⏱️ Lesson Overview • Focus Concept: God protects us and helps us be brave. • Memory Verse: "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." (Isaiah 41:10a) • Supplies Needed: A small toy person to represent Daniel, and blocks or a basket to build a "lions' den."

🎶 Minute 1–2: Action Song Get the toddlers shaking out their energy while practicing being loud lions and quiet, peaceful lions. • What to do: Have the toddlers crouch down low like sleeping lions. • The Action: Roar loudly while clawing the air, then suddenly freeze and cover mouths to be perfectly quiet. • The Song (Sing to the tune of London Bridge): Hear the big lions roar and growl, roar and growl, roar and growl, (Make claw hands and roar) Hear the big lions roar and growl, in the deep dark cave! (Crouch low) God sent a helper to close their mouths, close their mouths, close their mouths, (Put finger to lips: "Shh!") God sent a helper to close their mouths, Daniel is safe! (Clap hands and cheer)

📖 Minute 3–5: The 2-Minute Story Use dramatic contrasts between loud roaring and absolute silence to hold their attention. • Story Script: "A long time ago, there was a good man named Daniel. Daniel loved God very much. Every day, three times a day, Daniel knelt down by his window and talked to God. (Put hands together like praying). Some people didn't like that. They told the king, and the king threw Daniel into a big, dark hole filled with hungry lions! The lions went ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! (Have children roar loudly). Was Daniel scared? Maybe a little bit. But Daniel knew God was with him. Daniel knelt down and prayed. Suddenly, God sent a bright, beautiful angel into the cave. The angel walked over to the lions and did this: Shh... (Put your finger to your lips and have children copy you). The angel closed the lions' mouths! The lions couldn't open them at all. Instead of biting, the big lions laid down like fluffy kitty cats and went to sleep. (Pretend to sleep on your hands). The next morning, the king looked into the hole. 'Daniel, did God save you?' Daniel smiled and said, 'Yes! God sent his angel to protect me!' Daniel walked out without a single scratch. God kept him safe!"

🏃 Minute 6–8: Active Learning (The Lion Tamer Game) This game teaches toddlers how God changes a scary situation into a safe one. • The Setup: Build a small "den" using a laundry basket or a circle of pillows. Put a toy Daniel inside. • The Action: Have the toddlers pretend to be the hungry lions walking around the outside of the den, roaring loudly (Roar!). • The Trigger: The teacher calls out: "God sends His angel!" • The Goal: The toddlers must instantly freeze, put their fingers to their lips, say "Shh!", and sit down quietly on the floor like sleeping kittens. Repeat the cycle a few times so they enjoy the contrast of roaring and freezing.

✂️ Minute 9: The 1-Minute Craft (Paper Plate Lion) A fast craft that displays the two sides of the story—the loud lions and the quiet mouths. • Supplies: A paper plate with orange/yellow yarn or paper strips glued around the edge for a mane. A pre-drawn lion face in the center, and a large heart-shaped sticker. • 0:00 – 0:15: Give each toddler their paper plate lion face. • 0:15 – 0:45: Help them place the large heart sticker directly over the lion’s mouth. • 0:45 – 1:00: Teacher Prompt: "Look! God put love in the lion's heart and closed his mouth so he could not eat Daniel!”

🙏 Minute 10: Wrap-Up & Blessing Calm the room by hugging themselves tight to feel safe. • Memory Verse Practice: Pat your shoulders. Say: "Do not be afraid (shake head 'no'), for I am with you (hug yourself tight)." Repeat three times, ending in a whisper. • Closing Prayer: "Dear God, thank you for making the big scary lions as quiet as little kittens to save Daniel. Sometimes we feel scared, too. Please send your angels to protect us. Help us remember that you are always right here with us. Amen."