Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

In today’s video, Miss Tina and the robots are excited to perform in the Quantum Lab’s annual talent show. However, there may be an unexpected addition to their act. A toy wind-up robot “comes to life” and claims his name is Gizmo! This robot is very different—so different that all the robots can’t possibly be friends… or can they?

Professor Quantum tells Gizmo Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. This helps the robot to understand how important it is to show love to people, even if they are different.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation unless otherwise indicated.

Optional Opening Game

Have the children stand behind one line.

Ask the children to raise their hands and tell you different ways you could travel to the other line or mark. Children respond (Hop, run, skip, walk backward, tiptoe, etc.).

Optional: for each different answer, have that child demonstrate the movement.

Have a child pick a card from the stack. Read the card.

Have 1–2 children at a time travel to the other line according to that card. Note: if necessary, demonstrate a duck waddle, shuffle, etc.

Continue in this fashion for each card. Shuffle the cards and play again if time allows.

Optional: All children travel for each card, one or two at a time.

Conclusion: Which way was your favorite to travel? Children respond.

Even though you traveled in different ways, you all made it, didn’t you? It didn’t matter whether you hopped, waddled, or skipped!

Video Lesson

Play Video (The Wind-Up Robot — Opening Dilemma)

The Wind-Up Robot - opening dilemma

Optional discussion following the video:

● After the wind-up robot “came to life,” how did he talk differently? He talked with his nose (nose-talker).

● Why were the robots hesitant about being friends with him? He was very different from them.

Object to GO!

Hold up the bandage or image and discuss it using the questions and comments below.

● Do you know what this is called? A bandage.

● Why would you wear a bandage? Because you are hurt; to cover a cut.

● Raise your hand if you have ever worn a bandage. Children respond.

● They didn’t have sticky bandages like this in Bible times. Instead, they wrapped a cut or injury with cloth to protect it.

Someone in our Bible story is injured and needs to be bandaged. Can anyone guess who it is? We will soon find out who guessed correctly!
Now, lets watch today's lesson about friendship.

Play Video (The Good Samaritan)

The Good Samaritan

Teaching Time

Assist with costumes and accessories. LOOSELY tie coin purse around traveler’s waist.

Place the rug on the floor off to the side where the inn will be.

Slowly read the Bible story as outlined below. Pause at the bold text to direct the actors. Bring excitement to the story by varying your expression, voice, and volume level.

● A man asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

● Jesus answered by telling a parable. A parable is a story that is made up to teach an important truth.

● Enter traveler wearing coin purse, holding rolled up shirt, walking in place. There was once a Jewish man who was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho. It was a dangerous road.

● Suddenly, robbers appeared! Masked robbers enter holding clubs (tubes).

● The robbers attacked the traveler. Robbers pretend to strike the traveler’s legs without making contact.

● The traveler fell to the ground. The traveler groans and lies on the floor.

● The robbers took the traveler’s money and even his shirt and left him beside the road. Robbers take the traveler’s shirt and coin purse and then run away.

● Oh good, a Jewish priest walked down the road. Enter the priest with his hands folded in prayer, walking toward the traveler.

● Oh, look, he has his hands folded in prayer. He looks very holy, doesn’t he? Children respond.

● The traveler groaned again. Traveler groans.

● The priest looked down at the man—but then he looked up into the sky, pretending not to see anything. He even crossed to the other side of the road as he walked away. He refused to help! The priest stops, looks down, then up at the sky, shakes his head "no," and quickly walks away with his hands still folded in prayer.

● Do you think the priest was a good neighbor? Children respond.

● The traveler groaned even louder in pain! Traveler groans.

● Enter the temple assistant holding the scroll and walking toward the traveler. Then a Jewish temple assistant walked on the road toward the injured traveler.

● Do you think he will be a good neighbor? Children respond.

● No, he kept walking. He didn’t stop to help the man, even though he was from the same country! The temple assistant shakes his head "no" and walks off the set.

● The injured man groaned even louder in pain. The traveler groans loudly.

● Oh, look! Another man walked toward the injured traveler. But wait, he is a Samaritan! Enter the Samaritan holding the pillowcase and his donkey walking on hands and feet beside him with a towel on back.

● The Samaritans and Jews did not like each other! They believed different things about God, and each group thought they were better than the other. So a Samaritan would never help a Jewish person—right? Children respond.

● But the Samaritan stopped and looked down at the Jewish man. He felt sad for him and got off his donkey to help him. Samaritan and donkey stop. The Samaritan stoops down with a sad face and looks at the injured man.

● The Samaritan put oil on his cuts and put bandages on them, too. The Samaritan wipes the washcloth or rag on the traveler’s forehead and arm. Assist the actor to place bandages on clothed arm and leg.

● The Samaritan even let the Jewish man ride his donkey to the inn. Samaritan helps the traveler stand up, and the two walk alongside the donkey to the inn.

● At the inn, the Samaritan put him in a room and cared for the traveler. The Samaritan helps the Jewish man to lie on the bed (towel and pillow) and covers the man with the other towel (blanket).

● The next day, the Samaritan gave the innkeeper two silver coins. That was a lot of money back then! He paid the innkeeper to take care of the man. The Samaritan pays the innkeeper with the coins in the pillowcase. The innkeeper takes the coins.

● The Samaritan said he would give him more money later if needed. The innkeeper nods "yes" and adjusts the blanket (towel) over the injured man.

● After Jesus finished telling the story, He asked, which of the three men was a good neighbor to the Jewish traveler? Let’s take a vote!

● Raise your hand if you think the priest was a good neighbor. Children respond. Raise your hand if you think the temple assistant was a good neighbor. Children respond. Raise your hand if you think the Samaritan was a good neighbor. Children respond.

● That’s right! Even though the Samaritan was a stranger and very different from the Jewish man, the Samaritan cared for the Jewish man and showed him God’s love. He was a good neighbor. And guess what Jesus told all the people who had just listened to His story? He said, “Go and do the same thing!”

Showing God’s love and forgiveness to others is called mercy. Jesus showed mercy to us when He died on the cross to forgive our sins, even though we didn’t deserve it! Now it is our turn to show mercy by loving and caring for others!

Hold up the bandage from Object to Go! Who put bandages on the injured Jewish man—the Samaritan, the priest, or the temple assistant? The Samaritan.

Optional Bible Review Questions

Who are our neighbors—only those who live next door to us? No, everyone!

Who showed us mercy when He died on the cross? Jesus.

At the end of Jesus’ parable, what does He tell us to go do? Do the same thing; show love and mercy to others.

Why was it so unusual for the Samaritan to help the Jewish man? He was different, the Jews and Samaritans were enemies.

Optional Story Review Questions

● How did Gizmo describe the wind-up robot to Professor Quantum? He talks strange, walks strange, he is strange.

● Who built that wind-up robot? Professor Quantum.

● What name did Professor Quantum call the wind-up robot? Gizmo.

● What did the professor say about his creations? He loved them all the same.

● All of us are different and special in some way, but Who made us all? God.

Verse to GO!

Romans 15:7: (NLT)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Verse to Go

Stand facing the children and lead them in repeating phrases and imitating the motions.

Are you ready to learn the first part of the memory verse? Children respond.

Therefore, accept each other… Hold arms in front of you to welcome and hug someone.

Just as Christ has accepted you… Point to the sky, hold your arms out as before, and point to yourself with one hand. Optional: point to another person with the other hand.

Repeat a few more times slowly.

Optional: Have children try to say the verse with a Mr. Gizmo robot voice.

Just as Jesus loves everyone, we should love others, even when they may seem different than us. Jesus loves us and everyone else in the world so much that He died to save us all from our sins. Let’s honor Him by showing His love and kindness to everyone—every day!

Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse. They may simply repeat it with you. Be sure all children understand its meaning.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson with a simple prayer to encourage the children to accept others regardless of their differences.

For example: Dear Jesus, thank You for creating each one of us to be unique and special. Help us to show your love to everyone—even those who may seem different than us. In Jesus’ wonderful name, we pray, Amen.

Singing Activity

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Lead the children in singing the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children” with motions.

Jesus loves the little children… Point up to the sky, then place your hands over your heart. 

All the children of the world… Hold both arms out to the side, then form a circle for world.

Stranger, friend, and neighbor too… Hold one hand up and count to three with fingers (one finger each: stranger, friend, and neighbor).

He loves them all… (He) point up, (loves) hands over heart, (all) both arms out to the side.

As He loves you. (He) point up, loves (hands over heart), (you) point to each other.

Jesus loves the little children of the world… Point up and place hands over heart.

Optional: for additional verses, replace “Jesus loves the little children” with:

Verse 2: Jesus died for all the children… Form a cross extending arms to each side.

Verse 3: Jesus rose for all the children... Move the arms from the sides upward until they are straight toward the sky.

Take Home Coloring Page

As children color, review today’s lesson using the discussion points below:

● Who told a parable in the Bible? Jesus.

● What is a parable? A made-up story (to tell an important truth).

● Who helped the Jewish man who was hurt? A Samaritan or Jew? A Samaritan.

● Who did Jesus say is our neighbor? Everyone.

● How many Jewish men would not help the man who was hurt? Two.

● At the end of Jesus’ parable, what did He tell us to show others? Mercy, love.

OPTIONAL TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for THE WIND-UP ROBOT—ACCEPTING DIFFERENCES, one per child. These are available for purchase under Products. Explain that there is a different trading card for each of the three lessons, so if they come back to Sunday school each week, they can collect all three! (Save the cards for RIG and THE GOOD SAMARITAN for Lessons 2 and 3.)

Video Option

Let’s watch the video to see who wins the talent show and carries the trophy home!

Good Neighbor Song

Ask the following discussion questions:

● In the song, when did Gizmo and Miss Tina say they would be a good neighbor? Anytime you fall down.

● What was Gizmo embarrassed about? Not wanting Mr. Gizmo to join them in the talent show.

● What did Gizmo say about Mr. Gizmo being different? He made their act better.

● What happened as Mr. Gizmo carried the trophy? It fell and broke.

● What did Miss Tina say it was our turn to do? Accept others.

God is the Creator of everyone. He has no favorites and loves each one of us the same! Because we are His children, we should show His love to everyone, even those who are different than us!

Music Time

Use the described lyrics and motions found here under “Music Time.”

Use the suggested motions for the chorus as seen in the Quantum Karaoke, “Good Neighbor,” under “Extras! in the DVD main menu.

Friendship

Play the “Good Neighbor” song again that follows the Bible story video.

Consider letting the children sing and dance as they imitate Miss Tina and the Robots’ talent show routine.

Singing Activity

Lead the children in singing the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” as described earlier in the lesson.

Game

Play or repeat the optional opening game “Different But the Same” if time permits.