WELCOME TO WEEK 4

Welcome to week 4! This month we’ve read stories of peace, courage, and strength. This week we will see how God can provide help. God wants to help us through the big things in life, but He also wants to help us through the little things as well.

Daniel 6

BIBLE STORY

Have you ever been to the zoo and just listened to the animals make their animal sounds? It’s fun to hear all the sounds they make, and sometimes it’s a little scary! Let’s listen to these animal sounds and I want you to guess what animal is making the sound. Click on the following link and have your child listen to the sounds without looking at the video to see how many animal sounds they can guess right. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Q-jlHBcXM 

This week we are learning about a man who was trapped in a small place with an animal that is very large and makes a very big sound. Can you guess what animal it was? Do you know who the man was? He was actually trapped with several of this kind of animal! Let’s listen to our story to see who was thrown in with this very large animal!

Read or listen to the scripture  Daniel 6 

Who was the king that Daniel worked for? (King Darius)

Why did the other governors and advisors to the king not like Daniel? (because the king liked Daniel and trusted him so he set Daniel over everyone else)

What did the other governors and advisors do to trap Daniel? (they told the king they wanted to honor him by saying no one could worship any God but only worship the king for 30 days)

What was the consequence for praying to any God? (They would be thrown into the lion’s den)

What did Daniel do that broke the new law? (He continued to pray to God in his open window 3 times a day)

How did the king feel when Daniel was thrown into the den? (He was very upset and didn’t eat, drink or even sleep that night)

When the king asked Daniel the next morning if his God has saved him, what did Daniel say? (The Lord sent an angel to shut the lion’s mouths)

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

In our story for this week, Daniel was sent to the Lion’s Den for doing what he had always done, pray to God. He followed God rather than follow man, even though he knew he would be in trouble. God helped him through by sending the angels. We also can trust God to help us, even if it’s not in the way we thought He would.

Activity

Play this game “Sleeping Lions”. Everyone, except the hunter, must lie on the floor still in a sleeping position. Once the game begins, the lions must lie in a still position without moving. The hunter goes on a walk around the room looking for a moving lion. The hunter can make a joke, funny noise, or action to try to make the lions move. Once they spot a moving lion they are “captured” and they too become a hunter. Repeat this game starting with different hunters.

Alternate

Create a prayer bucket, jar, or bowl. Have your child label and decorate it. Then have your child write or draw prayer requests for themselves and other people they know on strips of paper. Once they have written or drawn several prayer requests, add them to your bucket or bowl labeled prayer request. Try to choose 3 times each day to have your child pull out a prayer request and then pray for them.

Materials: bowl, jar or bucket, art supplies, strips of paper

Independent activity:

Complete this activity page

Materials: printed activity sheet

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Make a lion puppet. Use a paper lunch sack and decorate the top flap as the lion’s head. Use googly eyes, draw a triangle nose that connects with its mouth. Cut out strips of yellow and orange construction paper and wrap each strip tightly around a pencil to create a curl. Then glue the strips of paper around the top of the paper bag to create the mane. On the bottom of the bag write the scripture from Daniel 6:27

Materials: lunch sack, google eyes, yellow and orange construction paper, glue, crayons, scissors

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

Craft 3

Coloring page

Materials: Printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Do you think Daniel was afraid while he was in the lions den?

Have you ever been afraid?

What did you do the last time you were afraid?

Do you think God wants us to be fearful?

Can you think of a scripture that talks about fear and what we should do?

God gave Daniel help when he was in the lion’s den. God was there for Daniel to protect him just as He is still able to protect us today. 

Practical Application at Home

Daniel knew if he broke the law and prayed to God he would be thrown into the lions den. Daniel didn’t know if God would rescue him or not though. Daniel followed God even though he knew the consequences could be final. Daniel must have known that it was better to obey God than man, even if that meant facing Lions. There are times we have to choose to follow God even if that does not please the people around us. Think of some ways you can follow God this week.

Holding the door open for someone

Sharing your favorite toy with a sibling

Being friends with a classmate that looks lonely

Obeying your parents with a positive attitude

Not needing everything to go your way but being flexible

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Go to a park and spend time in worship and prayer. Ask God to show you ways to trust him and listen to his voice.