Lesson Plan
Snooze Button Science
Students will be able to define instant gratification and long-term goals, identify personal examples of each, and explain how understanding this conflict can help them develop impulse control.
Understanding the interplay between instant gratification and long-term goals is fundamental for developing self-awareness and impulse control. This lesson helps students recognize these cognitive processes in their daily lives, empowering them to make more conscious choices that align with their future aspirations.
Audience
7th Grade Class
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, guided examples, and personal reflection.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review all generated materials: Snooze Button Science Lesson Plan, Instant Gratification vs. Future You Slide Deck, The Great Snooze Debate Discussion Guide, and My Instant vs. Future Choices Worksheet.
- Ensure projector and computer are ready for the slide deck.
- Make copies of the My Instant vs. Future Choices Worksheet for each student.
Step 1
Warm-Up: The Snooze Button Mystery (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Begin with a quick poll: "How many of you hit the snooze button in the morning? If so, how many times?"
- Ask students: "Why do you think we hit the snooze button even when we know we should get up?"
- Introduce the lesson title: 'Why Do We Hit the Snooze Button Again and Again?' and explain that today we'll explore the science behind this common behavior and how it relates to bigger life choices.
Step 2
Introducing Instant Gratification vs. Long-Term Goals (15 minutes)
15 minutes
- Use the Instant Gratification vs. Future You Slide Deck to introduce and define instant gratification and long-term goals.
- Go through examples together, prompting students to share their own initial thoughts on what these terms mean in their lives.
- Explain the 'Future You' concept: how choices made now affect who they become later.
Step 3
The Great Snooze Debate (15 minutes)
15 minutes
- Facilitate a classroom discussion using The Great Snooze Debate Discussion Guide.
- Divide students into small groups or conduct as a whole-class discussion, encouraging them to share personal experiences and observe the tension between wanting something now versus something better later.
Step 4
Personal Reflection: My Instant vs. Future Choices (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Instant vs. Future Choices Worksheet.
- Instruct students to complete the worksheet, reflecting on their own daily choices and how they align with instant gratification or long-term goals.
- Circulate and provide support as needed.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Ask students to share one insight they gained from the worksheet or discussion.
- Reiterate that recognizing the pull of instant gratification is the first step towards developing stronger impulse control and making choices that benefit their 'Future You'.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Why Do We Hit the Snooze Button Again and Again?
Understanding Instant Gratification and Long-Term Goals
Welcome students and introduce the topic by connecting to the warm-up discussion about the snooze button. Emphasize that today we'll explore why we sometimes make choices that feel good now, even if they aren't the best for us later.
Instant Gratification: The 'Want It Now!' Feeling
- Definition: Getting something you want immediately, even if it's small or not the best choice in the long run.
- Examples:
- Hitting snooze instead of getting up.
- Eating candy instead of a healthy snack.
- Playing video games instead of doing homework.
Define instant gratification clearly. Provide simple, relatable examples. Ask students if they can think of other examples.
Long-Term Goals: The 'Future You' Rewards
- Definition: Goals that require effort, planning, and patience, but lead to significant benefits over time.
- Examples:
- Getting good grades to go to a good college.
- Practicing a sport to become a better athlete.
- Saving money for something big you want to buy.
Define long-term goals. Explain that these often require effort and patience but lead to bigger rewards. Provide examples and ask students for their own long-term goals.
The Brain's Battle: Now vs. Later
- Our brains are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
- Instant gratification provides immediate pleasure.
- Long-term goals require delaying pleasure for a bigger reward.
- The snooze button is a classic example: 5 more minutes of sleep (instant) vs. being on time and prepared (long-term).
Discuss the 'battle' our brains face. Explain that both are natural, but we can learn to steer our choices. Use the snooze button as the primary example.
Meet Your Future You!
- Every choice you make today shapes the 'Future You.'
- Do you want 'Future You' to be:
- Prepared or stressed?
- Healthy or sluggish?
- Accomplished or regretful?
- Your choices today are building blocks for tomorrow!
Introduce the concept of 'Future You.' Help students visualize how current choices impact their future selves. Encourage them to think about who they want to be.
Impulse Control: Your Superpower!
- Impulse control is the ability to resist an urge or temptation and make a more thoughtful decision.
- It's like a muscle: the more you practice, the stronger it gets.
- When you practice impulse control, you're helping 'Future You' succeed!
Explain that impulse control is a skill we can develop. Connect it directly to making better choices for 'Future You.'
Today's Takeaway
- Instant gratification feels good now, but often has smaller rewards.
- Long-term goals require patience but lead to bigger, more meaningful rewards for 'Future You'.
- You have the power to choose!
Summarize the key takeaways and transition to the discussion activity. Encourage students to actively participate.
Discussion
The Great Snooze Debate: Instant vs. Future You
Objective: To encourage students to articulate their understanding of instant gratification and long-term goals through personal examples and thoughtful discussion.
Instructions: In small groups or as a whole class, discuss the following questions. Be prepared to share your group's thoughts with everyone.
Discussion Questions:
-
The Snooze Button Saga:
- Why is it so hard to resist hitting the snooze button, even when you know you'll be rushed later?
- What are the immediate feelings you get when you hit snooze? What are the feelings later when you realize you're late or rushed?
-
Instant Gratification in Your Day:
- Can you think of another example from your daily life where you choose something that feels good right now, even if you know it might not be the best choice for later?
- What are some common instant gratification choices teenagers make regarding homework, screen time, or chores?
-
Visualizing Your Future You:
- Imagine your 'Future You' in a week, a month, or even a year from now. What are some long-term goals or positive outcomes you hope 'Future You' experiences?
- What are some choices you could make today that would make 'Future You' proud or successful?
-
The Power of Choice:
- Is instant gratification always a bad thing? When might it be okay to choose immediate pleasure over a long-term goal?
- What strategies can you use to help yourself choose 'Future You's' best interest when faced with an instant gratification temptation?
Worksheet
My Instant vs. Future Choices
Name: ________________________
Date: _________________________
Objective: Reflect on your own daily choices and how they relate to instant gratification and long-term goals.
Part 1: The Snooze Button (or similar daily choice)
-
Describe a common situation where you choose instant gratification, even though you know there's a better long-term choice. (e.g., hitting snooze, procrastinating homework, eating unhealthy snacks)
-
What is the instant gratification you get from this choice?
-
What are the negative consequences for your 'Future You' because of this choice? (Think about how it affects your time, stress, health, or goals.)
-
What would be the long-term goal or positive outcome if you made the better choice instead? (e.g., being on time, getting better grades, feeling healthier)
Part 2: Your Goals and Choices
-
List one academic goal you have (e.g., pass a test, improve a grade, finish a project).
My Academic Goal: ____________________________________________________________________ -
What is one instant gratification temptation that might get in the way of this academic goal? (e.g., playing video games, watching TV, texting friends)
Temptation: ____________________________________________________________________ -
What is one action you can take today to choose your long-term academic goal over the instant temptation?
My Action: ____________________________________________________________________ -
List one personal goal you have (e.g., be healthier, learn a new skill, help out at home more).
My Personal Goal: ____________________________________________________________________ -
What is one instant gratification temptation that might get in the way of this personal goal?
Temptation: ____________________________________________________________________ -
What is one action you can take today to choose your long-term personal goal over the instant temptation?
My Action: ____________________________________________________________________
Part 3: Reflect & Commit
-
What is one new thing you learned about yourself or about impulse control today?
-
Write a short message to your 'Future You' about the importance of making wise choices.
Dear Future You,