VOLUNTEER

LEAD ER MAN UAL

Pala c e P layg r ou n d
 Palace
Playground
L E A D E R M A N U A L

LOVELAND, COLORADO
GROUP.COM/VBS
 2023 HOLY LAND ADVENTURE VBS

PALACE PLAYGROUND LEADER MANUAL

Copyright © 2012, 2023 Group Publishing, Inc./0000 0001 0362 4853

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner
whatsoever except where noted in the text and in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Visit our websites ·

group.com | group.com/vbs

Credits
A big thanks to our courageous VBS team:
Laura Baldwin-Stout, Jody Brolsma, Stephen Caine, Ardeth Carlson,
Shelly Dillon, Cindy Hansen, Jan Kershner, Michael Paustian,
Mike Porter, Joani Schultz, Rodney Stewart, and Amy Taylor.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-4707-7086-0
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 25 24 23

2 BABYLON | Daniel’s Courage in Captivity

 Contents
Babylon Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Sample Daily Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Palace Playground Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Costuming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

DAY 1 When things change, God is with you. . . . . . . . 10

DAY 2 When you need help, God is with you. . . . . . . . . 15

DAY 3 When you’re afraid, God is with you. . . . . . . . . 20

DAY 4 When you’re lonely, God is with you. . . . . . . . . 25

DAY 5 When you’re thankful, God is with you. . . . . . . . . 30

Palace Playground Leader Manual 3

 Day 1 Day 2
Bible Point: Bible Point:
When things change, God is with you. When you need help, God is with you.

Bible Content
Key Verse: Key Verse:
“For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. “God is our refuge and strength,
I will never abandon you.’ ” always ready to help in times of trouble.”
(Hebrews 13:5) (Psalm 46:1)
Bible Story: Bible Story:
You’ll reinforce Bible learning Enemies capture Daniel and his friends Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s
in a big way because the daily and take them to Babylon. (Daniel 1) dream. (Daniel 2)
Bible Point is carefully integrated
into each activity. That’s why n L earn the Day 1 Bible n  ear a few God Sightings
H
each center is so important to the verse and motions. from the whole group.
Celebration

n Meet all the Tribes n Learn the Day 2 Bible

overall learning experience.
at Babylon. verse and motions.
Explore the entire program at n Sing “Through It All,” n Sing “God Is for Me,”

a glance. Refer to the chart to “Watching Over You,” “Only a Prayer Away,”
and “Stand Firm.” and “Where Do I Go?”
see how each center’s activities
supplement other activities to
make the Bible come to life Draw pictures on
Explore a Dark-to-
Tribe Time

Color-Changing
at your church! Paper, and
Dazzling Board,
and discover that
discover that
God is with them in
God is always
life’s darkest times.
with them.
Daniel’s Adventures

Meet Daniel, and

Discover how
hear how he and
Daniel is able to
his friends are
interpret the king’s
faring as captives
mysterious dream.
in Babylon.
Palace Playground

Race and stack

Play Birthday Tag
sugar cubes,
and other games
wooden blocks,
that have to do
and grocery sack
with things on a
“bricks”—buildings
calendar.
fit for a king!

Choose a few shops to visit each day:

Marketplace Shops

Royal Animal Astronomy Cylinder Seal Food Court

Courtyard School Shop

4 BABYLON | Daniel’s Courage in Captivity

 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
Bible Point: Bible Point: Bible Point:
When you’re afraid, God is with you. When you’re lonely, God is with you. When you’re thankful, God is with you.
Key Verse: Key Verse: Key Verse:
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. “I am with you always, even to the “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) His faithful love endures forever.”
God.” (Isaiah 41:10) Bible Story: (1 Chronicles 16:34)
Bible Story: Daniel prays, even though it means he Bible Story:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego might get into trouble. (Daniel 6:1-16) God saves Daniel from the lions.
survive a fiery furnace. (Daniel 3) (Daniel 6:16-28)

n T alk about their daily n L earn the Day 5 Bible

n L earn the Day 4 Bible
mission in the Marketplace. verse and motions.
verse and motions.
n Learn the Day 3 Bible n Hear Tribe cheers.
n Sing “Amazing
verse and motions. n Celebrate all the Bibles
Grace (My Chains
n Sing “Thankful,” they’re sending to
Are Gone).”
and “Come, Thou kids around the world
n Review Days 1-3.
Almighty King.” through Operation
Kid-to-Kid.

Use Trembling Teeth Hold Sticky Sin Slime, Celebrate all they
and a Yikes Poster and realize that Jesus have to be thankful
to share times took our sins upon for as they use
they’re afraid. himself at the cross. Praise Poppers.

Find out what

happens to Daniel’s Watch as Daniel is Discover what
friends when they arrested because he happens when Daniel
won’t worship the won’t stop praying. is thrown to the lions.
king’s statue.

Sneak up on a
sleeping lion, Catch a shooting
Launch and catch
pretend to be star, hop along a
crazy stuff with big,
a long-necked constellation, and
bigger, and biggest
ostrich, and pull race around a
catapults.
like a strong team starry sky.
of oxen.

Hanging Gardens Jewelry Metalworking Mosaic Studio Music Shop Operation

Nursery Bazaar Shop Kid-to-Kid™

Palace Playground Leader Manual 5

 Day 1
DAILY SCHEDULE

BIBLE STORY: Enemies capture Daniel and his

BIBLE POINT: When things change, God is with you.
friends and take them to Babylon. (Daniel 1)

GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D

Issachar
Tribes________________ Gad
Tribes________________ Joseph
Tribes________________ Levi
Tribes________________

TIME Naphtali
_____________________ Simeon
_____________________ Zebulun
_____________________ Reuben
_____________________

e
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

l
6:00–6:15 Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration

p
Allow 5 minutes to travel to the next station.

6:20-6:35 Tribe Time Tribe Time Tribe Time Tribe Time

m
Allow 5 minutes to travel to the next station.

a
6:40-6:55 Daniel’s Adventures Palace Playground

S
Allow 5 minutes to travel to the next station. Visit Marketplace

7:00-7:15 Palace Playground Daniel’s Adventures

Allow 5 minutes to travel to the next station.

7:20-7:35 Daniel’s Adventures Palace Playground

Visit Marketplace Allow 5 minutes to travel to the next station.

7:40-7:55 Palace Playground Daniel’s Adventures

Allow 5 minutes to travel to the next station.

8:00-8:15 Tribe Time Tribe Time Tribe Time Tribe Time

Allow 5 minutes to travel to the next station.

8:20-8:30 Celebration Celebration Celebration Celebration

TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:

6 BABYLON | Daniel’s Courage in Captivity

Palace Playground Leader
As the Palace Playground Leader, you’ll help kids and adults play games and
discover more about life in ancient Babylon. During VBS, one-quarter of the Tribes
at a time will join you for 15 minutes of high-energy activities. (A Tribe is a group
of up to 10 people led by a Tribe Leader and an Assistant Tribe Leader.)

Follow these tips to make Palace Playground something kids and adults look
forward to every day!

Organize for the VBS week. Work with the VBS Director to determine where
Palace Playground will take place. Ideally, you’ll want to meet in a large outdoor
area free of rocks or other sharp objects. Work together to collect supplies.

Familiarize yourself with this manual. Read each day’s Bible background,
Scripture, and games. You’ll be able to convey your enthusiasm and excitement Palace Pointer
if you’re familiar with each activity and how it’s done. Practice several times so Be sure to wear a name tag, too, so
you don’t have to use this manual while you’re working with Tribes. people know your name.
Work with the Director to recruit several teenage Palace Playground Pals.
These middle school or high school helpers will be invaluable to your Palace
Playground success. Prior to each day, review the games so they’ll know how to
help you prepare, distribute, and collect the game supplies.

Learn (and use) names. While you won’t have the opportunity to spend one-
on-one time with participants as the Tribe Leaders do, kids and adults will be
wearing name tags. If you call on people, try to call them by name. What an
easy way to make someone feel special!

Gather Tribes close to you while giving brief instructions. Have

participants huddle in as closely as possible while you talk. Then gather a
few volunteers to demonstrate. Save your voice, and ensure that everyone
understands your directions clearly. And keep your instructions brief—
remember, the object is to play!

Play a role! You are a citizen of Babylon, so instead of saying “Kids back in
Bible times played these games,” you’ll say things like “Kids here in Babylon
love to play this game.”

During VBS, participants will be encouraged to tell you (as well as the
Marketplace shopkeepers and helpers) about our one true God. They’ll learn
that Daniel believed in one true God, but most of the ancient Babylonians
believed in many gods. Play along with the role, encouraging participants to tell
you more about the one true God. Agree to come along with them to opening
or closing Celebrations.

Have fun! Smile! Make participants feel warmly welcomed at your games area.
Don’t just guide people in these unique experiences; you participate too! Have a
blast with everyone as they experience ancient Babylon.

Palace Playground Leader Manual 7

 Costuming
Your involvement will speak volumes
to everyone who attends this Babylon
VBS. So it’s an excellent idea to dress
in a Babylon-style costume as a fun
way to set the stage. Check with the
VBS Director to see if he or she will
be providing a costume for you. Since
ancient Babylon was a cosmopolitan
city, you might consider wearing a
Bible-times tunic with a shiny sash
or jewelry.

Supplies
Remember, you’ll only have one-
quarter of the Tribes at one time. Check
with your Director to see how many
people you can expect at each session.
Work with the Director to collect these
supplies, which you'll use at each
rotation.

Day 1
attention-getter (such as a bell)
sugar cubes (15-20 per participant)
paper plates (1 per participant)
wooden blocks (15-20 per group of 4)
baskets (1 per group of 4)
several sheets of poster board
Field Test Finding paper grocery sacks
We had our field test indoors because it (approximately 60, to make
was January. All the games worked just 30 “bricks”)
fine inside.
newspaper or newsprint (enough
to fill 30 grocery sacks)
 elebration Music CD* or
C
Palace Pointer
download card
Before Babylon VBS, bring the
CD or media player
sacks and newspaper to staff
training. Have each staff member
help make the bricks. After Day
1 games, use the bricks as part of
the Marketplace decorations.

8 BABYLON | Daniel’s Courage in Captivity

Day 2
attention-getter
slips of paper with numbers written on them Palace Pointer
bowl You may want to play songs from
the Celebration Music CD during
stuffed animal each games rotation—just plug
in a portable music player and
Day 3 have the fun music playing in the
background the entire time.
attention-getter
masking tape or ropes
plastic spoons (1 per participant)
large and small marshmallows, or use cotton balls (several per participant)
paper wads (lots) Palace Pointer
stuffed animals (a variety of shapes and sizes) See page 35 for easy
instructions to build catapults.
several baskets
You’ll need a small catapult for
4 small catapults each team and 1 King catapult.
1 King Catapult
Celebration Music CD* or download card
CD or media player

Day 4
attention-getter
jump-ropes
rags
rolled-up sock or cardboard tube
jingle bells
Celebration Music CD* or download card
CD or media player

Day 5
attention-getter
masking tape or powdered chalk
bright-colored paper plates (1 per participant)
10-15 tennis balls
10-15 tube socks
paper cups of water (1 per participant)

*available at group.com

Palace Playground Leader Manual 9

 Day 1
Key Verse: “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)

Bible Point: When things change, God is with you.

Why It Matters
Wow, talk about change! Daniel and his friends faced a new home (without their
families), a new language, a new culture—a new everything! Yet they remained
true to God. How easy it would have been to compromise, so far from home
and faced with such difficult circumstances. The kids and adults in your VBS face
similar challenges—new schools, new job situations, new family dynamics. Use
today’s activities to help kids and adults realize that, like Daniel and his friends,
they can be in this world but not of it. Their identity can come from God—for
God. No matter what changes they encounter, God will be with them!

Bible Story: Enemies capture Daniel and his friends and take them to
Babylon. (Daniel 1)
Read the Passage With This in Mind…
 y taking young men from royal families as hostages, Nebuchadnezzar not
B
only gained promising recruits for his own service but also reminded the
people back in Jerusalem that they should not revolt against recently imposed
Babylonian rule.
T he meat offered to the captives was probably taken from animals sacrificed to
the patron gods of Babylon (Marduk, Nebo, and Ishtar, as examples). The wine,
too, was most likely tainted by cultic usage.
T he menu for the captives came from the king’s own kitchens. Refusing the food
could have branded Daniel and his friends as being uncooperative and might
easily have spoiled their chances for advancement.
 ejecting the menu could also be seen as rejecting the king and could
R
result in the very real threat of severe punishment. (Ancient kings, including
Nebuchadnezzar, were capable of extreme cruelty!)
 od moved the Babylonian authorities to regard Daniel with respect and
G
affection. He also graced Daniel and his friends with superior intellect. God
showed he was with them all the way!

10 BABYLON | Daniel’s Courage in Captivity

Day 1 Palace Playground
Before Tribes Arrive…
Gather the following supplies:
o attention-getter (such as a bell)
o sugar cubes (15-20 per participant)
o paper plates (1 per participant)
o wooden blocks (15-20 per group of 4)
o baskets (1 per group of 4)
o several sheets of poster board
o paper grocery sacks (approximately 60, to make 30 “bricks”)
o newspaper or newsprint (enough to fill 30 grocery sacks)
Field Test Finding
Be sure to fill paper sacks full of
o Celebration Music CD* or download card crumpled newspaper. Some of our
o CD or media player bricks were “newspaper-lite,” and they
collapsed during the building games.
Fill 30 grocery sacks with crumpled newspaper or newsprint, and then slip A lesson to never skimp on proper
an empty sack over each open end. Pile the paper bricks on one side of the building supplies!
playing area.

When Tribes Arrive…

1. Welcome the Tribes to Palace Playground, and introduce yourself. Ask:

I haven’t seen you here in Babylon before. Where are you from?

2. Say: Welcome to Palace Playground! We call this place Palace Playground,

but all the kids in Babylon (not just kids in the palace) play games like
we’re going to play all week. Each day we’ll play games so you can
discover more about life in Babylon. Our king, Nebuchadnezzar, is known
across the land for his amazing buildings. He made all the buildings so
people would know how rich and powerful he is. Ask:

What do buildings look like where you’re from?

Say: Interesting! In Babylon, we make buildings out of things like clay

and dried mud. Let’s use a variety of supplies and try our hand at
building too!

3. Lead Tribes in the following games.

4. When you hear the timekeeper’s signal, dismiss your group to its next
activities.

Palace Playground Leader Manual 11

 Gotcha!
1. Ask everyone to stand in a circle. Say: Everyone knows that two of the
most important tools a builder needs are (wave your hands in front of you)
hands! So let’s loosen up our fingers before we tackle a building project.
2. Have everyone introduce themselves to the “builders” standing on either side
of them. Then have everyone place their left hand palm up, and their right
index finger pointing down and touching on the neighbor’s outstretched palm.

3. Say: When I ring the bell, you builders gotta do two things: Grab the finger
in your left hand, and try to keep your right finger from being grabbed.
Ready? Pause. Are you really ready? Pause. You sure? Ring the bell.

4. Repeat a few times. Then have everyone shake out their fingers and find
a new place in the circle. Have everyone introduce themselves to the new
“builders” standing on either side. Play the game again.

12 BABYLON | Daniel’s Courage in Captivity

Pillar Pileup
Palace Pointer
1. Gather everyone next to the pile of paper “bricks.” Say: King Ask the teenage Palace Playground
Nebuchadnezzar sure does like to build stuff. He made the gorgeous Pals to assist you during games.
Hanging Gardens—lots of beautiful flowers and green vines that rest on They could help distribute and collect
big pillars. The pillars are made of baked bricks. Hold up a paper “brick” supplies, getting them ready for the
like it’s really heavy. Bricks kind of like this. Toss it in the air so everyone sees next games rotation.
how light it is. Maybe not quite like this! Hmmm, you seem like pretty young
builders, so maybe we’d better start off with something a little smaller.

2. Give each person a pile of 15-20 sugar cubes on a paper plate. Allow 1
minute for individuals to stack their cubes as tall as they can on the paper
plate. Call time after 1 minute, and see how tall the stacks are. (Have fun
with your role, walking around like a contractor who’s encouraging their
work.) Say: Well, I guess I can trust you with a bigger challenge. Are you
sure you’re up to the task?

3. Next, have each person join two or three others to form a group. Give each
group a basket of 15-20 wooden blocks. Give the groups 1 minute to stack
their blocks as tall as they can. Call time after 1 minute, and see how tall the
stacks are. Scratch your chin thoughtfully as you comment on the different
stacks and surprising abilities of the builders. Say: Well, you’re certainly fast
learners. I think we’re ready for the big stuff! Let’s try to build tall pillars
from this pile of bricks!

4. Form two teams, and have them stand on the side of the playing area
opposite the pile of paper bricks. Say: Your team will have 1 minute to build
a pillar from the bricks! Only one person at a time can run to pick up a
brick. Keep sending people to the brick pile to get a brick and run it over
to the rest of your group. If you’re not running, you’re helping to build.
Each team will build their own tall pillar. Ready? Let’s build!

Give teams 1 minute to stack the bricks as tall as they can. Call time after 1
minute, and see how tall the pillars are.

5. Play one more round, having teams work together to build one pillar as tall
as they can.

Field Test Finding

Be sure to call this game “Pillar
Pileup.” Some leaders at the field
test encouraged kids to “build really
tall towers,” which led to talking
about the Tower of Babel. We won’t
get into that story for this VBS.
Maybe another year!

Palace Playground Leader Manual 13

 Through the Gate

1. Gather everyone, and say: Here in Babylon, one of the things we’re most
proud of is King Nebuchadnezzar’s Ishtar Gate. Ask:
Did you see it as you came into town?

Act surprised if people tell you they didn’t see it or don’t know what you’re
talking about. Say: Well, you must have come in the back door…because
everyone who comes to Babylon can’t miss it! It’s a huge, massive,
glittering, gorgeous blue and gold wall and arch. It is truly amazing. How
about if we work together and build a mini version of the Ishtar Gate? I
know our mini gate will be truly amazing too. Let’s build!

2. Encourage everyone to use the sheets of poster board and the paper
bricks to build a mini Ishtar Gate. When it’s complete, play this game (like
“London Bridge”).

3. Play the theme song “Through It All” (CD track 1) while everyone walks
through the arch and around in a circle. Stop the song after about a minute.
Whoever is under the arch when the music stops will shout “Welcome to
Babylon!” and give a high-five to three people.

14 BABYLON | Daniel’s Courage in Captivity