About once a month at church I have to do a 20 minute presentation called Sharing Time for about 70 kids ranging from ages 3-11. I love doing it... I love the kids. It's such a blessing to spend 2 hours a week with such lovely, sweet kids... Even the naughty ones! :)
This month my subject was prayer and how it brings you closer to Jesus. For my presentation, I focused on the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den. I created 12 lion puppets out of paper bags and gave them to the 3 and 4 year olds and then told them that they were in a lion's den. I then picked two older boys to be Daniel and King Darius. I then told the children that I was going to tell them the story of Daniel and every time I said the word "lion", they were to roar. Also, Daniel and the King and the lions were to act out the story. They loved it... especially the little lions ! They were so cute!
Here's the story in case you ever want to use it for a Sunday School lesson or family night lesson.
There was a new king of Babylon. His name was Darius. King Darius chose men to help him and Daniel was their leader. The other men did not like Daniel. They did not want him to be their leader.
The men knew Daniel prayed to God. They went to the King. They asked him to make a new law. The King made a new law. It said people could not pray to God. People who did not obey the law would be put in a LION'S den. The LIONS would eat them.
Daniel prayed to God three times a day. The wicked men saw Daniel praying. They told the King. The King knew Daniel must be put in the LIONS den. The King tried to think of a way to save him. The law could not be changed. The King told his servants to put Daniel in the LION'S den. King Darius told Daniel that God would save him.
The King fasted all night. He could not sleep. In the morning the King went to the LION'S den. He called Daniel. Daniel answered. The LION'S had not hurt him. He said God had shut the LION'S mouths.
The King was very happy. Danel was safe because God helped him.
After the presentation, I handed out "lion pops" made out of Cocoa Krispies with a little tag on them that reads, "I'm not "LION"... My faith in Jesus Christ is strengthened when I pray".
Directions for the Lion Pop:
1. Make up a batch of Cocoa Rice Crispie Treats.
2. Press a handful of the batch into a Wilton Blossom Cookie Treat Pan 6to form the mane.
3. Place a stick into the mane.
4. Place the pop into the bag and tie shut with a ribbon and a tag.
5. Glue a lion's face onto the front of the bag.
By the way... I made around 80 of these suckers! lol