Skip to main content

Art Lessons, Ideas, and Activities for Teaching Daniel and the Lions, in Sunday School

Post your Art Sunday school lessons and Ideas for teaching the story of Daniel and the Lions' Den here.

  • Daniel in trouble, in the lions den, prayer, etc.
  • Daniel 6

Share your knowledge! (Use the "Post Reply" button below.)


The first post here comes from First Presbyterian Church, Napa, CA, which created a Labyrinth on a 10'x12' drop cloth.

At Rotation.org we have a design forum with discussion and ideas about creating labyrinths and conducting a Prayer or Spirituality Workshop. Look for those great ideas here.



Daniel and the Lion's Den

Art Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Kids will be making a “doodle drawing” while the workshop leader reads the story/poem. The focus will be on prayer and discussion of the ACTS prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication/Send Help). Children will be guided in a prayer labyrinth experience.

Scripture Reference:

Daniel 6

Bible Memory Verse: “He is the living God and He endures forever … He rescues and he saves …” Daniel 6:26-27

Objectives for kids to know:

  • Children will hear the story of Daniel in the lions’ den.
  • The focus will be on Daniel’s devotion to God and ability to rely on God for strength in a very difficult situation. Kids will learn that they too can rely on God in every situation.


Leader Preparation:

  • Read the scripture ahead of time. Read the poem. (See where to get a copy at the end of this lesson.)
  • Arrange for an extra helper, especially if you plan to use your room-sized labyrinth in a different room and will have some of the kids wait their turn back in the classroom.
  • Gather the materials
    • White paper
    • Crayons/Markers
    • Flip Chart
    • Prayer Labyrinth - both a room sized one (if possible) and finger labyrinths, or other activities for those who are waiting
    • CD (of quiet, prayerful type music) and player



Lesson Plan

Opening:

Introduce yourself and any other adults. Open with a brief prayer.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

Hand out one piece of white paper and let them each choose 1 colored marker or crayon. Tell them that as you read this poem/story called “The Lions' Weren’t Hungry Last Night” (see end of lesson) you would like them to “doodle” on their paper. Tell them to listen carefully to the words and just make designs on the paper (not a real picture of anything, just designs) that go along with the feelings they have as you read. Tell them to keep their marker on the paper at all times, not lifting it up, so it is one continuous line. Remind them there is no right or wrong way to do this. Read the poem/story “The Lions Weren’t Hungry Last Night." Ask them to put down their markers.

Ask and wonder:

  • Why was Daniel put in the Lions' Den? What law did he break?
  • Why were the jealous leaders so sure they could trap Daniel with this law? (he was well known as someone who was faithful to God. They made a law that tried to force him to be unfaithful).
  • Look in your Bibles and read 6:10-11. What 2 things did Daniel pray for? (Thanks and help)
  • How many times a day did Daniel pray? (3)
  • How did Daniel pray? (on his knees)
  • Why do you suppose he prayed in front of an open window where he was sure to be caught? (he did not want to hide his faithfulness to God)
  • Ask the children about their prayer habits: When/where/how they pray. What do they pray for? Do they pray regularly? Just when they need help? There will be no “wrong” answers, of course.
  • Daniel was in serious trouble in the den. If you were Daniel, what would you pray for? Children might answer: "Help"! Then ask: What kind of help? Wait until you get responses like: "Kill the lions", "get me out of here!"
  • How did God help Daniel? (6:22 God shut the mouths of the lions so they couldn’t hurt him) Point out how God didn't kill the lions!
  • Does God always help us the way we ask God to help? (God gives us the help we need. Sometimes we don’t see it that way, though.)

Today we’re going to talk about 4 different kinds of prayers. It is always OK to talk to God and ask for help and say little one-sentence, or even one-word, prayers throughout your day. When you pray at church, before going to bed or in the morning or whenever you want to say a prayer to God, you can practice using the 4 parts. It’s called an “ACTS” prayer:

A - Adoration (telling God how wonderful He is!)
C – Confession (telling God we’re sorry for the things we do wrong)
T – Thanksgiving (telling God, thank you for things)
S – Supplication or "Send help" (asking God for help for someone else or yourself)

Brainstorm ideas together for the 4 parts using flip chart paper.

Ask: At the end of a prayer we say what? Amen! It means “So be it!”
Tell them that God ALWAYS answers our prayers! Sometimes the answer is not what we expect or want! God answers our prayers in different ways. God answers either:

  • Yes!
  • No!
  • Wait, not yet!
  • Or I have a better way!

Back to the story - Ask:
If Daniel prayed to God to get him out of the lions’ den or kill the lions, which of these did God answer?
What did God do instead?

Tell them that many people, adults and kids, like to keep prayer journals. By writing down the things we ask God for in prayer and putting the date by it, after God answers that prayer, we can go back and look at our prayer and see how God answered it. It’s a way to really see how God is working in our lives. And then to be able to share that with others so they can see God working in your life.

Prayer Activity:
Think right now about something that you or someone you care about needs God’s help with. Write it down on a slip of paper and include today’s date. Tuck the paper in your pocket or sleeve. (For kids who can’t write, have them draw a picture of something that reminds them of what they’d like to pray for)

The Prayer Labyrinth:
Walking the LabyrinthHas anyone ever heard of a labyrinth? It’s not a maze, a race, a game or a puzzle… it’s something that Christians have been using to help them in their prayer time for many years. It is a form of art.
NOTE: If desired, you could show pictures of a labyrinth and explain that ours is much smaller.

Say: Take a look at your doodle drawing – if you kept the marker on the page for a long time and made a winding doodle line, it’s kind of like a labyrinth.

Walk the Labyrinth:
Tell them that you will be going to another room where there will be a labyrinth set up. Before you go tell them that there are some ground rules they have to follow or they will be asked to sit out:

  • This is a quiet time of prayer and they need to be respectful of each other and everyone's quiet time with God.
  • Tell the kids that they will begin walking and they should leave space between them so they don’t bunch up.
  • It’s NOT a race! It’s a time to be quiet and talk to God.
  • When you get to the center where the cross is, stop and take out the slip of paper you wrote the prayer on, kneel down, and talk about it to God.


Workshop leader notes: When you arrive, begin the CD. Keep the lights off. Kids should take their shoes off. You should only take a manageable size group at a time (3 or 4). You will need to stagger the kids as they enter the labyrinth. Tell them that since this is a time to focus 100% on God as they walk the labyrinth, they might want to choose some words to say over and over and "meditate" on in their minds ... such as "God is good", or "Jesus", or "Praise the Lord" or their own choice. It will help them focus. As the first kids finish, have them go back to the workshop so they’re not a distraction to the others.
Afterwards, distribute and explain “finger labyrinths” to the kids. Since we all don’t have labyrinths at home, they can use these anytime.


Resources:

  • “The Lions Weren't Hungry Last Night” -- text here.
  • Some of the discussion ideas used in this lesson were obtained from lesson plans at rotation.org.


A lesson from Jan Hanson at First Presbyterian Church, Napa CA

Photo of someone walking a labyrinth by GPS, is licensed on Flickr under Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Save

Last edited by Luanne Payne
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Daniel and the Lion's Den

Art Workshop  (My Father’s Workshop)

 

Summary of Lesson Activities: 

This lesson has two projects: a prayer book for younger, and a "still life" painting for older.

 

Scripture Reference:

Daniel 6:10-11


 

Leader Preparation:

  • Become familiar with lesson plan and the scripture & memory verses.
  • Visit your classroom before your first Sunday rotation so that you know where everything is located.
  • Gather the materials.

Supplies List:

  • Small photo album
  • Colored construction paper or backgrounds
  • Copies of prayers
  • Fancy scissors & glue
  • Fine lined colored markers
  • Canvas boards
  • Easels
  • 3 objects
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Styrofoam Plates
  • Paint Brushes
  • Cups for water
  • smocks


 

Presentation

 

Opening-Welcome and Introductions:

Greet the children and introduce yourself.

Have a short prayer to ask God to be with us as we learn more about his word and how we can follow him.

 

Look in your Bibles and read 6:10-11.

  • What did Daniel pray for? (praised or “thanked” God)
  • How many times a day did Daniel pray? (3)
  • How did Daniel pray? (on his knees)
  • Why do you suppose he prayed in front of an open window where he was sure to be caught? (he did not want to hide his faithfulness to God, he wanted to show other believers that we should still pray.)
  • Ask the children about their prayer habits: When/where/how they pray. What do they pray for? Do they pray regularly? Just when they need help?
  • Daniel was in serious trouble in the den. If you were Daniel, what would you pray for? Children might answer: “Help”! What kind of help? Wait until you get responses like: “Kill the lions”, “get me out of here!” God didn’t do that though. How did God help Daniel? (6:22 God shut the mouths of the lions so they couldn’t hurt him) Does God always help us the way we ask God to help? (God answers ALL prayer. Sometimes it just isn’t the answer we want. But, it always is the right answer!!.) What kinds of things might you ask help for? What might you talk to God about?

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

 

Project Prayer Book - PreK-4

 

Materials:

  • Small photo album
  • Colored construction paper or backgrounds
  • Copies of prayers
  • Fancy scissors & glue
  • Fine lined colored markers


Process:

 

Have each student choose the seven prayers that they would like for the seven days of the week. Cut it out with decorative scissors and glue it to a 3x5 colored background. Slip it into a photo album. Encourage the students to add prayers of their own at home to create their very own prayer book to keep by their beds.

 

 

Still Life Paintings – Grades 5-8

 

Materials:

  • Canvas boards
  • Easels
  • 3 objects
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Styrofoam Plates
  • Paint Brushes
  • Cups for water
  • smocks

 

Process:

 

Have students create still life paintings, within the concept of standing alone for God no matter what. While this group is painting, talk about how Daniel was a slave brought over and basically he was a POW and how hard it would have been for him to stand for God. Put three objects against a dark background and let them paint one, or as many as they want. We will posted them in our fellowship hall for our congregation to really admired them!


Memory Verse: "Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9


Closing:

Dear God, we are thankful that you are with us in good times and bad. Help us to remember that you will always listen when we speak. And all God's children said…AMEN!


References:

  • Still life painting idea from Denise Roth-Ludtke at Rotation.org.

 

A lesson by Liz Weingart from: Canfield Presbyterian Church,

Canfield, Ohio

 

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

 

Last edited by Rotation.org Lesson Forma-teer

I altered the Daniel Art workshop of the labyrinth to accommodate the Lord's Prayer for Feb. The lesson had some red flags (for me)... the chanting while going through the Labyrinth was one... so I did some more research on it and this link was interesting .. http://www.gotquestions.org/prayer-labyrinth.html .. had some compelling reasons why Labyrinths are contrary to God and His teachings and prayer life. I'm going to make sure this is used only as a tool to help teach our young kids to focus on God, eliminating the "chanting" the lesson calls for... and the labyrinth will not be a circle.. tho shape is immaterial.. I just wanted to bring light as it doesn't mesh with God's teachings and other lesson planners may not have the same insight I have and it COULD lead them down the wrong path.. (a happy pun accident! :-)) ... maybe much ado about nothing .. but I wanted to bring it to your attention.. thank you for good lessons to work off of .. helping this generation become next generation's christian leaders.   Beth Phillips

Daniel Prayer Rocks 
Art Workshop Idea from State Street UMC, Bristol VA

Overview: These special Prayer Rocks remind kids of the power of prayer and the story of Daniel. Kids were encouraged to take the prayer rocks home and keep in a visible place as a reminder to pray like Daniel.

Supplies:

  • Copy of tutorial for lion drawing. One example can be found here: http://artprojectsforkids.org/portfolio/baby-lion/
  • Large smooth river rocks (about 3 inch diameter) – one per child
  • Foam plates
  • Paint smocks
  • Sharpie paint markers (red, yellow, orange, brown, white, black)
  • Paper towels
  • Pencils
  • Scrap paper (about half a sheet of paper will work)

Advanced Preparation:

  1. Write PRAY in large letters on the white board.
  2. Copy the drawing a lion tutorial for each child or pair of children.
  3. Check the sharpie paint markers to make sure they are flowing well (if new, follow directions to get the paint flowing).
  4. Set out plates, markers and rocks on counter.

 
Directions:

  1. Pass out a pencil and a piece of paper to each child.
  2. Have them choose a rock.
  3. Have them trace around the rock onto the paper.
  4. Using the lion tutorial (or other lion pictures) have children draw a lion inside the pencil line on their paper.
  5. Have them add the word PRAY to the design.
  6. Once comfortable with their design, give them a foam plate as a work station for painting.
  7. Place the rock on the plate and trace their design onto the rock with pencil.
  8. Use the paint markers to color in the lion. Color in the large areas first, then add details such as face, nose, eyes, mane.
  9. Add the word PRAY to the rocks.
  10. Children may take the rocks home – and transport on the plates. Allow 12 hours or so to completely dry.

 
We used the prayer rocks as a closing prayer during this session. 

Say: Daniel trusted in God despite being faced with a terrible death in the lions’ den. Sometimes we face challenges too – not as bad as being eaten by lions, but still, hard times are part of life. Prayer helps. Knowing God is with us during hard times helps. Knowing God is our refuge and gives us strength helps. We’re going to close with our prayer rocks. Touch your rock with one finger in a place where the paint is not wet. I will go around the room and ask you to silently think of a hard time you might be facing or someone you know is facing. Ask for God’s help. When you are done, say Amen and we’ll continue around the circle.

Last edited by Jaymie Derden

Daniel and the Lion's Den

Art Workshop Idea from State Street UMC G.R.E.A.T. Adventure Sunday school, Bristol VA

Overview of the workshop: Children will create an acrostic bookmark the letters from Daniel's name.

Lion Bookmarks!

Supplies:

  • Yellow foam strips cut 2.5 x 6.5 inches,  one per child
  • Yellow foam circles, 1” in diameter, one per child
  • 7mm googly eyes, 2 per child
  • Black permanent markers
  • Foam glue
  • Yellow/tan/brown yarn
  • Scissors

 
Advanced Preparation:
Cut the foam into strips 2.5 X 6.5 inches for the bookmarks.  For younger children spell out DANIEL in capital letters vertically down the left side of the strip – writing the “D” just below the spot for the lion face and the “L” at the bottom.  Evenly space the remaining letters in between).

Directions:

  1. Give each child a foam strip and circle.
  2. Let the children pair up to use the scissors and markers if necessary
  3. Instruct the children to put the circle (head of the lion) at the top of the strip and glue it down.
  4. Glue the eyes in place.
  5. Draw the nose and mouth on the face.
  6. Cut little pieces of yarn (approx. 1/2 “ long) and glue all around the face to look like the mane of the lion.
  7. Instruct the children to write a word that describes Daniel for each of the letters of his name. This will help them remember some of the characteristics that Daniel possessed - characteristics that we need to emulate.  While the children may need a little help with the meanings, some examples are:

 

“D” determined, devoted, dedicated, daring

“A” abiding, admirable, able, always prayerful, accountable, amazing

“N” noble, non-conforming, noteworthy

“I” insightful, idealistic, impassioned, immersed in God, intuitive, insistent, integrity

“E” ever faithful, exceptional, encouraging, enlightened

“L” loyal, loving, likeable, learned, leader

 

 

Add Reply

Post a New Topic
Lesson or Resource
Rotation.org Inc. is a volunteer-run, 100% member supported, 501(c)3 non-profit Sunday School lesson ministry. You are welcome to borrow and adapt content for non-commercial teaching purposes --as long as both the site and author are referenced. Rotation.org Inc reserves the right to manage, move, condense, delete, and otherwise improve all content posted to the site. Read our Terms of Service. Get a free Registered Membership or become a Supporting Member for full access to all site resources.
Rotation.org is rated 5 stars on Google based on 51 reviews. Serving a global community including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, S. Africa, and more!
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×