Recently, psychologists have questioned the validity of the famous Marshmallow Test. But why? Engage your students in learning about this influential experiment! Spark a lively classroom discussion about how the test originally claimed to predict positive future life outcomes based on a child's ability to delay gratification — and explore what new research reveals about the role of socioeconomic factors and context in shaping these results. Watch a delightful video of an experiment with marshmallows that drives home the idea of the lesson — Would you take a pleasurable treat now, or would you wait and get two treats (instead of one) later?

Essential Question: What encourages motivation? What is delayed gratification?

Lesson Duration: 60 minutes

What’s in the Box:

• 1 I Do / We Do / You Do Lesson Plan and Guide
• 1 Student-Facing Version on Google Workspace
• 1 Visual Aid for Discussion
• 1 Task Card Set
• 1 Discussion Tracker Sheet
• 2 Exit Tickets
• Standards Alignment Chart
• Bonus: Entrance and Exit Tickets as Google Forms!

Note: YouTube and other multimedia links are included in this resource. However, this resource does not contain actual digital video files.

If you liked this lesson, you’d enjoy the entire deck of Freedom task cards — designed to facilitate classroom discussion on ethical and philosophical issues.

See even more lessons in my rich Philosophy in the Classroom catalog.

• The Allegory of the Cave
• The Death of God
• Discuss any Moral Dilemma!

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