K-2 Catechism: Daniel in the Lion's Den

Weekly Lesson Plan: Daniel and the Lions' Den - Daniel 6 In this lesson, begin by gathering the children in a circle and asking if they have ever heard the story of Daniel and the Lions' Den. Briefly explain that it is a story from the Bible about a man named Daniel who was thrown into a den of lions but was protected by God. To engage the children further, show them a picture of a lion and ask what they know about lions. Discuss their characteristics and where they live. This will help them connect to the story and understand the context of the lions' den. After discussing lions, explain that this story teaches us about being faithful to God and trusting Him no matter what. Emphasize the importance of having faith and how God can protect and guide us through difficult situations.

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Lesson Focus 1: Daniel's Faithfulness

- Read-aloud: "The Beginner's Bible: Daniel and the Lions" by Zondervan - Discuss the story and ask questions to ensure understanding. - Ask the children why they think Daniel continued to pray to God even though it was against the law. Encourage them to think about times when they have had to make a difficult choice to obey God. Arts and Crafts Activity: Lion Mask

- Provide each child with a paper plate, markers, construction paper, glue, and scissors. - Instruct them to decorate the paper plate to look like a lion's face, using the markers. - Help the children cut out ears, a nose, and a mouth from the construction paper and glue them onto the plate. - Attach a string or elastic band to the sides of the plate to create a mask. - Encourage the children to wear their lion masks and act out the story of Daniel and the Lions' Den.

Paper Plate Lion Mask

Physical Activity: Lion's Den Freeze Dance

- Clear a space in the room for the children to move around.

- Explain that in the story of Daniel and the Lions' Den, Daniel had to be very still and quiet to avoid getting caught by the lions. We are going to play a game called Lion's Den Freeze Dance to practice being still and quiet.

- Start playing some upbeat music and encourage the children to dance and move around the room.

- Randomly pause the music and call out "Lion's Den!" When you say this, the children have to freeze in place and be as still and quiet as possible, just like Daniel in the lions' den.

- After a few seconds, start the music again and continue playing until the next "Lion's Den!" call.

- Repeat this activity several times, allowing the children to have fun dancing and practicing their stillness and quietness.

- After the activity, gather the children and discuss how it felt to be still and quiet like Daniel. Ask them if they found it challenging and how they can apply this lesson to their own lives, such as being still and quiet during prayer or when they need to listen to someone.

Lesson Focus 2: God's Protection

- Read-aloud: "Daniel and the Lions" by Kelly Pulley - Discuss the idea that God protected Daniel from the lions because of his faithfulness. - Ask the children if they have ever experienced God's protection in their own lives. Share a personal story if applicable.

Arts and Crafts Activity:

- Provide each child with a blank piece of paper and crayons or colored pencils.

- Instruct the children to draw a picture of a time when they felt God's protection in their own lives.

- Encourage them to be creative and use their imagination to depict their experience.

- After they have finished their drawings, allow each child to share their picture and briefly explain what happened and how they felt God's protection.

- Take a moment to commend each child for recognizing and acknowledging God's presence in their lives.

- Display the drawings in the classroom as a reminder of God's protection and faithfulness.

Physical Activity: Lion's Roar

- Explain that lions are known for their loud roars. - Have the children stand up and practice roaring like lions, making their voices as loud as they can. - Encourage them to move around the room, pretending to be lions and roaring at each other. Lesson Focus 3: Trusting God

- Read-aloud: "The Story of Daniel in the Lions' Den" by Alice Joyce Davidson - Discuss how Daniel trusted God even when he was thrown into the lions' den. - Ask the children if they have ever had to trust God in a difficult situation. Encourage them to share their experiences or feelings.

Arts and Crafts Activity: Recycled Material Collage

- Collect various recycled materials such as cardboard, paper towel rolls, bottle caps, buttons, fabric scraps, etc. Make sure they are clean and safe for the children to use.

- Provide each child with a piece of construction paper or cardboard as a base for their collage.

- Instruct the children to use the recycled materials to create a collage that represents trust in God. They can arrange and glue the materials onto their base in any way they like.

- Encourage the children to think about what trust in God means to them and how they can visually express it through their collage.

- As they work on their collages, engage them in conversation about trust and how it feels to trust in God.

- Once the collages are complete, have each child share their artwork and explain what it represents to them.

- Display the collages in the classroom as a reminder of the importance of trusting in God.

Recipe: Lion Pancakes Ingredients: - Pancake mix - Chocolate chips - Sliced bananas - Whipped cream Instructions: 1. Prepare the pancake mix according to the package instructions. 2. Cook the pancakes in the shape of lion faces, using a circular shape for the face and ears. 3. Use chocolate chips to create the eyes, nose, and mouth of the lion. 4. Place sliced bananas on top of the pancakes to resemble the lion's mane. 5. Add whipped cream for extra decoration, if desired. 6. Serve the lion pancakes to the children, reminding them of God's protection and faithfulness. - Recap the story of Daniel and the Lions' Den, highlighting the lessons learned about faithfulness, God's protection, and trusting Him. - Close the lesson with a prayer, thanking God for His faithfulness and asking for His help in being faithful and trusting in difficult situations.

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