If you opt to serve marshmallows to your class, hand them out now. You might want to have them refrain from actually eating them until the video is over.
Imagine your favorite dessert sitting on a table in front of you, practically calling your name. You’ve been told not to eat it, but it looks so good! A few men ran a little experiment with some marshmallows and children. Let’s see what they discovered.
Share this video [7:15; stop at 1:46].
The Marshmallow Test (Stanford Experiment + Truth)
- Some children chose to eat the first marshmallow, whereas others chose to wait for a second. Why do you think some children felt compelled to wait? (Answers will vary but will probably focus on how waiting would be rewarded.)
- If you were in this experiment, do you think you would choose to eat one marshmallow now or two marshmallows later? Why? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
- One of the boys who smelled the cake went to those who had walked away and encouraged them to “smell the cake, smell the cake.” Why did he invite the others to join in on the cake-smelling? (Answers might include: If more do it, they can justify their actions as being okay; if everyone does it, no one will be left to tattle; if everyone does it, everyone may not get in trouble.)
- Aside from eating one marshmallow instead of waiting for two, what are some of the temptations that you face or have faced? (Answers will vary.)
- Without using names, when have you invited others to experience a temptation with you? (Answers will vary. Be prepared to share your own experience to get the conversation going.)
- Again, without sharing names, when have you been encouraged to join others in a temptation they faced? (Answers will vary.)
Temptations can be strong. Peer pressure can be strong. We need to find a way out before we give in to temptations that look promising but come with harsh consequences. Let’s find out how Daniel faced the temptation placed before him.
