Unit Overview 

This unit explores the value of philanthropy in our world and shows students how struggles in life can be turned around and lead people to success. Through writing about and sharing their struggles with each other, students discover their personal passions for giving and that they are not alone on the path of life. Students research philanthropists on the Our State of Generosity website who have paved the road from struggle to success. 

Author: Katherine Roberts

Service Experience 
Students develop a service project to demonstrate the power they have to make a difference in their world and address a local community need, based on student interests. They present their spoken word poetry in a performance. At the performance, attendees must bring a donation item. 
Lessons in This Unit 
Unit: 
From Struggle to Success
Lesson 2 of 3
Grades: 
6
7
8

Students edit their memoir drafts, adding dialogue and figurative language in this guided writing session. This lesson will help students realize that struggles they experience in their lives often lead to a new understanding or lesson learned. Students will reflect on how their experience impacts others. They will use this realization to identify how they can address needs in their own community.

Unit: 
From Struggle to Success
Lesson 3 of 3
Grades: 
6
7
8

Students follow the example of philanthropists who impacted their community by cooperating rather than competing. Students identify their own giving passions and cooperate with each other and a community organization to plan a project. Examples of "cooperative philanthropists" are taken from the Our State of Generosity website.