Daniel in the Lions' Den - Bible Lessons for Kids
Daniel and the Lions’ Den is a favorite story for many kids. It highlights the importance of prayer, trusting in God’s protection, and standing up for what is right even when it’s hard. There are many engaging ways to bring this Bible story to life through fun crafts and activities, printable lesson plans, and kid-friendly YouTube videos. Perfect for Sunday school, homeschool, or faith-based schools, these creative resources help children understand the courage and faith Daniel showed as he chose to honor God no matter what.
The Story of Daniel in the Lions’ Den
The story of Daniel and the Lions’ Den is found in Daniel 6. Daniel was a trusted advisor to King Darius, and some of the other advisors were jealous. They tried to catch Daniel doing something wrong, but he consistently chose to do the right thing. They went to the King and had him decree that people could only pray to him for 30 days. If anyone disobeyed, they would be thrown into the lions’ den.
Daniel refused to listen to this decree, knowing what Scripture said about prayer. He continued to pray to God, and the advisors informed the king.
Greatly saddened, the king had Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. But God sent an angel to protect Daniel and shut the lions' mouths. Daniel was safe all night, and the king was relieved to find Daniel unharmed the next morning. After this, the king changed the decree that people should only pray to God.
Daniel and the Lions’ Den - Bible Lessons for Kids
Check out a simple way to teach the story of Daniel and the Lions’ Den. Our scripted lesson plans, discussion questions, and printable crafts are perfect for children aged 3 to 8.
Background Information About Daniel and the Lions’ Den
Daniel was a Jew living in Babylon because, when he was a boy, he was captured and taken from his family. He went to work in the palace and over time became a well-respected person of authority.
Daniel worked in the palace for so long that he worked for four different kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus. Daniel would have been around 80 years old when he was thrown into the lions’ den.
3D LIONS’ MANE CRAFT FOR OLDER KIDS
Daniel and the Lions’ Den is a story that awes kids (and adults). The idea of someone surviving a night in a den of lions is truly a miracle. So, making a lion craft is a great way to remind children of how God rescued Daniel.
Cut strips of orange and yellow construction paper. Kids will use these to construct the lion’s mane. Using the template pieces provided in Daniel and the Lions’ Den for Older Kids, have kids glue the orange and yellow strips in a circle; then glue the lion’s head on top. The strips of construction paper will make the mane look 3D.
BUILD THE LIONS’ DEN SCENE CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOL
Younger kids will enjoy recreating a scene of the lions’ den. Use the printable pieces from Daniel in the Lions’ Den for Preschool, and have kids place their pieces on the scene. This is also a great opportunity for kids to practice their cutting and gluing skills. However, you will likely need to cut out the pieces for the youngest children ahead of time.
Other Activities to Teach About Daniel and the Lions’ Den
Paper Plate Lion: Check out Kids Kubby for a super cute paper plate lion craft that uses strips of construction paper, some paint, and a paper plate.
Lion Mask: Or follow these instructions from Handmade Charlotte for turning a paper plate lion into a mask.
Pin the Teeth on the Lion: Quickly draw a lion on the whiteboard or on a large piece of paper. It doesn’t have to be an incredible piece of art. The kids won’t care what the lion looks like! Then cut out some triangles from white paper. These are the teeth. Give each child a “tooth” and have them take turns wearing a blindfold. Their task is to get all the teeth into the lion’s mouth.
Praying Hands Craft: Prayer is a key part of this story because Daniel prayed, and God answered. Follow these simple instructions from First Miami Kids to create a praying hand craft.
YouTube Videos About Daniel and the Lions’ Den
Daniel and the Lions’ Den is a classic favorite story for kids of all ages, so there are many YouTube videos you could watch. But I always recommend previewing the videos first to make sure they are age-appropriate, accurate, and match the themes you are teaching. Here are some suggestions:
Daniel and the Lions’ Den by The Beginners Bible is a 30-minute episode that tells more of Daniel’s story and the part about the lions’ den.
WANT TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS, KINGS, AND QUEENS?
This lesson is part of an eight-week series on the Old Testament Prophets, Kings, and Queens. The other stories include Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, Elisha and the Widow’s Oil, Esther the Brave Queen, Naaman is Healed, Joshua and Jericho, David and Goliath, and Jonah.
These lessons are also included in the 52-week Bible curriculum for preschoolers and kindergarteners and for older children in first, second, and third grades.
Daniel and the Lions’ Den is a great story to teach about prayer, obedience, and God’s faithfulness. Take time to help kids engage in the story with fun activities and crafts. Which will you be trying?