Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – Verse Challenge
Materials: whiteboard, dry-erase markers
Form two teams with your children. Say the Weekly Verse with both teams a few times. Write blanks on the whiteboard to represent every word of the verse. Alternate giving each team the opportunity to guess a word of the Weekly Verse. If they guess correctly, write the word in the blank and give their team a point. Once all of the blanks have been filled, say the verse together. Tell the kids they will hear a story about Daniel and how God protected him.
Live It Out
Game – Leadership Situations
Materials: paper, pen, large cup
Before class, cut out slips of paper. On each slip of paper, write a situation that requires someone to respond with courage and leadership, just like Daniel did in Daniel 6. Fold the slips of paper and place them in a large cup. In class, ask for volunteers to pick a slip of paper out of the cup, read the situation, and tell the class how they would respond with courage and leadership.
Suggested situations to write on the slips of paper:
My brother wants to tell mom that we didn’t break her necklace, even though we did break it.
Two boys at school make fun of my friend each day at recess.
My friend at school told me that it’s silly to pray before I eat lunch.
Craft – Remember Rocks
Materials: smooth stones, paint, paintbrushes
Give each child a smooth stone, non-toxic water-based paint, and a paintbrush. Instruct them to paint an image on their stone that will help them remember how God saved Daniel in the lion’s den. After the rocks have dried, give volunteers the opportunity to show their rocks and explain them to the class. Say the Life Point together.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Roaring Contest
Materials: no materials needed
Line your children up and tell them they will try to create the most ferocious lion roar possible. Allow each child to roar individually. Next, have them create the funniest lion’s roar they can think of. Afterward, tell your children they will learn about Daniel being placed in a den of lions and how God’s power protected him. Write the Life Point on the whiteboard say it together.
Live It Out
Game – Pray Together
Materials: no materials needed
Form several equal-sized groups with your children. Tell them that Daniel prayed multiple times a day because he knew no one was as great as God. Tell your children they will take turns in their groups praying out loud. Give them suggestions on what they can pray for. For example, they can pray for someone who is sick, pray for their family members, or pray for someone to begin a relationship with Jesus. After the children have prayed, be sure to pray over your children.
Craft – The King’s Proclamation
Materials: fancy paper, markers, stickers, decorative itemsGive every child a piece of paper and ensure they have access to markers, stickers, and decorative items. Remind them that King Darius declared that people could only pray to him for 30 days. Instruct your children to write a proclamation that declares the importance of only praying to God. Encourage them to use extravagant language as they write their proclamations. Direct them to decorate their proclamation using markers, stickers, and decorative items. Tell them to write the Weekly Verse at the bottom of their proclamation. Give several volunteers the opportunity to read their proclamations to the class.
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