God Watches Over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego • Lesson 13 Bible Point

God watches over us all the time.

Bible Verse “The Lord himself watches over you!” (Psalm 121:5a).

Growing Closer to Jesus Children will n learn how God watched over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; n know that God watches over all their activities all day long; and n understand that God never sleeps; he watches over them all the time.

Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis

n God watches over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel 3:1-30

After hundreds of years of sin and idol worship by the people of Judah, God allowed ­Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to defeat Judah. The invaders took the brightest and best Judah had to offer back to Babylon with them. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the young men taken by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. We know Daniel’s three friends best by the names given them by the Babylonians: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar’s name meant “Nabu has protected my inheritance.” The statue he built was likely meant to represent the god Nabu. The statue was 90 feet high, but this measurement ­probably included a tall pedestal, and the statue itself was probably gold-plated, not solid gold. The furnace the three were thrown into was likely used to fire bricks or to smelt metal. Certainly at its normal operating temperature—probably between 1600 and 2300 degrees ­Fahrenheit—survival inside such a furnace would be humanly impossible. But ­Nebuchadnezzer had the furnace heated to such a degree that the soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace died from their proximity to it! We don’t know for certain who the fourth person in the furnace was. Certainly he was a supernatural being, either an angel or ­possibly Jesus himself.

Prayer • Read Isaiah 25:4-9. • How have you seen God save you when you trusted in him? • Pray: Lord, help me remember your care for me. I place this trouble in my life into your hands… Watch over the little ones in my class as they…

Before the Lesson n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart. n Make photocopies of the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children. n Pray for the children in your class and for God’s direction in teaching the lesson.

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Lesson 13

This Lesson at a Glance Welcome Time Let’s Get Started Direct children to one or more of the optional activities until everyone arrives.

What Children Will Do

Classroom Supplies

Welcome!—Receive name tags, and be greeted by the teacher.

“Shirt Name Tags” (p. 24), scissors, marker, safety pins or tape

Option 1: Fire Wheels—Make

Tape, scissors

Option 2: Fiery Flames—

Make flames with tissue paper.

Scissors; glue; “Fiery Flames” handout (p. 189); red, yellow, and orange tissue paper

Option 3: The Tall Statue—

Blocks

Pick-Up Time—Sing a song as

CD player

Setting the Stage—Play Sun or Moon to discover how God watches them day and night.

CD player

Bible Song and Prayer Time—Sing a song, bring out the

Bible, CD player

Hear and Tell the Bible Story—Hold up “flames” as they

Bible, CD player, “fiery flames” from Option 2

Do the Bible Story—Play a game to learn that God watches over us.

Yellow, red, and orange tissue paper

Sleepy Time—Reassure Whiskers that God watches over him all the time.

CD player, pillow, blanket

Learning Lab Supplies

“flaming” pinwheels.

Use blocks to build a tall tower like the king’s statue.

they pick up toys and gather for Bible Story Time.

Bible Story Time

Bible, and pray together.

hear a story from Daniel 3:1-30, and learn what happened to Daniel’s friends.

Object Lessons

Closing

Watchful Prayers—Thank God for watching over them.

*See the end of this lesson for extra-time ideas and supplies.

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God Watches Over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Welcome Time SUPPLIES: “Shirt Name Tags” (p. 24), scissors, marker, safety pins or tape • Kneel down and make eye contact with children as they arrive. • Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile. • Thank each child for coming to class today. • As children arrive, ask them about last week’s lesson or take-home page. Use ­questions such as “What did you tell your family about Daniel and the king’s dream?” and “Tell me about a time God watched over you when you were scared this week.” • Say: Today we’re going to learn that God watches over us all the time. • Hand out the shirt name tags children made during Lesson 1, and help them attach the name tags to their clothing. Have some extra shirt name tags on hand for children who weren't in class last week or to replace damaged name tags. • Direct children to the Let’s Get Started activities you’ve set up.

Let’s Get Started Set up one or more of the following activities for children to do as they arrive. After you greet each child, invite him or her to choose an activity. Circulate among the children to offer help as needed and to direct children’s conversation toward the point of today’s lesson. Ask questions such as “What’s your favorite time of day?” or “Tell me about a time God watched over you.”

n Option 1: Fire Wheels SUPPLIES: transparent tape, scissors Set out the pinwheels, transparent tape, scissors, and the comet ball. Show children how to snip 3- to 4-inch lengths from the shiny comet-ball tail. Then help children tape the streamers to the tips of the pinwheels. When children blow on the pinwheels, the streamers will flutter and flicker like flames. Explain that today children will learn about three men who were thrown into a blazing fire. Leave the pinwheels decorated so children can use them during “Hear and Tell the Bible Story.”

n Option 2: Fiery Flames SUPPLIES: scissors; glue; “Fiery Flames” handout (p. 189); red, yellow, and orange tissue paper Before class, cut red, yellow, and orange tissue paper into 3-inch squares. Photocopy the “Fiery Flames” handout. Make one copy for every two children. Have children form pairs, and give each pair a handout. Help children glue the tissue paper to the flames. Encourage them to glue on several layers of different-colored tissue paper. As they work, tell them that today’s story is about a fiery furnace.

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Lesson 13

When children finish their flames, set the flames aside for use later in the lesson. Keep any extra handouts for children who didn’t participate in this activity. If you choose not to do Option 2, make several copies of the “Fiery Flames” handout (p. 189) on yellow or orange paper to use during the Bible story. If you want to create threedimensional flames, have each child wrap a tissue square around a pencil eraser, and then carefully pull the tissue off the eraser. They can dip the end of the tissue in glue and stick it on their handouts. Younger children will probably need help with this.

n Option 3: The Tall Statue SUPPLIES: blocks Have the children build a tall tower with the blocks. Then have them lie on the floor and look up at the tower. Tell them that today they will hear about a king who built a very tall statue. When everyone has arrived and you’re ready to move on to Bible Story Time, encourage children to finish what they’re doing and get ready to clean up.

n Pick-Up Time Supplies: CD player track 2

Lead children in singing “Come Along With Me” (track 2) with the CD to the tune of “Come and Go With Me.” Encourage children to sing along as they help clean up the room.

Come along with me and pick up all our things, Pick up all our things, Pick up all our things. Come along with me and pick up all our things So our room will be clean. (Repeat 2x.)

Bible Story Time n Setting the Stage Supplies: CD player

Use questions to draw children into discussions and help them focus on the Bible story. Invite children to help you tell the Bible story if they already know it. Listen to children’s questions and responses, but don’t let them steer you too far away from the story.

Tell the children you’ll play a fun marching song to get their ­attention. Explain that when you play the song, the children are to stop what they’re doing and march toward you. Practice this signal a few times. Encourage children to respond quickly so you’ll have time for all the fun activities you’ve planned. Ask: • What did you make or do when you came to our class today? (Made fire wheels; made flames; built a tall tower.) Say: Some of you made fire wheels, some of you glued tissue paper to make flames, and some of you built a tall tower. You were all learning important things about our ­lesson today. Today we’re going to be learning that God watches over us all the time. Let’s play a game to help us learn about that. This game is called Sun or Moon, and it’s kind of like Red Light, Green Light. track 10

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God Watches Over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Have children line up along one wall, and then say: When I look at you and say “sun,” don’t move. But when I turn my back and say “moon,” walk toward me. Alternate saying “sun” and “moon” until a child reaches you. Then say: Sun or moon, God watches over us all the time. Let the child who reached you first be the leader and call out “sun” and “moon.” Then help the child lead everyone in saying, “Sun or moon, God watches over us all the time.” Repeat the game as time allows. Ask: • What do you like to do when the sun is shining? (Go swimming; play outside; go to the park.) • What do you like to do when it’s dark outside? (Watch a video; hear a story; go to bed.) Say: God watches over us all the time. He sees us in the daytime when the sun is shining, and he sees us at nighttime when the moon and stars are shining. God is always with us to take care of us. Let’s bring out our Bible now and find out how God took care of Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

n Bible Song and Prayer Time SUPPLIES: Bible, CD player Have children sit down. Say: Now it’s time to choose a Bible person to bring me the Bible marked with today’s Bible story. As we sing our Bible song, we’ll pass around our special Bible. The person who’s holding the Bible when the music stops will be our Bible person today. Remember that everyone will get a chance to be our Bible person. Lead children in singing “I’m So Glad for the Bible” (track 4) with the CD to the tune of “Give Me Oil in My Lamp.” As you sing, pass around the special Bible. tracks 4 & 5

I’m so glad for the Bible. Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’. I’m so glad for God’s book today. I’m so glad for the Bible. Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’— Keep me learnin’ all about his way.

Let me hear ’bout God’s love— Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’. Let me hear ’bout God’s love for me. Let me hear ’bout God’s love— Keep me learnin’, learnin’, learnin’. Let’s shine the light for all to see.

(Repeat first verse.) When the music stops, invite the child who’s holding the Bible to bring it to you. Stamp the child’s hand with the book stamp, and thank the child for bringing you the Bible. Then stamp the other children’s hands. Return the book stamp and ink pad to the Learning Lab. Say: I’m thankful for [name of child who brought you the Bible]. Tell each child that you’re thankful for him or her. Let’s thank God together for all our friends in this class. Lead children in singing “I’m So Glad We’re Together” (track 5) with the CD to the tune of “Give Me Oil in My Lamp.”

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I’m so glad we’re together. Keep us prayin’, prayin’, prayin’. I’m so glad we’re all here today. I’m so glad we’re together. Keep us prayin’, prayin’, prayin’— Prayin’ for each other every day. Lead children in folding their hands and bowing their heads as you continue to sing.

Thank you, Lord, for each one. Keep me thankful, thankful, thankful. Thank you for everyone who’s here. Thank you, Lord, for each one. Keep me thankful, thankful, thankful— Thankful for our friends both far and near.

n Hear and Tell the Bible Story SUPPLIES: Bible, CD player, “fiery flames” from Option 2 Have the children find partners. Open the Bible to track 18 Daniel 3, and show it to the children. Say: Our Bible story comes from the book of Daniel in the Bible. Our Bible Big Book shows us pictures of our Bible story. Let’s see what you remember about Daniel and his friends. As I turn the pages of the Bible Big Book, tell your partner one thing you remember about that story. Hold up the Bible Big Book: Daniel and His Friends so children can see page 1. Slowly turn the pages, and encourage children to share things such as “Daniel and his friends had to move far away,” “The boys went to a special school,” and “Daniel helped the king with his dream.” When you reach page 5, put the book down and say: Our Bible story today gets pretty hot. Show me what you look like when you’re feeling too hot. Let children show you. Say: I think you all look hot enough to help me tell this story. Give each pair a pinwheel and a flames picture children made in Option 2. Say: We’re going to listen to our story on the CD. Every time you hear a word that’s “hot,” hold up your flames or blow on your pinwheel. Then trade items with your partner. What are some hot words you know? (Hot; fire; burning up.) Any time you hear a word like fire, furnace, or hot, hold up your flames or blow on your pinwheel. Let’s practice that. Say several “hot” words, and let children hold up their flames and blow on their pinwheels. Then bring out the Bible Big Book: Daniel and His Friends. Play the “Fiery Furnace” segment (track 18) from the CD. As you listen, show the children the pictures on pages 5 through 8 in the Bible Big Book. Follow along in the text on the back of the book, and turn the pages when you hear the harp sound. After the story, stop the CD. Put the Bible Big Book away, and collect the flames and pinwheels. 182 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4

God Watches Over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Ask: • How do you think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego felt when the king said he was going to throw them in the fiery furnace? (Scared; afraid they’d burn up; not scared because they knew God was watching them.) • What did the king see when he looked in the furnace? (Four people instead of three; God’s angel.) • How do you think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego felt when God was with them in the fiery furnace? (Happy; glad they didn’t burn up.) Say: The king said that everyone had to bow down to a fake god that ­wasn’t even real. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that we should only worship God. God watched over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, even when they were in the fiery furnace. And God is watching over us right now. God watches over us all the time. Say: Jesus said that he will never leave us or let us be all alone. And Psalm 121:5 says “The Lord himself watches over you!” Let’s say that together. “The Lord himself watches over you!” Thank you, Jesus, for watching over us.

Say: Let’s do a puppet play to help us remember that.

n Do the Bible Story SUPPLIES: Yellow, red, and orange tissue paper Before class, remove the modeling clay from the Bible Discovery Pak and mold four small people from the clay. Give three children one clay person each. Hide the other clay person behind you. Ask the remaining kids to help you make tissue paper “flames” by tearing the red, yellow, and orange tissue paper into small strips. Tell each child to keep a pile of the flames. Say: You’re going to help me do this puppet play about our story. I’m going to be the king from our story. These three friends will be Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The rest of you will help me with the flames from the hot furnace. I’ll be singing the king’s part, and you’ll sing the friends’ parts. When I sing, “Will you bow down?” you’ll sing back to me: “I will not; I will not.” Then when I sing, “I’ll throw you in the furnace,” you’ll answer: “I’ll still pray, I’ll still pray.” As you sing each verse of “Will You Bow Down?” choose a child with a clay figure to be the character in the verse. Have that helper hold the figure up and wiggle it back and forth. As the children sing, “I’ll still pray,” have that helper lay the figure on the table. Follow this procedure for each of the three figures.

Object Lessons

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Lesson 13

King says: Shadrach? Shadrach? (Sing to the tune of “Frère Jacques.”) King: Will you bow down? Will you bow down? Children: I will not. I will not. King: I’ll throw you in the furnace. I’ll throw you in the furnace. Children: I’ll still pray. I’ll still pray. King says: Meshach? Meshach? (Sing to the tune of “Frère Jacques.”) King: Will you bow down? Will you bow down? Children: I will not. I will not. King: I’ll throw you in the furnace. I’ll throw you in the furnace. Children: I’ll still pray. I’ll still pray. King says: Abednego? Abednego? (Sing to the tune of “Frère Jacques.”) King: Will you bow down? Will you bow down? Children: I will not. I will not. King: I’ll throw you in the furnace. I’ll throw you in the furnace. Children: I’ll still pray. I’ll still pray. For the following verse, have children lay the three figures in front of you and then have the other children cover the figures in tissue paper. While children are singing, quickly and secretly hide the fourth figure under the tissue paper with the other clay figures. (Sing to the tune of “Frère Jacques.”) All: In the fire, In the fire, God is there. God is there. God is watching over, God is watching over, All the time. All the time. 184 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4

God Watches Over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Have children remove the tissue paper to find all four figures! Say: God sent someone to watch over the three friends! God made sure they were all OK! Ask: • How does it make you feel to know that God is watching over you all the time? (Safe; happy; good.) Ask: • When can you trust God to watch over you? (All the time; at night when I’m scared; when I’m outside.) Say: You can be sure that God watches over you all the time, just as God watched over the three friends in our story. Let’s see if we can help our friend Whiskers learn that God watches over us all the time.

Closing n Sleepy Time SUPPLIES: CD player, pillow, blanket Bring out Whiskers the Mouse, and go through the following track 17 puppet script. When you finish the script, put Whiskers away and out of sight.

(Using a pillow and blanket, help children tuck Whiskers in bed. You’ll still be able to work Whiskers if you lay him face up in your lap. Whiskers should seem unhappy about bedtime.)

Teacher: Whiskers: Teacher: Whiskers: Teacher:

Whiskers, is something wrong?

Whiskers: Teacher: Whiskers: Teacher:

But how can God watch over me when he’s asleep?

I don’t want to go to bed. Why not? I’m afraid I’ll have a scary dream about that fire story we heard. That story was kind of scary. I bet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were really scared. But do you remember what we talked about last week? God watches over us when we’re scared. Oh, Whiskers, God never sleeps. Come on, he has to. Everybody sleeps! God isn’t like us. God doesn’t need to sleep. He’s always awake and ready to take care of us. God watches over us all the time. We know a Bible verse that tells us that. Will all of you say the verse with me so Whiskers can remember, too? (Lead the children in saying Psalm 121:5a, “The Lord himself watches over you!”) And we know a song that will help you remember that God is watching over you. Maybe we can teach it to you so you won’t feel scared.

Whiskers:

Oh, I love songs. It could be a lullaby for me!

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(Lead children in singing “God Watches Over You” (track 17) with the CD to the tune of “A-Tisket, A-Tasket.” If you want to include the names of all the children in your class, sing the song without the CD, and repeat the naming section. Be sure to include Whiskers when you sing the song.) God watches over you, Over [names]. When you’re playing or at home, God watches over you each day— Watches over you each day. (Repeat.)

Teacher: Whiskers: Teacher: Whiskers:

Whiskers, what do you think of the song? (Yawning) I like it. And you know what? What? I think it’s working…I’m really sleepy. I think I’m going to bed. Good night, friends. I mean…goodbye…

Permission to photocopy this script from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Preschool granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539. HandsOnBible.com

n Watchful Prayers SUPPLIES: none Lead children in walking around in a circle. As you walk, say together: God watches over us all the time. Then say: God watches over us at bedtime. As you continue in the circle, have each child put both hands to the side of his or her face as if sleeping. After you’ve walked for a few moments, ask one of the children: • What time does God watch over us? Encourage the child to choose a new time such as mealtime, story time, singing time, or picking-up time. Lead the class in doing an action that would represent that time and saying: God watches over us at [name of] time. Continue until everyone has had a chance to suggest an action. It’s OK if some actions are repeated more than once. End with this prayer: Dear God, thanks for watching over us all the time. We’re glad that when we go to sleep at night, you’re still awake and watching over us. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego reminds us that you watch over us no matter where we are or what we’re doing. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

186 Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4

God Watches Over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with the children. ­Encourage parents to use the handout to plan ­meaningful family activities to reinforce this week’s topic.

Want even more activity ideas for this lesson? Check out HandsOnBible.com/tips.

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Lesson 13

For Extra Time If you have a long class time or want to add additional elements to your lesson, try one of the following activities.

n Lively Learning: Bible Big Book Review Have children use the Bible Big Book: Daniel and His Friends to retell the Bible story to Whiskers the Mouse. Have children take turns using Whiskers and showing him the pictures in the Bible Big Book. Encourage other children to listen, and help fill in details from the story. As children review the story, lead them in repeating the Bible Point from each lesson: • Lesson 10: God watches over us when we’re away from home. • Lesson 11: God watches over us at school. • Lesson 12: God watches over us when we’re scared. • Lesson 13: God watches over us all the time.

n Make to Take: Watching Clocks Help each child trace a round clock face on a sheet of light-colored construction paper using a coffee can or other round object. Then help each child cut two clock hands out of the leftover paper scraps. Show children how to fasten the hands to the clock face with paper fasteners. Have children color their clocks as you go around and add numbers to each one. As children work, invite them to tell you about things they like to do at certain times during the day. Show them those times on their clocks, and remind them that God watches over us all the time.

n Treat to Eat: Cheese Lights Help children cut cheese slices into shapes using circle and star cookie cutters to make suns, moons, and stars. Talk about how God watches over us all the time. As children eat their cheese shapes, tell them that when they see the moon and stars at night, they can remember that God is watching over them.

see p e 5. ag

n Story Picture: Inside the Fiery Furnace Set out markers and some glitter glue. Give each child a copy of the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of this lesson). Have them color the picture of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Then help them spread a small amount of glitter glue on the angel’s robe. Talk with children about how God watched over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all the time when they were in Babylon—even in the fiery furnace.

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Fiery Flames

Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Preschool granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539. HandsOnBible.com

189

Lesso

watches over d o G s all the time. u me learn this: Help

“The Lord himself watches over you!” (Psalm 121:5a).

Ask me:

n What happened to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace? n When does God watch over you? n When does God watch over our family?

Family Fun

n Make your own fiery crayons. Collect old red, yellow, and orange crayons. Remove the paper wrappers, and break the crayons into small pieces. Line the cups of a muffin tin with foil, and then fill each cup about halfway with crayon pieces. Bake in a preheated 300-degree oven for five to seven ­minutes. The crayons should melt just enough to blend the colors. Don’t let them melt completely! Remove the tin from the oven, and let the crayons cool for at least 30 ­minutes. Peel off the foil before using the crayons.

Inside the Fiery Furnace

190

n 13 Today yo ur child le arned that God watche ov e r u s s all the Children time. heard ho w God w over Dan atched ie l’ s fr ie furnace (D nds in th e fier a n iel 3:1-30 about tim ). They ta y es God w lked atches ov er them.

(Daniel 3:1-30)

Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Preschool granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539. HandsOnBible.com

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