Sunday School Story Time: The Super Sandcastle Squad and the Case of the Missing Toys

Characters:

• Teacher (you)
• Sarah (student, enthusiastic)
• David (student, asks questions)
• Emily (student, quiet observer)
• Bethany (student, helpful)

NOTE: CHANGE THE CHARACTERS TO SUIT YOUR CLASS

Setting:

A sunny Sunday school classroom, decorated with pictures of children playing.

Introduction

(Teacher): Good morning, class! Today’s lesson is all about being righteous! But before we dive in, does anyone know what a sandcastle is?

(Sarah): It’s a castle you build on the beach with sand!

(Teacher): That’s right, Sarah! Imagine you’re at the beach with your friends, and you all want to build the coolest sandcastle ever. What are some things you and your friends would need to do to make that happen?

(David): We’d need to work together!

(Emily): And share the buckets and shovels!

(Bethany): And maybe not take other people’s toys!

(Teacher): Excellent points, everyone! Sharing, working together, and being kind are all part of living righteously. Today, we’ll learn more about what it means to be righteous through a story!

Story

Once upon a time, there were four best friends named Sarah, David, Emily, and Bethany. They loved spending time together, especially at the beach. One sunny afternoon, they excitedly grabbed their pails and shovels and raced towards the shore.

(Sarah): Let’s build the biggest, most awesome sandcastle ever!

(David): I agree! But first, we need a plan.

(Emily): Maybe we can build a moat around it, with a drawbridge!

(Bethany): And a flag on top made from seaweed!

(Teacher): They all shared their ideas and worked together. Sarah filled buckets with sand, David dug a deep foundation, Emily decorated with shells, and Bethany kept their tools organized. Soon, a magnificent sandcastle with a moat and a seaweed flag stood proudly on the beach.

Suddenly, a group of older kids walked by. They admired the sandcastle and then… one of them grabbed Bethany’s favorite seashell decoration!

(Sarah): Hey! That’s Bethany’s!

(Older Kid): Finders keepers, losers weepers!

(Teacher): The older kids started taking more of their decorations, laughing and running away. Sarah and David were angry, but Emily tugged on Sarah’s sleeve.

(Emily): Maybe we can ask them nicely to give them back?

(Teacher): Emily walked up to the older kids and politely explained how much the decorations meant to them. The older kids were surprised by her kindness and eventually returned everything, even apologizing for taking them in the first place.

(Bethany): Thank you, Emily! You were so brave!

(Teacher): Back at the sandcastle, they finished building and played happily all afternoon.

Discussion

(Teacher): So, what do you think the Super Sandcastle Squad did that was righteous?

(Sarah): They shared and worked together!

(David): They didn’t take other people’s stuff.

(Emily): Even when they were mad, they tried to be kind.

(Teacher): That’s right! The Bible tells us in Micah 6:8 to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Being righteous means doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. It means treating others the way you want to be treated, like the Super Sandcastle Squad did.

Conclusion

(Teacher): Can you think of ways you can be righteous at school, at home, or with your friends?

(Students share their ideas)

(Teacher): Remember, being righteous is like building a beautiful sandcastle. It takes teamwork, kindness, and doing the right thing. Let’s all strive to be like the Super Sandcastle Squad and live righteously every day!

(End with a prayer or a song about kindness and friendship.)