Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Welcome students as they arrive with their parents.
OPTIONAL: As they arrive, play the song “The Solution.”

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands the lesson from Lesson 1 about Nehemiah and working together with others to complete a large task. Children will learn the importance of working together with others to succeed.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation.

Optional Opening Game

In this game, you are going to work together in teams of two to build a wall.

Note: for an odd number of children, have a leader play on one team.

Place an equal number of blocks in a pile on the floor for each team near one end of the room. Have one player on each team stand next to their pile of blocks. Have the second player for each team stand several feet away, facing his/her teammate.

The goal of each team is to build one wall at one end and then a second wall at the other end.

Begin the game. The first player of each team will take one block at a time from the pile to their teammate. The teammate will begin to build a wall by carefully stacking the blocks in a column.

Continue this way until all the blocks are stacked. Then reverse this order. The player who built the tower will now remove one block at a time and take it to the first player to build a new tower at the other end of the room.

Note: This is not intended to be a race or competition. It is an example of children working together to complete a task successfully.

Optional: Call out different ways to travel as the children carry the blocks: skip, walk backward, hop on one foot, hop on two feet, tiptoe, shuffle, walk sideways, balance the block on your head, etc.

Conclusion: Good job! You each did different jobs as you worked together to complete your wall.

When you work together and do your best—no matter how big or small the job is—everyone can succeed!

In today’s video, many people worked together doing different jobs to build something very big—so big it was impossible for one person to do it alone! Let’s watch the video to see what was built.

Video Lesson

Nehemiah

In the video today, watch all the different jobs Nehemiah and the Israelite people do as they work towards one goal.

Play Video (Bible story)

Nehemiah

Bible Story

Teaching Time

Have the children sit in chairs or on the floor.

Encourage children to participate as much as possible as you tell the Bible story below. Emphasize the words in bold text. The words correspond to an action you model for the children to imitate. Vary your facial expression, voice, and volume level to hold children’s attention and interest.

● A long time ago, there was a king who wore a crown and ruled over a country named Persia. Take two hands and place an imaginary crown on your head.

● He had a trusted servant named Nehemiah, who was the king’s cupbearer. Hold your hand out as if gripping a cup.

● Nehemiah would bring the king’s cup to him whenever he wanted a drink. Lift an imaginary cup to your mouth and tip it as you drink (making gulping sounds).

● Nehemiah was usually happy, but one day he looked very sad. Make a happy face, then change to a sad face and look down.

● He was so sad that he began to cry (weep). Pretend to cry and wipe eyes.

● The king asked Nehemiah why he was so sad. Make a sad face.

● Nehemiah prayed to God for wisdom about what to tell the king. Fold hands in prayer.

● He sadly told the king about how the wall around Jerusalem had been destroyed. Pretend to talk while looking sad and motioning arms.

● Nehemiah asked the king permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. Hold hands as if pleading and point in the distance.

● The king liked Nehemiah very much because he was a faithful servant. The king smiled, lowered his scepter, and said, "Yes"! Smile and nod your head. Lower scepter to point in the distance.

● Nehemiah began his journey to Jerusalem. Walk in place.

● After a long journey, Nehemiah finally arrived in Jerusalem. He inspected the wall and saw the job was much too big for him to do alone. Make binoculars with both hands and place over both eyes while looking around, then shake your head with an overwhelmed expression.

● Nehemiah needed help—and fast! So the Jewish people came from all over to help him! He was so happy and thankful to meet all of the people who came to work with him. Make a happy face and pretend to shake hands.

● The workers began to work on the wall. Bend over to pick up stones, lift and carry loads, and use hammers.

● Everyone was happy that work had begun on the wall. Well, almost everyone. The Israelites’ enemies were angry. They did not want Jewish people to move back to Jerusalem, and they did not want the city to be protected by a strong wall. Make an angry face.

● The enemies mocked the workers and threatened to fight them. They wanted to hurt Nehemiah to try to make him stop working. Laugh and point, then make an angry face and shake your fist.

● That must have been scary for Nehemiah and the workers! If you were them, would you give up? Children respond.

● God gave Nehemiah and the workers courage to keep working on the wall.

● Nehemiah trusted God and refused to stop, and Nehemiah had a plan. Point to the sky, smile, then look determined and shake your head "no."

● Nehemiah told half the people to keep working while the other half would stand guard with spears and armor, looking out for their enemies. The Israelites were brave and kept working together.

● Let’s all do this together to see how the wall grew. Have children kneel on the floor.

● The wall grew taller, taller, taller, taller… Children should follow your actions as you start by kneeling with your hand near the floor, then slowly stand up as you raise your hand about a foot each time you say “taller” until your hand is as high as you can reach over your head.

● Because the workers didn’t stop, the wall was finished in about five years, right? Smile.

● No, that isn’t right. How long did it take? 52 days!

● Yes, when the wall was finished, all of the people knew that God had helped them, and they celebrated together. Cheer, clap, jump up and down, and give high fives.

Conclusion: When we work together, we can celebrate our success together! Nehemiah trusted God and boldly worked together with the Israelites to rebuild the Jerusalem wall. God can do amazing things when we trust Him and work together.

Object to Go

Hold the novel and pretend to be absorbed in reading it as you turn a few pages. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

● This is really an exciting story. I can’t wait to finish it! Raise your hand if you like to have someone read a story to you. Children respond.

● Can you name someone who has read a book to you? Parents, grandparents, brother, sister, caregivers, babysitters, teachers, etc.

● I like a book with a lot of fun pictures in it! What is one of your favorite books? Children respond.

● Writing a novel (book) is not easy. It takes a lot of thought, creativity, and time!

● One of the robots in today’s video is trying to write a novel. A novel is a made-up story with characters in the story that aren’t real. This robot is making an important decision about the story and won’t ask for help. Raise your hand if you have had trouble making a choice but didn’t want to ask for help. Children respond.

● Which robot do you think is writing a novel? Is it Gears, Gizmo, Rig, or Widget? Children guess.

● Let’s watch the video to see who likes to write and if the robot can finally make a decision.

Leave the question unanswered until it is revealed in the video.

Let’s go to the lab to find the robot that is having a difficult time but isn’t ready to accept anyone’s help to solve their problem.

Play Video (Late Bloomers)

The Case of the Stolen Thunder

● Hold up the Novel or image. Which robot was writing her first novel? Widget.

● As Widget tries to figure out her story, she is saying the lines of a detective. Who is playing the villain? Widget; she plays both parts.

● What couldn’t Widget figure out in her mystery novel? Why the villain did the crime (motive).

● Who surprised Widget and tried to help her? Miss Tina.

● Was Widget glad to accept Miss Tina’s suggestion? No, she wanted to do it on her own.

● Why did Miss Tina return to look for Widget? It was past Widget’s bedtime. She needed to recharge her battery.

● What did Widget think would happen if she used Miss Tina’s idea? That Miss Tina would “steal her thunder,” which means Miss Tina would get all the credit for the novel instead of Widget.

● Did Miss Tina really want to get the credit for Widget’s book? No.

Miss Tina only wanted to help her friend. When you work together with others, it is important to be able to trust one another. You also must be willing to work together even when you may not receive credit for what you do. The important thing is that God sees you, and He is pleased when you help others.

Verse to GO!

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)

Verse to Go

Today’s Bible memory verse is Ecclesiastes 4:9. Say the memory verse slowly:

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” Ecclesiastes 4:9

We learned the first part of the verse in the previous lesson.

Two people… Hold one arm out with two fingers pointing up.

Are better off than one… Hold the other arm out with only the index finger pointing up.

Now, let’s learn the second part of the verse.

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

For they can help each other… Move both hands with the same fingers inward until they meet.

Succeed… Move the fingers upward together like a rocket lifting off.

Repeat a few more times slowly.

Optional: Make sure the children understand what it means to succeed.

The word "succeed" means to reach a goal or to complete a task you choose to do.

Let’s say a parent asks you to pick up all your toys in the backyard. You will succeed after all the toys are picked up. Now, what if a friend offers to help you? Will the task go faster or slower? Faster!

Yes, correct; two are better than one, right? Your friend can help you succeed—even faster than you could on your own.

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, and that success means reaching a goal or completing a task.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson with a simple prayer to thank God for His wisdom and strength

For example: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for filling us with wisdom and strength to overcome any difficulties or problems that may come our way. In Your strong name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

The Solution

The lyrics and chords for this song are found in Resources.

Create your own motions or use the suggested motions as seen in the Quantum Karaoke “The Solution” under Resources or under “Extras!" in the DVD main menu.

Play the video song “The Solution.”

Encourage the children to dance, sway, and/or sing with Miss Tina and the robots while imitating their moves or freestyle on their own.

The Solution

Repeat “WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER” with the children while holding both arms in the air to imitate the robots each time it is sung. In most cases, this is every other line.

Singing Activity

Lead the children in singing the song “Together.”

Additional instructions are located in the previous lesson.

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

● Why was Nehemiah sad? He found out that the Jerusalem wall was destroyed.

● What did he ask the King of Persia for permission to do? Return to Jerusalem to repair it.

● Was the king angry that Nehemiah asked to leave? No, the king gave him permission to go.

● In Bible times, why did cities need walls? For protection. It was a sign of a strong city.

● Did Nehemiah try to build the wall alone? No, people (Israelites) from all over came to help.

OPTIONAL TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for CHARACTER CARD RODNEY, one per child. These are available for purchase under Products. Explain that there is a different trading card for all three lessons, so if they come back to class each week, they can collect all three! (Lesson 1 was THE INVASION OF THE BUG-O-MYTES—WORKING TOGETHER, Lesson 3 is NEHEMIAH.)