Leader Guide
| Site: | Superbook Academy |
| Course: | The Invasion of the Bug-O-Mytes - A Lesson in Working Together |
| Book: | Leader Guide |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Saturday, April 12, 2025, 8:14 PM |
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 on the previous four lessons 1-4 about Nehemiah and all of the Israelites who worked together to rebuild the Jerusalem wall. Our video today features Gears and Rig who are making a video together. All is going well until Gears chooses to focus on something that leads to a disagreement and hurt feelings with Rig. Children will learn the importance of staying focused to avoid distractions while working together.
*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation except as noted.
Optional Opening Game
- Round Balloons, one per child plus extras
- Plastic or disposable cups, one per child plus extras
- Painter's tape or masking tape
Place a line near one end of the room and the large box or container several feet away or at the other end of the room.
The workers who built the wall in Jerusalem had to carry heavy stones, wood and mortar to the workers who built the wall. Mortar is like glue or cement that holds stones or bricks in a wall.
Hold up a balloon. Let’s pretend that balloons are stones used to build a wall. You will need to carry the stones (balloons) to the other side of the room for Nehemiah’s workers to use.
It sounds easy, right? Well, there is one more thing I need to tell you about this game.
Hold up a cup and place the balloon on top. Your goal is to carry your balloon on the cup with only one hand. Your other hand must stay behind your back as you travel. Once you reach the other line, you will drop your balloon on the floor behind the line. Then the next player takes a turn.
Give a balloon and a cup to a child when it is time for his/her turn. If a balloon falls to the floor, players can use both hands to place it back on the cup and continue.
Have children cheer and encourage one another as each player takes a turn.
Play another round if time permits.
Optional: Call out different ways to travel as the children carry the balloons: skip, walk backwards, hop, walk sideways, etc. This will be quite a challenge. For this round, another option is to allow two players to take a turn at the same time.
Conclusion: It looked like you really had to watch what you were doing so the balloon didn’t fall before you finished. What do you think might have happened if you closed your eyes or looked at others while you balanced the balloon? It would have fallen.
Object to Go
- (Cheer) Megaphone - see note below
- Optional: Megaphone Image (provided)
Optional: Make a copy of the Megaphone Image in color or black and white.
Hold the megaphone up and speak in a loud voice into it. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:
● Testing, testing, hello, hello, can you hear me? Children respond.
● Hold the megaphone or image up. Do you know what this is called? A megaphone.
● A megaphone is used to make your voice louder so you can be heard be heard in a crowd or noisy place.
● Who have you seen use a megaphone? A fireman or policeman a movie director, a cheerleader or announcer.
● A character in the next video uses a megaphone. Do you think it is Miss Tina, Rodney, Gears, Gizmo, Rig, Widget or Professor Quantum? Children guess.
● Do you think this character is playing a cheerleader, fireman, or a director? Children guess.
● Let’s watch the video to find out who uses a megaphone and why!
Leave the question unanswered until it is revealed in the video.
Play Video (A Gears and Rig Film)
A Gears and Rig Film
● Hold up the Object to Go! megaphone or image. Who used this? Gears.
● Raise your hand if you guessed correctly. Children respond.
● What role was he playing in the video? A (movie) director.
● What competition were Gears and Rig making a movie for? The Protonatron film competition.
● What did Gears and Rig disagree on? Which Protonatron movie is their favorite or the best.
● Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt like Rig when no one listened to an idea or a feeling you tried to share. Children respond.
● Was Gears right to make such a big deal over what movie was the best? Children respond.
The argument hurt Rig’s feelings and became a distraction to them. A distraction is something that takes your attention or focus away from what you should be doing.
· What did Rig suggest to solve their disagreement? To come up with their own line to say instead of using a Protonatron line.
● Who apologized for freaking out? Gears apologized to Rig.
When we work together, there is a good chance that we won’t always agree with others on what to do, or the best way to do it. It is important to stay focused and keep your attention on what you should be doing, while also showing kindness and respect to others, even when you feel your way is best.
Video Lesson
Nehemiah
In the video today, we will see how everyone did their part to finish rebuilding the Jerusalem wall.
Play Video (Bible story)
Bible Story
Teaching Time
- Various toys such as: handheld video game or controller, Lego style blocks, child’s book, super-hero figurine, doll, stuffed animal; any item a child could be distracted with
- Bible or Superbook Bible App
Nehemiah was sad. Who remembers why he was sad? He heard that the walls of Jerusalem were all broken down, so the city couldn’t be safe from its enemies.
Nehemiah was so sad that he wept (cried) and prayed to God for days.
Nehemiah received permission from the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall around the city. It was a job that was much too big for Nehemiah to do alone. He knew he must work together with others to finish the job God called him to do.
The Israelites began to work on the wall, but soon there was a problem. The Israelites became distracted. Remember, a distraction is something that takes your attention or focus away from what you should be doing.
Hold up the toys you chose and adjust the presentation accordingly.
Let’s say you were told to clean your room. You started to pick up your toys and clothes. But then, you found your blocks under the bed and decided to build one small house. Then you saw your favorite book that you thought was lost you had to look at the pictures.
You finished the book and then saw your favorite super-hero figurine in the closet and played with it for a short time. Has this ever happened to you? Children respond.
What were you supposed to be doing? Cleaning the room.
The different toys became a distraction from cleaning your room. They took your attention away from what you should be doing. You will face many kinds of distractions every day!
The Israelites’ enemies were not happy that the wall was being rebuilt. To distract the workers, the enemies laughed at them and mocked them. How do you feel when someone laughs at you or mocks you? Sad.
They even threatened to attack the Israelites if they didn’t stop! The Israelites were scared! Shout “Oh No!” with the children and hold the sides of your face with your hands.
God gave Nehemiah an idea to help the workers from becoming distracted while they worked.
Nehemiah placed guards with weapons and shields around the workers to watch for their enemies in case they decided to attack. The Israelites felt safe again. They were able to keep their attention or focus on their work—not on their enemies!
Conclusion: The Israelites kept their attention on the wall and finished it! As you work together, remember how important it is to focus on what you are supposed to do so you will not be distracted.
Verse to GO!
- Bible or the Superbook Bible App
Children will learn the entire verse today.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
Today’s Bible memory verse is 1 Corinthians 12:7. Say the Bible verse slowly.
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” 1 Corinthians 12:7
Raise your hand if you like when someone gives you a gift. Children respond.
What are some special days that you have received a gift? Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, etc.
In the Bible verse, we all receive powerful and special gifts that only God can give. These are called spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is an invisible gift that can’t be seen. God gives us these gifts to help us serve one another and show His love.
Now, it is time to learn the Bible verse.
Stand facing the children and lead them in repeating phrases and imitating the motions.
A spiritual gift… look up and point to the sky with both index fingers.
is given to each of us... hold both hands out to receive and smile.
so we can help each other… point to your chest and then extend both hands out (as if to give the gift you received to others).
Repeat slowly a few more times.
Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse and may simply repeat it with you. Be sure children understand what a spiritual gift is, and that God gives these gifts to help others.
Prayer Time
Close the lesson in a simple prayer to thank God for His wisdom and strength
For example: Dear Heavenly Father, help us to focus on You and the work You have given us to do. Help us to also show love and kindness to others as we work together. In Jesus’ 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 sing with Miss Tina and the robots while imitating their moves or freestyling on their own.
The Solution
Repeat together "WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER" while holding both arms in the air to imitate the robots each time it is sung. In most cases this is every other line.
Take-Home Coloring Page
- A Time to Celebrate Take-Home Coloring Page.
- Crayons or washable markers
The Take-Home Coloring Page located in Resources can be printed and given to students to color at the end of class if time, then to take home.
Print one page for each child plus extras.
Provide crayons or washable markers for children.
As children color, review today’s lesson using the discussion points below:
● Why are Nehemiah and the Israelites so happy? They finished rebuilding the wall.
● Did everyone do the same job? The workers had different jobs.
● Why kind of gifts does God give us? Spiritual gifts.
● Why does he give us these gifts? To help others.
● What is the word that means something that takes your attention away from what you should be doing? Distraction.
Game
Game
Play the Optional Opening Game “Carry On” at the beginning of this lesson.
Play the game “Bug Off!” from Lesson 1
Play the game “Working Together” from Lesson 2
Play the game “Drawing Interest” from Lesson 3
Play the game “Wall Done” from Lesson 4