach" is based on a story quilt made by author Faith Ringgold. To give the students a hands-on experience, the teachers helped them make their own quilt squares.

"The kids worked so hard on them," Mitchell said. "It was fun, and it turned out awesome."

With the help of parents and other community volunteers, the students created four quilts. Some of the squares feature traditional African scenes while others mimicked traditional African fabrics. One of the quilts featured biographical squares that featured famous black Americans.

"Quilt it, make it, play with it, hear it, understand it," Mitchell said. "We just want it to be engaging."

This is the second collaborative unit the trio has undertaken. At the beginning of the school year, Mitchell, Fennell and Wallach did a collaborative unit on China that immersed the students in China and Chinese culture, from literature to artifacts and traditional art.

"It gives the kids a hook to see the same material presented by different people," Mitchell said.

"When we all work together it just makes more sense. They always remember those kinds of lessons."