Leader Guide
| Site: | Superbook Academy |
| Course: | Thanks Mode - A Lesson in Thankfulness |
| Book: | Leader Guide |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Saturday, April 12, 2025, 6:03 PM |
Leader Introduction
Welcome students as they arrive with their parents.
At Quantum Labs, the bots are rehearsing a new dance number for a fundraiser when they suddenly go into sleep mode. Professor Quantum quickly provides an update to fix the problem, but will the robots remember to thank him?
In today’s Bible story, Jesus mercifully heals ten men with leprosy, but only one returns to thank Jesus—and this man was a Samaritan! Children will learn the importance of being grateful to God and others.
*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation except as noted.
Optional Opening Game
- Match Card Pages (2)
- Two sheets of cardstock
- Optional: table
- Scissors
Make one copy of each Match Card Page in color or black and white on cardstock.
Use scissors to cut apart the 16 cards.
Shuffle the cards. Lay them face-down on the table or floor in two rows of eight cards.
Note: If time is short, skip this activity or save it for the end of class.
Let’s play a matching game to begin today’s lesson. I’d like all of you to stand up now. When I shout, “Good night!” I’d like you to pretend to be asleep. Are you ready? “Good night!” Children respond.
Good! You can wake up now! The cards on the table (floor) have pictures of robots we’ve seen in the videos. Each robot is awake on one card and in sleep mode (turned off or shut down) on a different card. Your job is to find both cards for that bot to make a match.
On your turn, you will choose one card to turn over and show everyone, and then all of us can shout out the bot's name! Then, you will choose a second card to make a match.
If the two cards match, you can give them to me. If they don’t match, you will turn them over on the table in the same spot.
We'll play until all the cards are matched.
Optional: Announce how each child will travel to the table to choose cards: skip, hop on one leg, hop on two legs, tiptoe, walk backward/sideways, etc.
For a larger class, make two copies of each page (2 of each card; 32 cards total). In this version, a match is two identical cards (two cards of a bot in sleep mode or two cards of the bot awake).
Conclusion: Good job finding all the matches. In a little while, we will watch our video to find out why the bots were awake and then asleep at Quantum Labs.
Music Time
The lyrics for this song are found in Resources.
Play the video song “Thankful.” Encourage children to sing as they sway side to side, lift their hands, and clap to praise God along with Miss Tina and the choir.
Play Video (Thankful)
Thankful
Children can sing the words of the chorus:
Thanks is the will of God
God is so good
My spirit is so thankful
God is so good
My heart is so thankful
God is so good
No matter the storm on the raging sea
It’s Jesus who helps me
At the end of the song, children can repeatedly respond to Miss Tina and Gizmo, “So thankful!”
Video Lesson
Optional: Play Video (Bible Story Theme Song)
Bible Story Theme Song
Optional: Sing along and do the motions with Miss Tina for the Bible Story Theme Song.
“Have you heard the Word, Truth’s in the Word—oh!”
“Have you heard the Word, Truth’s in the Word—let’s go!”
“Have you heard the Word, Truth’s in the Word—oh!”
“Have you heard the Word, Truth’s in the Word—let’s go!”
It’s time for Miss Tina to share a Bible story about ten men who were healed when Jesus did a miracle for them.
Play Video (Bible Story)
Jesus Heals Ten Men with Leprosy
Text: Luke 17:11-19
Bible Story
Verse to GO!
- Superbook Academy Memory Verse Video
- Bible or the Superbook Bible App
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
Play Video (Verse to Go)
Verse to Go
Optional: Show the memory verse video. Children will learn the entire verse today.
Today’s Bible memory verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT). Say the memory verse slowly.
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Circumstance is a big word, isn’t it? In this verse, the word means, at all times, no matter what happens, good or bad.
God’s will is what pleases Him or what He wants you to do or be. So, the verse says that God wants us to be thankful at all times.
Now, let’s learn the verse with some motions.
Stand facing the children and lead them to repeat phrases and imitate the motions.
Be thankful… Smile and nod your head to acknowledge.
In all circumstances… Fully extend both arms out wide to the side.
For this is God’s will for you… Raise both arms as you point to the sky.
Who belong to Christ Jesus… Place both hands over your heart and bow down on one knee.
Repeat as necessary.
Make sure the children understand what circumstances mean in this verse.
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.
Play Video (Thanks Mode Resolution)
Thanks Mode Resolution
Optional Discussion:
- What did Widget thank Miss Tina for? For getting the bots fixed so they could do their dance.
- Who did the robots finally remember to thank for fixing their problem? Professor Quantum.
- How did the robots thank Professor Quantum? They made him a thank-you video.
Prayer Time
Close the lesson in a simple prayer to encourage the children to be thankful.
For example: Dear God, Thank You for loving us and sending Jesus to die for us. Help us to always be thankful in all circumstances! In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Lesson Wrap Up
WRAP-UP VIDEO:
Wrap Up
Wrap-Up and Song Reprise (Thankful)
Did Gizmo say we can only be thankful when everything is going the way we want it to? No, at all times, when things are going good or bad.
Yes, even if you are having a bad day, you can still be thankful because God is always the same, and He is always good! He loves you and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins. So, like Gizmo, we can shout, “Hallelujah!” Hallelujah is a word that means “Praise God!”
Miss Tina told us that Jesus was always thankful. Can you remember some things Jesus thanked God for? Food, healing His friends, and for always hearing His prayers.
I am going to count to three, and let’s all shout, “God is so good! Hallelujah!”
One, two, three. God is so good! Hallelujah!
Now, let’s go and live every day with a thankful heart! God is so good!
Optional: Play the Salvation Poem video.
SALVATION POEM:
Salvation Poem
Game
Play or repeat the optional opening match game if time permits.
Take Home Coloring Page
- Dance Rehearsal Take-Home Page
- Crayons or washable markers
- Optional: GizmoGO! Thankfulness trading cards, available under Products—one for each child
Print one page for each child, plus extras. Provide crayons or washable markers.