SING RESPONDGive your hands a clap (clap hands). Open and shut them, open and shut them (open and close fingers), Put them in your lap (put your hands together in your lap). Even at

Special Topic Lesson 1

EXPLOREThis month your child will hear a lot about food choices. It is important to provide healthy meals and snacks to young children. Their tastes are formed at a young age. Snacks high in salt, sugar, and saturated fat should be limited. Offer fruits or vegetables with each meal and even at some snack times. Make a fun confetti quesadilla with your child. Julienne carrots, zucchini, and sweet, red peppers. Have your child help you sprinkle cheese and the vegetables onto a tortilla. Lightly butter and grill on the stove top, over medium heat, until cheese is melted. Use a pizza cutter to cut the quesadilla. Dip in a small amount of sour cream mixed with salsa.

SINGSing this song with your child to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”

I can live for God.

I can live for God.

Make good choices every day.

I can live for God.

RESPONDPray with your child, and ask God to help you make choices that show you live for Him. The following is a rhyme your child uses in class to settle down for prayer time:

Open and shut them, open and shut them (open and close fingers),

Give your hands a clap (clap hands).


Put them in your lap (put your hands together in your lap).

Even at this age, children can participate and learn to be still during a short prayer time.

TALKYour child learned four young men were given food that was also offered to false idols. They had to make a difficult choice of eating that food or risk offending the king by asking for different food. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had strong faith in God and chose to live for Him. Not only were they given different food, but God also helped make them stronger than the men who ate the king’s food. Discuss some difficult choices you have had to make for your faith and how did God bless your choice? Pray together asking God to help your family make good choices to show others they live for Him.

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DANIEL 1We are learning that I Can Live for God. Today we learned Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to live for God. Use the following ideas to involve your child in family time and learning opportunities, reinforcing simple biblical themes.

HEARTPRINT: I CAN LIVE FOR GODThe Heartprint is the main Bible concept or truth from each unit that we want to imprint upon your child’s heart. Repeating this Heartprint often may seem redundant, but it will serve as a vital aid in teaching this truth to your preschooler.

APPLICATION VERSE: . . . Our God we serve is able to save us . . . (Daniel 3:17).

Daniel and his friends followed God.

TEACHER/PARENT INSTRUCTIONS: Encourage the child to circle the pictures of vegetables and make an X on the other pictures. Say the Heartprint: I Can Live for God with your child.


PRACTICEPray with your family every day. Teach your child to pray simple prayers to thank God for His many blessings, ask Him for help, and recognize His power. Have your child repeat simple prayers at mealtimes and bedtimes. Be sure to model daily prayer time for your child to see. Emphasize to your child the importance of prayer and how it is one way we can choose to live for God.


I can live for God.

I can live for God.


I can live for God.

RESPONDPray with your child, and thank God for giving us the example of Daniel’s friends praying for him. The following is a rhyme your child uses in class to settle down for prayer time:






TALKTalk with your child about the importance of talking to God. Encourage your child to talk to Him about anything and everything. Daniel asked his friends to pray and ask God to help him understand the king’s dreams and be able to explain them to him. God answered their prayers. Talk about some things you can ask God for His help. Remind family members to live for God by doing everything in His name. I Can Live for God.


DANIEL 2We are learning that I Can Live for God. Today we learned Daniel’s friends prayed God would help Daniel know the meaning of the king’s dream. Use the following ideas to involve your child in family time and learning opportunities, reinforcing simple biblical themes.



Daniel explained the king’s dreams to him, which

made the king very happy.

TEACHER/PARENT INSTRUCTIONS: Encourage the child to color the picture. Talk about how God blessed Daniel’s choice to live for Him. I Can Live for God.


TALKRead Colossians 3:17 in an easy-to-understand version of the Bible to your child. Talk about the importance of doing everything in the name of the Lord and with a thankful attitude. Discuss how the choice that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made demonstrated their trust and obedience to God. They chose to live for God even if it led to their death. How can you have the courage to make choices that show you live for God? Throughout the week, say the Heartprint: I Can Live for God with your child.


I can live for God.

I can live for God.


I can live for God.

RESPONDPray with your child, thanking God for examples of people in the Bible who made hard choices to show us how to live for Him. The following is a rhyme your child uses in class to settle down for prayer time:






PRACTICEShadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew their God could protect them. They decided to follow God no matter what. They said that even if God decided not to rescue them they would still not bow to the statue. They lived for God. Share a few scenarios and ask your child if he or she would choose the brave choice (telling the truth knowing he or she will face punishment, sharing his or her favorite toy, trusting God in a storm, etc.). Close your time together in prayer asking God to give your family the courage to live for Him.


DANIEL 3:1-12We are learning that I Can Live for God. Today your child learned that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s large golden statue. Use the following ideas to involve your child in family time and learning opportunities, reinforcing simple biblical themes.



Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego lived for God.

I Can Live for God. TEACHER/PARENT INSTRUCTIONS: Encourage the child to draw a picture of him or

herself in the frame. Hang the picture up somewhere to remind your child that he or she can live for God too. I Can Live for God.


EXPLOREThe introduction to the fiery furnace provides a good opportunity to teach children safety around hot things. Pick your child up and show him or her a burner on the stove. Explain how you turn the knobs to heat up the stove and oven. Let your child know it is very dangerous and that it gets very, very hot—so hot it can burn. The stove is only for grown-ups to use.

Place a wet washcloth in the freezer an hour before beginning this activity. Make another washcloth hot and place it in a plastic bag. Set both washcloths out. Carefully place your child’s hands by each one to feel the difference in temperature. Talk about how hot things can burn you.


I can live for God.

I can live for God.


I can live for God.

RESPONDPray with your child and thank God for sending an angel to protect the men in the furnace. Ask Him to protect you in dangerous situations. The following is a rhyme your child uses in class to settle down for prayer time:






TALKWhen King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace, he saw four people—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom he had put into the furnace and the angel whom God sent to protect the men. When he had the three men removed from the furnace, their clothing and hair was not even singed. The Bible says they did not even smell like smoke.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s attitude changed radically. He went from being in a rage to utter astonishment. He even went as far as to praise God. It is amazing what God can do with those who are faithful to Him and love Him, even in what may seem like a hopeless situation. What are some ways you and your family can live for God to be a testimony for others?


DANIEL 3:13-30We are learning that I Can Live for God. Today we learned God sent an angel to protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Use the following ideas to involve your child in family time and learning opportunities, reinforcing simple biblical themes.



TEACHER/PARENT INSTRUCTIONS: Encourage the child to name and circle these pictures of things that are hot. Remind your child these men lived for God. I Can Live for God.

God kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego safe in the fiery furnace.

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SING RESPONDGive your hands a clap (clap hands). Open and shut them, open and shut them (open and close fingers), Put them in your lap (put your hands together in your lap). Even at