G5 Ubuntu Joy Slides Ubuntu Joy
Grade 5 • Part 1: Black Boy Joy
"I am because we are."
Ubuntu
"I am because we are."
This South African value means that our humanity is tied to each other. When one person is happy, we all celebrate.
Collective Energy
Your joy is community power.
Black Boy Joy
Celebrating happiness as a form of strength and community connection.
Connecting the Soul
Milestones & Icons
Pharrell Williams
Through songs like "Happy," Pharrell shows the world that joy isn't just a feeling—it's an energy that can change the atmosphere.
Modern Soul
"Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth."
1963 March
Over 250,000 people gathered for jobs and freedom. This was Ubuntu in action—thousands of people moving as one soul.
Historical Soul
"We cannot walk alone." — Dr. King
The Joy Jam
Action!
Level 1: Shine
What is one thing about you that brings you pure joy? Share it with a partner!
Level 2: Multiply
How does your joy make the people around you feel better? That's Ubuntu.
G5 Joy Journal Worksheet Joy Journal
Grade 5 • Soul Foundations
Ubuntu Energy
Soul Name
Date
1
Personal Shine
Pharrell Williams uses his music to spread happiness. What is one thing you do or love that makes you feel "Happy"?
Sketch Your Joy Here
2
The Ubuntu Connection
In 1963, 250,000 people showed the power of community. How does your joy help the people around you? (Your family, friends, or class).
3
Marching Forward
If you could organize a "Joy March" today, what would be the main message on your sign?
Write your message...
"I am because we are."
Soul Sequence 2026
G6 Energy to Action Slides Energy to Action
Grade 6 • Part 1: Virtus & Energy
"Don't just move—move with purpose."
Virtus
"Excellence is a habit, not an act."
Virtus is about moral excellence and strength. It's taking all your energy—even the messy parts—and aiming it at something great.
Channel Your Power
Greatness happens when high energy finds its target.
Behavior into Talent
Turning "extra energy" into world-class performance.
The Excellence Map
Milestones & Icons
Simone Biles
The G.O.A.T. of gymnastics. Simone took her boundless childhood energy and disciplined it into perfection. She uses her platform to advocate for mental health and safety.
Modern Excellence
"I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I'm the first Simone Biles."
1968 Olympic Stand
Tommie Smith and John Carlos used their moment of athletic excellence to stand up for human rights. They showed that Virtus means standing for truth.
Historical Advocacy
Excellence is the engine of change.
Power Play
Ready?
Identify Your Energy
What is one "high energy" thing you do that sometimes gets you in trouble but could actually be a superpower?
Aim Your Energy
If you focused that superpower on one goal for the next 30 days, what would you achieve?
G6 Power Play Activity Power Play
Grade 6 • Virtus & Energy
Habit of Excellence
Name
Date
1
Raw Energy
Simone Biles had so much energy as a kid that she was constantly flipping. What is one way you have "too much energy" or "high energy" during the day?
Identify it
2
The Excellence Habit
How can you take that raw energy and turn it into Virtus? What goal could you achieve if you aimed that energy at it?
The Target
The Action
3
The Advocate's Stand
Tommie Smith and John Carlos used their excellence for advocacy in 1968. If you were on the world stage today, what one truth would you want the world to know?
"Don't just move—move with purpose."
Soul Sequence 2026
G7 Mind Over Matter Slides Mind Over Matter
Grade 7 • Part 1: Kenkyo & Wellness
"Vulnerability is strength in disguise."
Kenkyo
"True strength is honest."
Kenkyo means humility. In mental health, it means being humble enough to admit when you're not okay and brave enough to ask for help.
No Masks Needed
Humility is the foundation of emotional wellness.
Advocacy through Honesty
How sharing your story helps others heal.
Emotional Icons
Modern Advocacy
Megan Thee Stallion
By launching "Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too," Megan showed that even global superstars struggle with mental health. She normalized therapy for her entire community.
Kenkyo in Action
"It's okay not to be okay."
Kid Cudi
Cudi has been open about his journey with depression for over a decade. His music acts as a "Sankofa" bridge, helping a generation look back at their trauma to heal.
Healing Soul
"My mission is to help people feel less alone."
The Peace Plan
Mind Check
Self-Check
What is one "invisible weight" you're carrying today? You don't have to name it, just acknowledge it exists.
The Release
What is one healthy way you "drop the weight"? Music? Sports? Talking? Sleep?
G7 Peace Plan Journal Peace Plan
Grade 7 • Kenkyo & Wellness
Emotional Honesty
Soul Name
Date
1
The Weight
Megan Thee Stallion says "Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too." What are two common stressors that make your days heavy?
01
02
2
Asking for Help
Kenkyo (Humility) means admitting when we need backup. Who are two "Soul Supporters" in your life you can talk to when things get real?
3
Self-Care Script
What is your go-to "Peace Habit"? Describe it below. (Is it a specific song? A walk? Drawing?)
"Vulnerability is strength in disguise."
Soul Sequence 2026
G7 Two Paths Slides Two Paths
Grade 7 • Part 2: Ganas & Grit
"Your past is a lesson, not a life sentence."
Ganas
"The fire inside."
Ganas means "desire" or "grit." It's the inner drive that keeps you moving when the path gets steep. It's the choice to try one more time.
Choice is Power
Every day is a new set of choices.
The Grit Factor
How resilience turns obstacles into stairs.
The Grit Gallery
Choice & Resilience
The Other Wes Moore
Two boys, same name, same neighborhood. One became a Rhodes Scholar, the other a prisoner. The difference? Support, opportunity, and Ganas.
Historical Soul
"The distance between us was the distance between our choices."
Harlem to Marcy
From the Harlem Renaissance artists to Jay-Z's Marcy Projects, Black history is a record of people using their "Ganas" to create brilliance out of struggle.
Excellence Soul
"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man."
Path Map
Choose Now
The Split
What is one "fork in the road" you're facing right now? (Small or big).
The Fuel
What is the "Ganas" inside you that will help you take the path of excellence?
G7 Path Map Worksheet Path Map
Grade 7 • Ganas & Grit
Drive & Choice
Soul Name
Date
1
The Crossroads
The "Other Wes Moore" story shows how small choices lead to big differences. What is a "crossroads" moment you've had recently?
2
Fueling Ganas
Ganas is the fire inside. What are three things that give you the "grit" to keep going when things get hard?
A
B
C
3
Legacy Blueprint
If you followed your "Ganas" all the way to your biggest dream, what would you be doing in 10 years? Sketch or describe it.
"Your past is a lesson, not a life sentence."
Soul Sequence 2026
Unit Facilitator Guide Unit Facilitator Guide
Centennial Soul Sequence
100 Years of Legacy & Excellence
Unit Philosophy
This sequence is designed to be high-energy, contemporary, and culturally responsive. It connects historical milestones to modern celebrity narratives, making Black History tangible for today's students. Each lesson centers on a school value and includes an IG-style challenge to foster class culture and digital citizenship.
Duration
9 Lessons
Pacing
30 Mins / Day
The Five Soul Pillars
Kenkyo
Humility
Ganas
Grit / Desire
Ubuntu
Community
Sankofa
History / Roots
Virtus
Excellence
Lesson Pacing (30 Mins)
0-5M
Icebreaker Game
Engage the room immediately. Use high-energy music.
5-15M
Story & Value Spotlight
Connect the celebrity narrative to the school value and 100-year milestone.
15-25M
Student Interaction / Worksheet
Individual reflection or small group drafting.
25-30M
IG Challenge Launch
Quick class photo/video or individual story posts.
Facilitation Tips
Vibe Matters: Create a unit playlist featuring artists mentioned (Kid Cudi, Pharrell, Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion). Play it during the 5-15M reflection time.
IG Security: If your school doesn't use IG, these can be "Mock Posts" on a classroom bulletin board or a secure LMS (like Canvas/Google Classroom).
Sensitive Topics: Lesson 2 deals with mental health. Ensure a supportive environment and know your school’s counseling referral process.
Centennial Soul Sequence
© 2026 Educational Legacy Project
Social Soul Menu Social Soul Menu
Legacy Gamification
Earn Points. Build History.
Take your legacy digital! Complete these **Collaborative Class Challenges** on your class IG account to unlock unit rewards (Bonus points, music control, or the "Legacy Trophy"). Tag **#CentennialSoul** and your school!
Collaborative
The #UbuntuWave
Record a "Passing the Baton" Reel. One student starts with an object (like a mic or a book), says one word that defines their community, and passes it off-screen. The next student catches it!
100 Legacy Points
Time-Lapse
The #GanasGrind
Set up a tripod and film a 30-second time-lapse of the whole class working on a project or studying. Use a high-energy beat and the sticker "Quietly Building an Empire."
75 Legacy Points
Remix
The #SankofaStyle
Find a historical Black History photo (from 1926 or earlier) and recreate the pose as a class or squad. Use the "Dual" camera feature to show then vs. now.
150 Legacy Points
Slow-Mo
The #SoulJoyJump
A celebration of "Black Boy Joy." Everyone in the class jumps at the same time for a slow-motion Reel. Use Pharrell's "Happy" and the "Celebrate" filter.
50 Legacy Points
Class Tracker
Unlock the Centennial Soul Trophy at 500 Points
"The future is being posted... one legacy at a time."
Soul Spotlight Gallery Reference Sheet Soul Spotlight Gallery
Extension Resource
More Icons. More Legacy.
Mental Health & Humility (Kenkyo)
Taraji P. Henson
Advocate / Actress
Founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to provide free mental health services to Black communities. She normalizes seeking help as a collective strength.
Lizzo
Musician / Performer
Constantly talks about the pressure of fame and the importance of therapy and boundary-setting. She models Kenkyo by being vulnerable about her low moments.
Resilience & Grit (Ganas)
Tiffany Haddish
Comedian / Actress
Grew up in the foster care system and used comedy as a survival tool. Her foundation, She Ready, provides suitcases for foster kids so they don't have to use trash bags.
Michael B. Jordan
Actor / Producer
Focuses on building "Inclusion Riders" and mentorship programs for Black youth in film. He uses his success to create paths for those starting from nothing.
Channeled Energy (Virtus)
will.i.am
Tech Innovator / Musician
Open about his ADHD, he describes his brain as "constantly moving." He channeled that high behavioral energy into music production and founding a robotics foundation for kids.
Solange Knowles
Artist / Visionary
Diagnosed with ADHD, she creates highly structured, performance-art music that requires intense focus. She turns "restless energy" into avant-garde excellence.
Global Impact (Ubuntu / Sankofa)
Lewis Hamilton
F1 Driver / Advocate
The only Black driver in F1 history. He uses his global platform to advocate for diversity in STEM and motorsports. True excellence in a space where none existed before.
Misty Copeland
Prima Ballerina
First Black woman to be a principal dancer at ABT. She honors the history of Black ballerinas (Sankofa) while mentoring the next generation (Ubuntu).
One Legacy. One Hundred Years. Infinite Impact.
Legacy Makers Slides Legacy Makers
Grade 5 • Part 2: Sankofa & Storytelling
"To know the future, you must know the past."
What is Sankofa?
Sankofa is a word from the Akan people of Ghana.
"It is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot."
It means we look at our history to understand how to build a better future.
Fetch Your Future
Great storytellers use the past to create magic in the present.
A Century of Stories
1920s
The Harlem Renaissance
Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston write stories that change how the world sees Black life.
1970s
The Golden Era
Films and TV shows start showing the power of community and family in new ways.
TODAY
Modern Icons
Filmmakers like Ryan Coogler (Black Panther) use history to build whole new worlds.
Lights, Camera, Legacy
Action!
The Storyteller Challenge
If you were directing a movie about your community's past, present, and future...
1
THE HERO
Who is the person at the center of your story?
2
THE HISTORY
What "Sankofa" lesson do they need to learn?
3
THE FUTURE
What kind of legacy do they leave behind?
Legacy Maker Storyboard Sheet Legacy Maker
Grade 5 • Storyboard & Pitch
Sankofa
Director Name
Date
1. The Vision
Movie Title
The Hero (Who is this story about?)
2. The Storyboard
Sketch the three most important moments in your hero's journey.
Scene 1: The Past (Searching for history)
Scene 2: The Lesson (The Sankofa moment)
Scene 3: The Legacy (Building the future)
3. The Pitch
"Why does this story need to be told right now?"
Mic Is On Slides The Mic is On
Grade 6 • Part 2: Virtus & Advocacy
"There is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it."
Amanda Gorman
"Being brave enough to be it."
The youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. She uses Virtus to turn her words into a movement.
Advocacy
Speaking up for those who can't.
Virtus
Power through excellence.
Milestone Moment
1965 Voting Rights Act
Before
Laws were designed to keep Black people from using their voices at the ballot box.
After
The act banned discriminatory practices, proving that collective Virtus can change the law of the land.
Mic Check
Action Step
Find Your Frequency
What is one thing in your school or neighborhood that you would use your voice to change?
School lunch options?
More after-school sports?
Cleaner local parks?
Excellence is Advocacy
When you do your best, you set the standard for everyone else.
Mic Check Advocacy Sheet Mic Check
Grade 6 • Advocacy Action Sheet
Value: Virtus
Advocate Name
Date
1
Identify Your Frequency
What is one issue in your school or community that needs to change?
2
The Power of Why
Why does this matter? How will changing this help others (Virtus)?
3
The Inaugural Pitch
Draft a 3-sentence "Mic Check" to convince your principal or local leader.
01
02
03
"Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice."
