Number guessing game for beginners
There is a serious problem at:

def get_random(min, max): 
    print "Coming up with a number."
    time.sleep(2)
    random_number = random.randint(min, max)
    print "Got it!"
    return random_number


This function mixes user interaction (printing and sleeping) and logic (returning a random number). This is basic separation of intents, and should be taught to beginners from the start.

The same can be seen at:

def hi_low_done(delta):
    if delta &lt; 0:
        print "Guess lower."
        return False
    elif delta &gt; 0:
        print "Guess higher."
        return False
    else:
        print "You got it!"
        return True


This function should only return a message, not return a message and print.

About to_int

def to_int(x):
    try:
        x = int(x)
        return x
    except ValueError:
        print "That is not a whole number."
        return False


While it is possible to return different types from a function in Python, it is a symptom of bad design. I reccomend writing a is_int method to return True or False if the argument is an int and then converting to int with int.

Further refactoring

Asking a user for yes or no is a common task and should be its own function, also using startswith is more flexible and allows 'yeah' and 'yup' for example.

Also you should write a function to generate the message. You then print it and break if guess and real number are equal.

Use Python 3

Python 3 is continually improved while Python 2 is deprecated, it makes more sense to teach 3 than 2 (The two are similar just use parens around print).

Avoid needless comments

Comments should tell why not what, if you write

# imports


You just add noise as it is obvious that the following lines are imports.

Define a main function and call it

It is a good habit to get into and allows the importing of scripts.

Like:

def number_guessing_game(minimum, maximum):
     # All your currently top level code

if __name__ == "__main__":
    number_guessing_game()