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Daniel Prayed

Daniel kneels by his window to pray, and Heavenly Father keeps him safe with the sleepy lions

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 46
  • 📅 Sunday, November 15, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

I can pray to Heavenly Father anytime, just like Daniel.

I can pray to Heavenly Father.

Study it yourself firstRead Daniel 1–7 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Daniel 1–7)
Know the chapters

Daniel was a young man from Israel who was taken far away to Babylon. He stayed true to Heavenly Father there. Daniel 1–7 tells how he and his friends ate simple, healthy food instead of the king’s rich food (chapter 1), how Daniel explained the king’s dream (chapter 2), how three friends were saved in a fiery furnace (chapter 3), and how Daniel was kept safe in a den of lions (chapter 6).

In Daniel 6, jealous leaders tricked King Darius into signing a law that no one could pray to anyone but the king for thirty days. Daniel went home, opened his window toward Jerusalem, and knelt and prayed three times a day, “as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10). He was put into the lions’ den, but the Lord sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths (6:22). In the morning the king found him unhurt “because he believed in his God” (6:23).

Your one tiny truth: I can pray to Heavenly Father. Three-year-olds are just learning to fold their arms, bow their heads and say a few words. Practice it with them today, make it happy, and tell them Heavenly Father loves to hear them.

Keep the lions friendly and sleepy, never scary. Children are the lions, and the best part is when they close their mouths and curl up to snooze. Leave out what happened to Daniel’s accusers (6:24); it isn’t needed for Sunbeams.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring a stuffed animal to be a friendly lion (or skip it and use the no-supplies versions). Tell the Daniel story with your phone or tablet scenes (everyone is a lion!), play Where Can I Pray?, say “he kneeled upon his knees… and prayed” while kneeling and folding arms, sing “We Bow Our Heads,” and end by helping a child say a short prayer.

What to bring4 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Tuck the toy lion under the scarf or blanket.
  2. Clear a little floor space so every child can kneel and curl up like a sleepy lion.
  3. Practice the key words with motions once: kneel on “he kneeled upon his knees,” fold arms on “and prayed.”
  4. Open this lesson in Teach Mode so the story pictures and the Sound Board are ready.

If your class is wild

  • If a child is scared of lions, let them be Daniel or the king instead, or let them hold the toy lion so they can see it is gentle.
  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes, and give the child the toy lion to hold: “Can you help this lion be gentle?”
  • Potty breaks: send the child with another grown-up or their parent; never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep the class going.
  • Your calm-down trick for today: “Sleepy lions!” Everyone lies down with mouths shut tight. Whisper, “Shh, the lions are sleeping.”
  • If you use the veggie snack from the extras, check allergies and your ward’s policy first.

The 25-minute plan23 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Peekaboo Lion

2 min

A gentle peekaboo reveal introduces a friendly lion so nobody is scared of the story.

  1. Sit on the floor with the children. Hold up the blanket with the toy lion under it.
  2. SAY“Someone is sleeping under here. Let’s count and peek. One… two… three… peekaboo!” Lift a corner, then cover it again. Do it twice more.
  3. On the last peek, bring out the lion: “It’s a lion! He’s a friendly, sleepy lion.”
  4. Let each child give the lion a gentle pat. Say: “Gentle hands.”
  5. SAY“Today we’ll hear about Daniel. He prayed to Heavenly Father, and some lions were very gentle with him.”

Class screen: 🦁 Peekaboo! Who’s sleeping? · 1… 2… 3… · Peekaboo!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A soft toy lion (or any stuffed animal you can call a lion), A scarf, dish towel or small blanket for peekaboo

Peekaboo Lion Face

  1. Cover your face with your hands. Say: “Someone is sleeping. Who is it?”
  2. Pop out with a tiny, silly roar and paws by your cheeks: “Peekaboo! I’m a friendly lion!”
  3. Everyone hides and pops out as friendly lions three times.
  4. SAY“Today we’ll hear about Daniel. He prayed to Heavenly Father, and some lions were very gentle with him.”

Class screen: 🦁 Peekaboo! I’m a friendly lion!

2. Story

Story: Daniel and the Sleepy Lions

5 min

Children act out Daniel praying and the lions sleeping, so prayer becomes something they do.

  1. SAY“Everybody is a lion today! And a few friends can be Daniel.” Pick one child to be the king.
  2. Show each scene on your phone or tablet and read the one or two sentences.
  3. Do each action together. In scene 2, kneel down with the children.
  4. In scene 6, whisper: “Shh… the lions are sleeping.” Wait a few quiet seconds.
  5. End with everyone folding arms: “I can pray to Heavenly Father!”
🌪️ If the roaring gets big, say, “Lions, the angel is coming!” and shut your own mouth tight. They’ll copy you.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🦁 Everyone is a friendly lion! · Tiny roar · Mouths shut · Snore…

3. Wiggle break

Wake Up, Lions! Sleep, Lions!

2 min

A stretch-and-snooze game burns energy and ends calm.

  1. SAY“Wake up, lions!” Everyone stretches, shakes their manes, and pads around on all fours.
  2. SAY“The angel is here!” Everyone shuts their mouths tight and curls up to sleep.
  3. Play 3 or 4 rounds. Make the last sleep the longest: count to five in a whisper.

Class screen: 😴 Wake up, lions! Now sleep!

4. Scripture

Key Words: “He Kneeled… and Prayed”

3 min

A few Bible words with motions teach the children how Daniel prayed.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “The Bible tells us what Daniel did.”
  2. Say it slowly: “he kneeled upon his knees” (everyone kneels and pats their knees) “and prayed” (fold arms, bow head).
  3. Stand up and do it again. Say it three ways: soft, happy, and slow like a sleepy lion.
  4. SAY“Daniel knelt and prayed. I can pray to Heavenly Father too!”

Class screen: 🧎 “He kneeled upon his knees… and prayed” · 🧎 kneel · 🙏 pray

5. Song

Sing “We Bow Our Heads”

2 min

A short reverent song practices folding arms and bowing heads.

  1. SAY“Let’s show how we get ready to pray.” Fold arms together.
  2. Sing “We Bow Our Heads” (Children’s Songbook, 25) slowly with arms folded.
  3. Sing it again and let the children bow their heads on the right words.

Class screen: 🎵 Fold arms and sing

6. Game

Where Can I Pray?

3 min

Children act out places and times to pray and learn that Heavenly Father always listens.

  1. SAY“I’ll name a place. Show me, then fold your arms and say, ‘I can pray here!’”
  2. Try: “In my bed” (lay head on hands). “At dinner” (pretend to eat). “In the car” (turn a steering wheel). “Outside in the sun” (make a big sun). “At church” (sit tall).
  3. After each one, fold arms together: “I can pray here!”
  4. SAY“We can pray anywhere, anytime. Heavenly Father always hears us.”

Class screen: 🙏 I can pray here! · 🛏️ bed · 🍽️ dinner · 🚗 car · ☀️ outside

7. Wiggle break

Lion Freeze Dance

2 min

One more big wiggle before the quiet part.

  1. Open Freeze Dance. Everyone dances like a happy, friendly lion.
  2. When the music stops, freeze like a sleepy lion with your mouth shut tight.
  3. Last round: freeze kneeling with arms folded, like Daniel.
🧊 Freeze Dance (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🦁 Dance like a lion! Freeze!

8. Talk it over

Show Me!

2 min

Quick show-me questions let every child answer with their body.

  1. Sit close together. Hold the toy lion on your lap if you brought it.
  2. Ask the questions one at a time. Any answer, even a point or a nod, gets a smile and a “Yes!”
💬 Ask the class
  • Show me how Daniel prayed.
  • Show me a gentle, sleepy lion.
  • Who heard Daniel’s prayer?
  • When can you pray to Heavenly Father?

Class screen: 🙋 Show me!

9. Testimony

A Quiet Little Prayer

2 min

A calm, loving moment where the children feel what prayer is like.

  1. SAY“Let’s be as quiet as sleepy lions. Fold your arms.”
  2. In a soft voice, say: “Heavenly Father heard Daniel. He hears you too. I know He loves you, and I love to pray to Him.”
  3. Invite one child to say the closing prayer. Whisper a few words at a time for them to repeat.
  4. Say each child’s name softly: “Mia, you can pray. Sam, you can pray.” (Use your own class names.)

Class screen: 🙏 I can pray to Heavenly Father.

10. Game

Lion Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story; every child points or calls out.

  1. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture.
  2. Children point to the right picture. No teams needed: everyone wins.
  3. After each answer, everyone makes a tiny lion roar.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🦁 Point to the right picture!

11. Game

Mystery Picture: What’s Hiding?

3 minBONUS

A slow reveal names things from the story.

  1. Open Mystery Picture. Say: “Something is hiding! Let’s take the squares away.”
  2. Remove a square each time the children do a lion move or fold their arms.
  3. When they guess, act it out: lion = tiny roar, angel = flap wings, king = put on a crown.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ❓ What’s hiding?

12. Craft

Paper Plate Lion Faces

4 minBONUS

A take-home lion reminds them that Daniel prayed and Heavenly Father helped him.

  1. Give each child a paper plate. Draw two eyes and a nose for them.
  2. Let them scribble a big mane around the edge with crayons.
  3. Draw a mouth that is closed tight. Say: “The angel shut the lions’ mouths! Daniel prayed, and Heavenly Father helped him.”

Class screen: 🦁 Make a friendly lion!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Optional: paper plates and crayons for lion faces

Lion Faces

  1. Everyone makes a lion face: hands around your face for a mane.
  2. Make a happy lion, a sleepy lion, and a lion with its mouth shut tight.
  3. SAY“The angel shut the lions’ mouths! Daniel prayed, and Heavenly Father helped him.”

Story drama

Daniel and the Sleepy Lions

Daniel 6 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Everyone: Friendly LionsMake tiny, friendly roars, then shut their mouths tight and curl up to sleep.
  • DanielKneels, folds arms and pretends to pray (a few children can be Daniel together).
  • King DariusLooks sad at night, then hurries in the morning and cheers, “Daniel is safe!”

Scenes

  1. 🧔 Daniel loved Heavenly Father

    Daniel was a good man who loved Heavenly Father. He prayed every day.

    🎬 Fold your arms and bow your head, just like Daniel.

  2. 🪟 Daniel prayed by his window

    Three times every day, Daniel knelt by his open window and prayed.

    🎬 Kneel down and count on your fingers: one, two, three!

  3. 📜 A new rule: “No praying!”

    Some men who didn’t like Daniel tricked the king into making a rule. It said nobody could pray to God.

    🎬 Shake your head: “No, no, no!”

  4. 🙏 Daniel prayed anyway!

    Daniel knelt down and prayed, just like always. Daniel was brave!

    🎬 Kneel and fold your arms. Then show me brave muscles!

  5. 🦁 Daniel goes into the lions’ den

    The king was sad, but he had to keep the rule. Daniel was put in a den with lions.

    🎬 Everyone is a lion! Make a tiny, friendly roar and show soft paws.

  6. 😇 An angel shut the lions’ mouths

    Heavenly Father sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths. The lions were gentle all night long.

    🎬 Lions, shut your mouths tight. Curl up and snore softly.

  7. ☀️ Good morning, Daniel! You’re safe!

    In the morning the king hurried to the den. Daniel was safe, and the king was so happy!

    🎬 Jump up and cheer: “Daniel is safe!”

  8. 🙏 I can pray too!

    Daniel prayed, and Heavenly Father helped him. I can pray to Heavenly Father too!

    🎬 Fold your arms and say together: “I can pray!”

Key verse

Daniel 6:10 ↗
“he kneeled upon his knees … and prayed”
In kid words: Daniel knelt down and prayed.
🙌 “He kneeled upon his knees” = kneel down and pat your knees · “and prayed” = fold your arms and bow your head.

More verses

Daniel 6:22 ↗
“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths”
In kid words: Heavenly Father sent an angel to close the lions’ mouths.
Daniel 6:23 ↗
“no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God”
In kid words: Daniel was not hurt at all, because he trusted God.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 🧔 Daniel
  • 🦁 Lion
  • 😇 Angel
  • 👑 King
  • 🪟 Window
  • 🙏 Pray
  • 🧎 Kneel
  • 🌙 Moon
  • ☀️ Sun
  • 🛏️ Bed
  • 🥕 Carrot
  • 💧 Water
Clues for each word
  • Daniel: He prayed three times a day
  • Lion: A big cat that says a tiny roar
  • Angel: Shut the lions’ mouths
  • King: Wears a crown
  • Window: Daniel prayed by it
  • Pray: We talk to Heavenly Father
  • Kneel: Get down on your knees
  • Moon: Shines at night while the lions sleep
  • Sun: Good morning, Daniel!
  • Bed: We can pray here at night
  • Carrot: Daniel ate good vegetables
  • Water: Daniel drank it
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. What did Daniel do every day?
    • A. 🙏 Prayed
    • B. 🎮 Played video games
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Prayed Daniel prayed three times every day!

  2. Where did Daniel kneel to pray?
    • A. 🪟 By his window
    • B. 🌳 Up in a tree
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🪟 By his window He knelt by his open window.

  3. Which animals were in the den?
    • A. 🐶 Puppies
    • B. 🦁 Lions
    • C. 🐤 Chicks
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🦁 Lions Lions! And they were gentle all night.

  4. Who did Heavenly Father send to help Daniel?
    • A. 🚒 A fire truck
    • B. 😇 An angel
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 😇 An angel An angel shut the lions’ mouths.

  5. Was Daniel safe in the morning?
    • A. 😢 No
    • B. 😃 Yes!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 😃 Yes! Yes! Heavenly Father kept him safe.

  6. Who can you pray to?
    • A. 📺 The TV
    • B. 🧸 My teddy bear
    • C. 🙏 Heavenly Father
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🙏 Heavenly Father We pray to Heavenly Father. He always listens.

  7. How do we get ready to pray?
    • A. 🙏 Fold arms
    • B. 🤸 Do a cartwheel
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Fold arms Fold your arms and bow your head.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • We Bow Our Heads Children’s Songbook, p. 25

    Short and gentle: practice folding arms and bowing heads. Find it ↗

  • A Child’s Prayer Children’s Songbook, p. 12

    Heavenly Father hears children when they pray, just like He heard Daniel. Find it ↗

  • Dare to Do Right Children’s Songbook, p. 158

    Daniel kept praying even when it was hard. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Pray like Daniel

This week, fold your arms and help say a prayer with your family: in the morning, at dinner, and at bedtime. That’s three times a day, just like Daniel!

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Daniel prayed to Heavenly Father every day, and Heavenly Father sent an angel to keep him safe with the lions. Ask your child: “What did the angel do to the lions?” (Shut their mouths!) This week, let your child help say family prayer, morning, dinner and bedtime, just like Daniel.

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🥕 Daniel’s Good Food · 3 min

  1. SAY“Daniel and his friends chose simple, good food and water instead of the king’s fancy food. Heavenly Father blessed them” (Daniel 1:12–15).
  2. After checking allergies and your ward’s policy, share baby carrots and a sip of water.
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father gave us our bodies. We can take good care of them!”

🕒 Three Times a Day · 2 min

  1. SAY“Daniel prayed three times a day.” Hold up three fingers.
  2. Act out three times: morning (stretch and yawn, then fold arms), lunchtime (pretend to eat, then fold arms), bedtime (lay head on hands, then fold arms).
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father loves to hear from us every day.”

💪 Brave Like Daniel · 2 min

  1. Stand up and make brave muscles. Say: “Daniel was brave. He kept praying.”
  2. Name little brave choices: “Saying sorry.” “Sharing a toy.” “Folding arms for prayer.” After each, everyone flexes and says, “Brave!”
  3. SAY“Heavenly Father helps us be brave when we pray.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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