Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

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

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands the theme from Lesson 1 about Daniel and his three friends. The four men chose to obey God’s law even when it meant defying the king’s order. In Rig’s workout room, Gears is enjoying his time with his new friend Rodney. But is his friendship causing problems with his other friends? Children will learn the importance of self-control: to resist temptation and do what you know is right.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation.

Optional Opening Game

In today’s video, Gears is having difficulty maintaining balance in his life. These game activities introduce the concept of striving for balance in all we do.

The activities can be done in any order. Choose and repeat as many activities as time allows.

Cup Balance

Give the first player the cup and turn it upside down. Place the ball on top. The player must carefully walk across the room while balancing the ball on the bottom of the cup. Players can only use one hand (or two hands if necessary) to hold the cup and cannot touch the ball as they walk. If the ball falls from the cup, the player puts the ball back on the cup and continues from that point. Repeat until all children have taken a turn.

Optional: Call out different ways to travel as the children balance the ball on the cup: walk backward or sideways, tiptoe, shuffle, etc.

Walk the Line

Place an 8–10 ft. tape line on the floor. Have children take turns “balancing” as they walk on the line, one foot in front of the other, without stepping off the line.

Optional: Instead of the tape line, place a 2” x 4” board on the floor and use it as a “balance beam” for the children to walk on.

Balloon Balance

Place a balloon on the back of a player’s hand and slowly count the seconds aloud to see how long he/she can balance it before it falls to the ground. The player’s other hand cannot touch the balloon.

Domino Stack

Distribute stacks of about thirty dominoes per group of 5–6 children. Players in each group alternate turns, carefully stacking dominoes to make a tower as high as they can go.

Conclusion: Good job doing all the balancing activities! It isn’t always easy to keep things balanced, is it? Which activity did you like the most, or which one was the hardest for you? Children respond.

Video Lesson

Daniel and Friends

In today’s video, Daniel and his friends must find a way to obey God even though the king wants them to do something against God’s law. Let’s watch the video to see if they can do it.

Play Video (Bible story)

Daniel and Friends

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 from the bullets. Emphasize the words in bold text. The words correspond to an action or word for the children to imitate. Vary your facial expression, voice, and volume level to hold children’s attention and interest.

● There was a young man named Daniel who lived in the city of Jerusalem, where many Jewish people lived and worshiped the one true God.

● One day, the country of Babylon attacked Jerusalem. The soldiers of Babylon captured many young men, including Daniel and three of his friends.

● The soldiers took them to live in Babylon to serve the king. The friends were sad to be taken from their families and city. Make a sad face.

● Daniel was given a new name in Babylon: Belteshazzar. But we will just call him Daniel!

● His friends were given new names in Babylon, too: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

● Slowly say a name and have the children repeat it aloud. Those are big names. Let’s say each one again. Repeat after me: Shadrach… Meshach… Abednego. Children repeat.

● For three years, Daniel and his friends were taught many important things, including how to serve the king.

● Hold up the King’s Food Plate. The king ordered his chief official to give the men the best food and drink from his table.

● This was a problem for Daniel and his friends. The four men did not want the king’s food because they would disobey God’s law to eat and drink it. Make sad faces and shake heads "no."

● This was a big problem for the king’s chief official, too! If the chief official allowed Daniel and his friends to disobey the king’s order, he could be punished by the king! Oh No! Hold both sides of your face in distress and surprise.

● Daniel had an idea for a test! Point to side of head and smile big.

● Hold up the Vegetable Plate. Daniel asked the king’s official to let the four men eat and drink only vegetables and water while the other servants ate the king’s food.

● Daniel said this test would last ten days. Let’s count to ten together! Hold up one hand. Open fingers and thumb as you count slowly to five. Repeat with the other hand to count from six to ten.

● The king’s official was afraid, then finally said yes to the test. Make a worried face and then smile and nod head "yes."

● Hold up the Vegetable Plate. For ten days, the king’s official served Daniel and his friends vegetables and water, just like they asked.

● Daniel and his friends were very happy. The four men smile and jump up and down.

● Hold up the King’s Food Plate. Daniel and his friends used self-control to resist the temptation to eat the king’s delicious food and did what they knew was right! Hold both hands palms out in front of you to resist.

● After ten days, Daniel and his three friends stood before the king. They looked healthy and happy. Have children stand up straight and tall with happy faces.

● The other servants stood before the king, too. They looked tired and sickly. Have children stand slumped over with sad faces.

● The king looked at the unhealthy servants and was not happy. Shake head "no" with a sad face.

● Then the king looked at Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and was amazed at how healthy and full of energy they looked! Shake head "yes" with happy face.

● Daniel and his three friends had passed the test! God rewarded the four men for obeying the Lord and having self-control.

● Not only were Daniel and his friends healthier, but the king also found them ten times wiser than anyone in his kingdom! Let’s count to ten together again! Hold up one hand. Open fingers and thumb as you count slowly to five. Repeat with the other hand to count from six to ten.

Optional Review Questions

Did Daniel and his friends volunteer to leave home and go to Babylon to serve the king? No, they were prisoners/captives and forced to. (They were exiled.)

How many men only ate vegetables and water? Four (Daniel and his friends).

Who can say the names of Daniel’s three friends? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

How much wiser did the king find Daniel and his friends to be? Ten times.

How were Daniel and his friends able to resist the temptation to eat all of the king’s delicious food? They used self-control to do what was right. God strengthened and helped them.

Object to Go

Put the wristbands on and move your arms in front of you so they are visible. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

● Does anyone know what is on my wrists; is it a new kind of fashion jewelry? No, they are sweatbands/wristbands.

● Why do people wear them? To keep your hands dry when you exercise or work out.

● Rig and Miss Tina have been doing exercises and working out every day. Someone else should be working out with them. Who do you think is missing: Gears, Gizmo, Rodney, Professor Spectrum, Miss Wellington, or Doodad? Children guess.

● Let’s watch the video to see who is having trouble using self-control to exercise each day.

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

Let’s go to Rig’s workout room lab, where Miss Tina and Rig are warming up.

Play Video (Workout 2Gether: The Sequel)

Workout 2Gether: The Sequel

● Hold up the wristbands. Name the two bots wearing wristbands. Rig and Gears.

● Who was late to the workout time? Miss Tina.

● Who called Gears when he was working out? Rodney.

● Why did Gears need to leave the workout? He wanted to meet Rodney in the lab.

● Was it wrong for Gears to leave to meet with Rodney? Children answer.

● How do you think Miss Tina and Rig felt about Gears spending so much time with Rodney? They were sad; they were disappointed and hurt that he didn’t want to be with them and his other friends.

● Do you remember when Miss Tina said it is the most difficult to keep things balanced? When you are having fun.

● What problem did Rodney have by spending so much time with Gears? He wasn’t getting his work done.

Miss Tina told us that self-control is important, not only when you face the temptation to do something you know is wrong, but also when you are doing good things! Too much of a good thing can keep you from doing important things you need to do, like chores or spending time with your family.

Verse to GO!

Proverbs 16:32 (NLT)

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Proverbs 16:32 (NLT)

Verse to Go

Today’s Bible memory verse is Proverbs 16:32. Say the memory verse slowly.

“Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.” Proverbs 16:32

We learned the first part of this verse the last time we met. If you weren’t here, no worries! We will practice it again before we learn the second part of the verse.

Stand facing the children and lead them in to repeat phrases and imitate the motions.

Better… Hold out your hands with both thumbs up.

To be patient… Smile, take a deep breath, then exhale slowly.

Than powerful… Make a serious face and flex your biceps.

Repeat slowly once or twice.

Great! Now let’s learn the second part of the verse.

Better… Hold out both hands with your thumbs up.

To have self-control… Point both thumbs to your chest (self), then clench your hands together and lower them in front of your waist while lowering your head (control).

Than to conquer a city… Raise clenched hands from in front of your waist to one side of your head and then to the other with a happy, proud face. Turn your head to face the opposite side of your hands each time (see image).

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

To be patient means to trust and wait without complaining. Patience comes from having self-control. It is easy to lose our temper and show anger when we feel wronged. It takes self-control to show God’s love and to forgive.

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 strive for self-control in their lives.

For example: Dear God, thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit who helps us do what is right and resist temptation. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

Music Time

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 “Self-Control” under Resources or under Extras! in the DVD main menu.

Self Control

Play the video song “Self-Control.”

Encourage children to sing the words and do the following motions during the chorus:

Self-control… Point to self with one thumb.

Self-control… Point to self with the other thumb. With index finger.

Mind your head… Point to head with index finger.

Your heart… Place hands over heart.

Your hands… Hold both hands in front, palms out.

Self-control… Point to self with both thumbs.

Note: This will be a fun challenge because the song speeds up as it progresses.

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

● Who are the four men standing together in the picture? Daniel and his friends.

● What did the king order the men to do? Eat the food he gave them from his table.

● Why didn’t Daniel and his friends want to eat the food the king gave them? God didn’t want them to eat it. God’s law said they couldn’t eat it.

● Name some foods on the table. Children respond.

● Pretend you are Daniel; why would it be hard not to eat the king’s food? The king’s food looked good! It’s hard to say no to food when you’re hungry.

OPTIONAL TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for DANIEL, 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! (Lesson 1 was G.E. WELLINGTON, Lesson 3 is A TALE OF TWO WIDGETS—SELF-CONTROL.)