daniel helps the king understand his dream • lesson 12...

Daniel Helps the King Understand His Dream • Lesson 12

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

Growing Closer to JesusChildren will n hear a story about the king’s bad dream,

n learn that God is with them even though they can’t see him, andn help each other remember that God is watching over them.

Teacher EnrichmentBible Basisn Daniel helps the king understand his dream.

The dreams Nebuchadnezzar was having were not ordinary dreams; they were troubling dreams with eternal significance. God—the God of Daniel, not the false god of Nebuchadnezzar—was using the dreams to reveal information to the king.

Why did the king’s advisers speak in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4)? It was the common language that most everyone in the area knew. In fact, Daniel 2:4–7:28 is written entirely in Aramaic.

Apparently the subject matter of these chapters was intended to be accessible to people from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, not just to the Hebrews.

Notice that when Daniel was confronted with the likelihood of execution, he didn’t fret or panic. Instead, he went right to work on a plan to show God’s power to the Babylonian king. Daniel knew that God was watching over him and his friends. Notice that in interpreting the king’s dream, Daniel not only saved himself and his friends, but also all of the “wise men” of Babylon. And when God revealed the mystery of the dreams to Daniel, Daniel didn’t take credit for it. Instead, he explained that God had revealed the mystery to him.

Prayer• Read 1 Peter 5:7.• Think about Daniel’s situation when the king decreed that Daniel and his friends should be executed. How do

you think Daniel was able to give his worries to God?• Pray: Dear God, thanks for your care when I’m worried or afraid. Help me to trust you with my fears

concerning… Help the children I teach with their fears about…

Before the Lessonn 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.

Bible Point God watches over us when we’re scared.

Daniel 2:1-3, 19

165Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4

This Lesson at a GlanceWhat Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies

Welcome Time

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

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

Let’s Get Started

Direct children to one or more of the optional activities until

everyone arrives.

Option 1: Fluffy Friends—Comfort stuffed animals by holding them and telling them not to be afraid.

Stuffed animals

Option 2: King’s Bed—Create royal beds, and talk about what it would be like to sleep in a palace.

Bedsheets, blankets, pillows

Option 3: Night Pictures—Create pictures of the night sky.

Black construction paper, light-colored gel pens

Pick-Up Time—Sing a song as they pick up toys and gather for Bible Story Time.

CD player

Bible Story Time

Setting the Stage—Look for a hidden object, and learn that God is watching over them.

CD player

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

Bible, CD player

Hear and Tell the Bible Story—Do actions as they hear Daniel 2:1-3, 19, and discover that the king had a bad dream that scared him.

Bible, chair

Do the Bible Story—Play a walking game and remind one another that God watches over us always.

CD player

Closing Where’s God?—Teach Whiskers that God is watching over us even though we can’t see him.

Construction paper, tape

Watching Circle—Sing about God watching over them.

CD player

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

Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Preschool, Ages 3 & 4166

Lesson 12

Welcome TimeSUPPLIES: “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 his friends at school?” or “How did God watch over you in school this week?”

• Say: Today we’re going to learn that God watches over us when we’re scared.

• 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 StartedSet 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 direct children’s

conversation toward the point of today’s lesson. Ask questions such as “What do you do when you feel scared?” or “Tell me about a dream you’ve had.”

n Option 1: Fluffy FriendsSUPPLIES: stuffed animals

Have children choose an animal to comfort. Tell them that the animals are scared. Have the children hold the animals and tell the animals that God watches over us when we’re scared.

n Option 2: King’s BedSUPPLIES: bedsheets, blankets, pillows

Provide bedsheets, blankets, and pillows. Help children use the bedding and other classroom furniture to make a bed fit for a king. For example, they might drape a bedsheet over a table and set pillows and blankets on it. As children create their beds, talk with them about what it would be like to sleep in a big palace. Tell them that today’s Bible story is about a king who had a bad dream.

Have children make one bed on the floor to lie in for Option 2 so they don’t lie down in beds they created that aren’t sturdy.

If you don’t have enough blankets to go around, have children use jackets, sweaters, or dress-up clothes for blankets.


Daniel Helps the King Understand His Dream

n Option 3: Night PicturesSUPPLIES: black construction paper, light-colored gel pens

Set out the supplies, and encourage the children to create pictures of what the night sky looks like. Have them add stars and the moon to their pictures. Talk with them about how we might be afraid at night, and remind them that God watches over us when we’re scared.

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 TimeSUPPLIES: CD player

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 thingsSo our room will be clean.(Repeat 2x.)

Bible Story Timen Setting the StageSUPPLIES: CD player

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 to you. Practice this signal a few times as you play “Marching Music” (track 10 on the CD). Encourage children to respond quickly so you’ll have time for all the fun activities you’ve planned.

Ask: • What did you do or make when you came to our class today? (Comforted stuffed animals; made a bed for a king; made night pictures.)

Say: Some of you comforted scared stuffed animals and learned that God is with you when you’re scared. Some of you made a bed for a king, and some of you made a picture of the night sky. Let’s all play a game together now.

Hold up a pinwheel, and let children look at it. Then say: I’m going to hide the pinwheel, and then you have to find it.

Have all the children cover their eyes and look away as you hide the pinwheel. Make sure you hide it in a place where children will be able to find it. Then say:

One, two, three—Please find the pinwheel for me.Let children look for the pinwheel. When they find it, hide it again. Play the game

several times. Then announce that this will be the last time. Hide the pinwheel so that children won’t find it, such as in a high cupboard or behind a bulletin board.

Allow no more than 30 seconds for children to look. Say: We can’t find the pinwheel, can we? But we know it has to be in the room.

• Where do you think it is? (It disappeared; you put it outside; it’s in here, but we can’t find it.)

Bring out the pinwheel for everyone to see. Say: Even when we couldn’t see the pinwheel, we knew it was here. Set the pinwheel aside, and continue: We can’t see God either, but we know he’s here. Sometimes when we’re scared, we feel sad and alone. But we’re not alone because God is with us. We can be sure that God watches over us when we’re scared because the Bible says so. Psalm 121:5 in the Bible says, “The Lord himself watches over you!” Let’s say that together: “The Lord himself watches over you!” Let’s hear a story now about a king of a country called Babylon. This king was scared!

n Bible Song and Prayer TimeSUPPLIES: Bible, CD player

Have children jump to the story area, and 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.

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.

(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.

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.

track 2

track 10


Lesson 12

Have all the children cover their eyes and look away as you hide the pinwheel. Make sure you hide it in a place where children will be able to find it. Then say:

One, two, three—Please find the pinwheel for me.Let children look for the pinwheel. When they find it, hide it again. Play the game

several times. Then announce that this will be the last time. Hide the pinwheel so that children won’t find it, such as in a high cupboard or behind a bulletin board.

Allow no more than 30 seconds for children to look. Say: We can’t find the pinwheel, can we? But we know it has to be in the room.

• Where do you think it is? (It disappeared; you put it outside; it’s in here, but we can’t find it.)

Bring out the pinwheel for everyone to see. Say: Even when we couldn’t see the pinwheel, we knew it was here. Set the pinwheel aside, and continue: We can’t see God either, but we know he’s here. Sometimes when we’re scared, we feel sad and alone. But we’re not alone because God is with us. We can be sure that God watches over us when we’re scared because the Bible says so. Psalm 121:5 in the Bible says, “The Lord himself watches over you!” Let’s say that together: “The Lord himself watches over you!” Let’s hear a story now about a king of a country called Babylon. This king was scared!

n Bible Song and Prayer TimeSUPPLIES: Bible, CD player

Have children jump to the story area, and 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.

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.

(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.

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.

tracks 4 & 5

our Bible person today. Remember that everyone will get a chance to be



The children in your class may not know much about wise men and dream interpretation, but they know what it feels like to have a scary dream. They wake up in the dark alone, scared, and confused. Children will be comforted to learn that God is watching over them when they’re afraid. Use this lesson to teach the 3- and 4-year-olds in your class to rely on God in scary situations.

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.”

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 StorySUPPLIES: Bible, chair

Open the Bible to Daniel 2, 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.

Have children sit in a circle. Place an overturned chair in the middle of the circle, hold up a plastic lei, and say: Let’s see if you can remember what’s been happening to Daniel and his friends. I’ll show you a picture from the Bible Big Book, and then I’ll pass around this lei. Take turns tossing the lei onto one of the chair legs and then telling me what you remember about the story in the picture. If the lei doesn’t hook onto a chair leg, say “God watches over us when we’re scared.”

Open the Big Book to page 1, and pass the lei around the circle. Then turn the page so children can see pages 2 and 3. When everyone has shared something about Daniel and his friends, show children the picture on page 4. Fold back page 5 so they don’t see the picture of the golden statue. Then set the Big Book aside.

Say: Our Bible story today is about a time the king of Babylon had a bad dream. You can help me tell this story by doing some special motions. Each time I say “king,” make a crown with your hands. Let’s try that.

Let children practice making crowns, and then continue: Each time I say “dream,” lay your head on your hands as if you’re sleeping. Let’s practice that.

Let children practice the action. Then read the following story. Pause each time you say “king” or “dream” to let children do their actions.

Say: One night when the palace was dark and everyone was asleep, the king woke up. He’d had a bad dream and he was scared. So the king called


Lesson 12

for his helpers. He called for all of the smartest people in the palace. “Help!” he called. All the helpers in the palace came running to see what was wrong with the king.

“What’s wrong, your majesty?” they all wanted to know. So the king told them about his bad dream. The helpers didn’t know what to say. The king was still scared—he wanted to know what his dream meant! But the helpers just shook their heads. How could they know what the dream meant?

Daniel heard about the king’s dream. He went straight to the palace and told the king he’d help him. God helped Daniel know just what to say to make the king feel better. When the king went back to bed that night, he wasn’t scared anymore because he knew God was watching over him. Daniel thanked God for helping him.

After reading the story, ask the following questions:• What happened to make the king scared? (He had a bad dream; he didn’t

know what the dream meant.)• What do you do when you’re scared? (I cry and yell for mom and dad; I hide

under the covers.)• What did the king do to make him feel better after he had a bad

dream? (Called his helpers; talked to Daniel.)• What helps you feel better when you’ve had a bad dream? (My dad

holds me; I turn on the light; I say prayers.)Say: God watches over us when we’re scared. God showed Daniel how to

help the king feel better, and God can help us feel better, too.

Say: God sent his Son, Jesus, to us. Jesus lived on the earth just like us, and he knows what it’s like to feel scared.

Ask: • What things might have scared Jesus? (Being alone; the dark.)

Say: God sent Jesus to help us because God loves us. Let’s all tell God thank you for sending Jesus.

Lead the children in saying: Thank you, God, for sending Jesus!

n Do the Bible Story SUPPLIES: CD player

Before class, remove the linking hearts and stars from the Learning Lab, and link them into a long necklace.

Stand beside the CD player. Have children sit down in a circle. Hold up the linked necklace.

Say: When we dream at night, there are stars in the sky. We’re going to play an activity now to help us remember that God loves us and God watches over us when we’re scared, even when it’s nighttime and there are stars in the sky.

track 17



Choose one child to hold the linking hearts and stars necklace. Tell the child to begin walking around the inside of the circle while the rest of you sing “God Watches Over You” (track 17) to the tune of “A-Tisket, A-Tasket.” (Children may need to scoot out in order to allow room for the child to walk around on the inside of the circle.) Fill in the blank with that child’s name as he or she walks.

God watches over you,Over [name].When you’re playing or at home,God watches over you each day—Watches over you each day.(Repeat.)

When the verse is over, stop the CD and encourage the walking child to put the linking hearts and stars necklace on the child in front of him or her. Then have the child with the necklace stand up and name a time when God watches over him or her, such as “God watches over me when I sleep,” or “God watches over me when I’m at school.” Then that child becomes the walking child. Restart the music and play again. Play until all the children have a chance to wear the necklace.

Ask: • When are you scared? (I’m scared when I go to bed; I’m scared when it’s stormy outside.)

• How can you trust God to help you? (I can pray and ask God to help me; I can sing songs to God; I can remember how God helped the king when he was scared.)

Say: We all get scared sometimes, but we know that God watches over us when we’re scared.

Closingn Where’s God?SUPPLIES: construction paper, tape

Before class, roll up a sheet of construction paper, and tape it together to form a “telescope.” Tape the telescope to Whiskers’ paw. Bring out Whiskers the Mouse, and go through the following puppet script. When you finish the script, put Whiskers away and out of sight.

Let children watch for a few moments as Whiskers looks for something with the telescope. To children, say: Whiskers seems to be looking for something. Let’s help him. Don’t tell

children what Whiskers is looking for. Let them help him in any way they choose. After a few minutes begin the following dialogue with Whiskers.


Lesson 12

Whiskers: All right, where is he?

Teacher: Where is who?

Whiskers: God.

Teacher: Whiskers, are you looking for God?

Whiskers: Yes. You tell us every Sunday that God watches over us. But I don’t see him anywhere! How can God be watching over us when he’s not even here?

Teacher: But Whiskers, God is here.

Whiskers: (Looking around quickly) Where?

Teacher: God is with us, but we can’t see him.

Whiskers: You mean God is invisible?

Teacher: Well, yes.

Whiskers: Well, God wasn’t with me last night!

Teacher: Of course he was, Whiskers. What made you think he wasn’t?

Whiskers: I had a scary dream. Then I woke up, and it was all dark. I called for my mommy and daddy, but it took them so long to come to my room. I was scared!

Teacher: Whiskers, God is with you all the time—even in the dark. And even when you felt so scared. Children, let’s tell Whiskers what happened to the king of Babylon. (Lead children in telling Whiskers that the king had a bad dream, but Daniel told him what it meant. Explain that God helped Daniel make the king feel better.)

Teacher: Just as God watched over Daniel and the king, God was watching over you, too.

Whiskers: But I felt like I was all alone.

Teacher: Children, let’s whisper the Bible Point to Whiskers so he’ll remember that God is with him next time he’s scared. (Have children take turns whispering the Bible Point to Whiskers.) Next time you feel scared, remember that God watches over you when you’re scared, even if you can’t see him.

Whiskers: I’ll remember. Thanks, friends. Goodbye!

Permission to photocopy this script from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Preschool granted for local church use.Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com



n Watching CircleSUPPLIES: CD player

Have children form a circle holding hands. Select two children to lie down in the middle of the circle as if sleeping. Say: God watches over us when we’re scared. Anytime we’re scared, we ask God to help us—even if it’s the middle of the night.

Let’s sing our song about God watching over us. We’ll carefully walk in a circle around [names of children in the center] as we sing. At the end of each verse, the two children in the middle will say: “God watches over me!”

Then we’ll pick two new people to be in the center as we sing again.Lead children in singing “God Watches Over You” (track 17) with the CD to the

tune of “A-Tisket, A-Tasket.” As you sing the song, fill in the names of the children in the center.

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.)

Play the song several times. Each time choose two new children to be in the center. After the last time, ask the children in the center to join the circle, and close with a prayer similar to this one: Dear God, thanks for loving us so much. We do get scared a lot. Please help us remember that you watch over us when we’re scared. We love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have a large class and you want to give all your children a chance to be in the center, choose four children at a time.

track 17

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.


Lesson 12

n Lively Learning: Wake Up the KingChoose one child to be the King, and have that child lie down on the floor with his or her eyes closed. Ask

the rest of the class to form a circle around the King. Choose one child from the circle to step forward and say, “Wake up, King! It’s a bad dream.” Then that child steps back while the King sits up. Lead the children in saying three times, “God is watching over us.” After the third time, the King must guess who woke him or her up. Whether the King guesses correctly or not, choose a new King each time.

n Make to Take: Night-Light CoversGive each child a 4-inch square of black or dark blue construction paper. Help

each child draw a simple geometric shape on the paper. Then demonstrate how to use a hole punch to punch out the outline of the design. As children work, talk about things that scare them at night. Encourage children to take home their shapes and tape them over the lampshade of a bedside lamp to remind them that God watches over us when we’re scared.

n Treat to Eat: Beautiful BreadGive each child two Ritz crackers. Show the children

how to spread cream cheese on the crackers and then place an M&M’s candy in the middle of each cracker. Give each child a cookie stick, and demonstrate how to put the cookie stick between the crackers to form “eyeglasses.” Explain that God doesn’t need glasses to see us. As children are eating their glasses, remind them that God watches over us when we’re scared.

n Story Picture: The King’s DreamSet out fabric scraps and glue. Give each child a copy of the “Today I Learned…” handout (at the end of

this lesson). Help children glue the fabric scraps onto the king’s blanket. As children work, have them tell you about things that scare them at night. Remind them that God watches over us when we’re scared.

See page 5.

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.



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

n Why was the king of Babylon afraid?

n When do you feel afraid?

n How can our family help each other when we’re afraid?

n Take a family tour of your home. Be sure to include the attic, basement, and closets. Talk about how God is with you in each room. Encourage children to share how each room makes them feel. Remind them that God is watching over them no matter where they are in the house.

n Play Hide-and-Seek with your whole family. When everyone has been found, remind children that even when we’re hidden, God is watching over us, so we don’t have to be afraid.

Daniel Helps the King Understand His Dream (Daniel 2:1-3, 19)

Help me learn this:

Ask me:

Family Fun

Lesson 12

God watches over us

w

hen we’re scared.

Today your child learned that GOD WATCHES OVER US WHEN WE’RE SCARED. Children heard how Daniel helped the king of Baby-lon after a bad dream (Daniel 2:1-3, 19). They talked about things that scare them.

176 Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum®, Preschool, granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. group.com

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