Teaching Tips for Lesson 5: Now Let's Get To It!

This is the fifth of seventeen blogs providing practical teaching tips inspired by the lyrics and concepts from the Sammy Rabbit song Get in the Habit!

In the original blog, How the Sammy Rabbit Song Get in the Habit Teaches Kids 17 Money Lessons — Plus Powerful Vocabulary, we explored how the song supports financial education in three powerful ways:

Through clear, repeatable phrases directly from the song
Through real-world money lessons that naturally emerge when kids discuss and apply those phrases or concepts
Through everyday money language that builds financial vocabulary.

Now, we’re expanding on that foundation with a series of blogs that offer teaching tips for each of the 17 individual lessons embedded in the song. Each blog will include: (1) Simple questions to ignite discussion and learning (2) Two easy-to-implement micro-activities (3) A challenge action step (4) Key words to build personal finance and life-skills vocabulary.

Let’s begin with Lesson 5, built on the phrase: “Now, let's get to it!"

For context, the full lyrics for each phrase are:

You can do it, now, let's get to it ... from every dollar save a dime!

The full phrase has been intentionally organized into separate lessons, making it easy to teach one concept at a time or combine them as a sequence.

You can click on the following links to find: song lyrics and a karaoke Video.

Summary

Lesson: Learning is important, but taking action adds significant value to knowledge. When you "get to it" and start saving right away, your money has more time to grow.

Share with kids: “Now let’s get to it” means don’t wait. Starting today helps your good ideas work faster.

1. Simple Discussion Questions

Use one or two—short, easy, and great for home or classroom conversations.

What does it mean to “get to it”?
Why do you think waiting can make things harder?
What is something good you could start today?
How does starting now help your money grow?
Have you ever waited to do something and wished you started sooner?

2. Two Micro-Activities (2–5 Minutes Each)

Micro-Activity 1: Start Now or Wait?

Materials: None

Read simple choices aloud and ask kids to vote by raising a hand for Start Now or Wait.

Examples:

Save one coin today or wait until next week
Put money in a piggy bank now or leave it on the table
Start a goal today or say “someday”

Ask:

Which choice helps your money grow more?
Which one feels easier to start?

Purpose: Helps kids see that action—even small action—matters.

Micro-Activity 2: My First Step

Materials: Paper and crayons (optional)

Ask children to name or draw one tiny step they can take today to start saving.

Examples:

Put one coin aside
Ask a grown-up for a jar or envelope
Draw something they want to save for

Have them say out loud:

“I got to it!”

Purpose: Reinforces that big habits begin with small steps.

3. Challenge Action Step

Challenge:
Start saving today, even if it’s just one small thing.

Ask kids to:

Save one coin, dollar, or pretend money
Put it somewhere safe
Say:
“I got to it!”

Repeat the action at least three times this week to build momentum.

4. Key Vocabulary Words

These words help children connect learning with action—an essential life skill.

Get: To start or begin doing something

Get to it: To start now and not wait

*Action: Doing something instead of just thinking about it

*Wait: To pause and not start yet

Grow: To get bigger over time

So when the song says “Now let’s get to it,” it means start today so good ideas can begin working right away.

(Note: Words with an asterisk are not in the song lyrics, but they are important to this lesson, so we’ve included kid-friendly definitions.)

Now Check Out Lesson 6

This blog is part of a 17-lesson series that uses the Sammy Rabbit song Get in the Habit to make it fun, easy, and effective for anyone to talk with and teach young kids about great money habits.

When ready, check out Teaching Tips for Lesson 6: From Every Dollar, Save a Dime! It focuses on goal setting and the importance of prioritizing saving.

Additional Songs and Fun Resources

Keep:

kids listening, learning, singing and growing with a FREE or PREMIUM Money School Memberships.
parents, teachers, and community leaders learning and growing their financial literacy teaching skills by reading Sam X Renick's series of articles: Money Lessons Parents Should Teach Kids!
delivering financial education at home, in school, and other venues with Sammy's Dream Big Financial Education curriculum!

Contact Sammy Today!

We welcome your questions, suggestions, and ideas! Let’s connect, brainstorm, and partner to keep helping kids, families, and communities build strong financial literacy knowledge, habits, and skills—so together, we can create better and brighter futures for all.