Wait for It Slides Wait for It!
The Power of Waiting
Lesson 1: Goal Gardeners
The Big Choice
NOW
You get ONE treat right away!
OR
LATER
You get TWO treats if you wait!
What is Waiting?
It's Hard!
Waiting can feel like a long time. Our tummies might want the treat NOW!
It's Worth It!
When we wait, we often get something BIGGER or BETTER later.
"Waiting is like planting a seed... it takes time to grow into a flower!"
How Can We Wait?
Sing a Song
Look Away
Take Deep Breaths
Are You Ready?
Can you wait for the double prize?
GAME ON!
Waiting Game Teacher Guide The Waiting Game
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Lesson 01
Lesson Objective
Students will understand the concept of delayed gratification by participating in a "wait for a better reward" simulation. They will identify strategies to help them wait and explain why waiting can lead to a bigger prize.
Materials Needed
Small treats (marshmallows, stickers, or pretzels)
"Wait for It" Slides
A timer or clock
Visual "Waiting Tricks" poster (from slides)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
The Big Choice (The Hook)
Place one treat on each student's desk. Give the instruction: "Do not touch the treat! If you can wait until the timer goes off (3-5 minutes), you will get a SECOND treat. If you eat it now, you only get one."
"Class, today we are playing a game of choices. You have a yummy treat in front of you. You can have it NOW, or you can have two LATER. What will you choose?"
2
The Active Wait
Start the timer. Use the "Wait for It" slides to guide students through the waiting period. Encourage them to use the "Waiting Tricks."
Monitor: Watch for students who are struggling. Praise those who are using strategies like looking away.
Support: If a student eats their treat, simply say, "That's okay! You chose your treat now. You won't get the second one later."
3
Reflect and Connect
Once the timer ends, distribute the second treat to those who waited. Use these prompts to discuss:
"How did it feel to wait? Was it easy or hard?"
"Why did some of you decide to wait?" (Looking for: "I wanted more!")
"How does this relate to money? If we save our money instead of spending it on a small toy today, what might happen?"
Teacher Tips
For Students Struggling:
Shorten the wait time to 1-2 minutes for specific students if needed to ensure early success. Emphasize that it's a practice, not a test.
Key Vocabulary:
Wait: To stay in one place or stop doing something until a certain time.
Save: To keep something for later instead of using it now.
Dream Big Slides Dreaming Big
Setting a Savings Goal
Lesson 2: Goal Gardeners
Look at this!
$ $ $
How can we get something BIG like a new playground toy?
What is a Goal?
A Goal is something special you want to reach!
We save our seeds to get to our goal.
What Could You Save For?
A New Toy
A Cool Book
A Treat
Our Mission
MY SAVING JAR
Today, we will draw our goals and put them on our very own savings jars!
My Savings Goal Worksheet Dreaming Big
My Savings Goal
Name:
Date:
I am saving for...
Draw your goal here!
My Savings Jar
My Goal Label
"I will save my seeds to reach my big dream!"
Draw what you want to save for, then color your jar!
Earning Seeds Slides Earning Seeds
Hard Work and Choices
Lesson 3: Goal Gardeners
How to Earn Seeds
Cleaning Up
Our Space
Being a
Kind Friend
Doing Our
Best Work
What will you do?
Spend Now
Use 1 Seed for a small prize from the Treasure Box TODAY.
Save Later
Put your Seed in your JAR to get your BIG DREAM later.
Watching it Grow
Every seed you save gets you closer to your GOAL!
"One seed today, two seeds tomorrow... soon my jar is full!"
Ready to Grow?
Listen for the 'Seed Sound' when you do a great job!
EARN
SAVE
GROW
Seed Token Pack Seed Token Pack
Printables for Your Classroom Economy
Cut & Use
Jar Labels
MY SEED BANK
Growing my goals!
MY SEED BANK
Growing my goals!
Seed Tokens
Teachers: Print on yellow or orange cardstock for a "golden seed" feel!
Goal Gardeners: Financial Literacy for Kindergarten
Earning Seeds Teacher Guide Earning Seeds
Teacher Guide: Classroom Token Economy
Lesson 03
System Setup
This lesson introduces a token economy where students earn "Seeds" for positive behaviors. The core learning objective is making the decision to save these seeds for a future goal rather than spending them immediately on smaller rewards.
Preparation
Print and cut "Seed Tokens"
Prepare "Seed Bank" containers (clear jars or plastic cups)
Set up a "Treasure Box" with small, low-value items (stickers, erasers)
The Earning Routine
When to Give Seeds:
Following "First Time" directions
Transitioning quietly
Helping a classmate
Completing a "Dream Big" goal step
The "Seed Sound":
Use a specific sound (a chime or a verbal "Ding!") when a seed is earned to reinforce the positive behavior immediately.
The "Choice Moment" (Facilitation)
At the end of each day (or during a specific "Market Time"), students must choose what to do with their earned seeds.
The Spending Choice
"You can trade 1 Seed right now for a small prize from the Treasure Box."
Result: Immediate happiness, but the seed is gone.
The Saving Choice
"You can put your Seed into your Saving Jar to reach your big goal later."
Result: No prize today, but closer to the big dream.
Discussion Prompts
Reflect: "How many seeds do you have in your jar now? If you spend one today, will you have more or fewer tomorrow?"
Strategy: "If you really want that Treasure Box sticker, what is a 'Waiting Trick' you can use to help you save your seed instead?"
Teacher Note:
Ensure students don't feel "bad" for spending. The goal is to let them feel the trade-off. Over time, those who save will reach their goals, which provides the natural reinforcement needed.
Growing Tall Slides Growing Tall
Tracking Our Progress
Lesson 4: Goal Gardeners
How Close Are We?
Popcorn Party!
?
Meet the Growth Tracker!
GOAL! Almost Middle Starting
See Your Savings
When we color in the tracker, we can SEE how much we have saved.
It's Getting Hot!
The higher the red color goes, the closer we are to the party!
Every Seed Counts!
1 Seed
Many Seeds
FULL!
Time to Track!
We will color in our trackers together to see how far we've grown!
Class Savings Poster Our Goal Tracker
Growing Together!
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
THE BIG GOAL
Write goal here...
!
Almost there! Keep saving those seeds!
50
Halfway point! We can do it!
Every token earned is a
Growth Step!
My Seed Tracker Worksheet My Seed Tracker
I am watching my savings grow!
Name:
My Growth
GOAL! 9 8 7 6 HALF! 4 3 2 1 START
Color one block for every
seed in your bank!
Weekly Seed Log
Draw a seed circle when you save one today!
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Master Gardener Tip:
Check your jar daily!
Harvest Time Slides Harvest Time!
We Reached Our Goal!
Lesson 5: Goal Gardeners
Look at Our Garden!
GOAL REACHED!
You waited. You saved. You worked hard.
Now, it's time to celebrate!
How Does It Feel?
PROUD
"I did it! I reached my big goal!"
REWARDED
"This prize feels extra special because I waited!"
What We Learned
Waiting can lead to something Better.
Small seeds add up to Big Dreams.
I am a Smart Choice Maker!
Congratulations!
You are all MASTER GOAL GARDENERS!
TIME FOR THE REWARD!
Harvest Reflection Worksheet Harvest Time
I reached my goal!
Name:
1. This is what I saved for:
Draw your reward here!
2. How did it feel to wait and save?
Color the face that shows how you feel now!
Happy
Proud
Great
Goal Gardener Tip
Next time I want something, I will remember to SAVE!
Master Goal Gardener Certificate Certificate
of Achievement
Master Goal Gardener
This special award is proudly presented to:
(Student Name)
For showing amazing patience, setting a big goal, and saving seeds to make dreams come true!
Master Gardener Teacher
Date of Harvest