God, how can I glorify You in the curriculum I teach? 

How can I be a public school teacher and an impactful Jesus follower? 

How can I teach everything required by the state of Minnesota without compromising what I believe to be true? 

These questions have echoed in my brain since I began teaching. But when I became a seventh-grade life science teacher and discovered that my required curriculum about evolution seemed to mislead students, they became even louder. 

I wasn’t surprised, but I was saddened that my curriculum only covered one theory of the origin of life and presented the theory of evolution as if it were fact. For two years, despite my dread for the unit, I did my best to teach evolution without endorsing it. However, I still felt I wasn’t quite hitting the mark even though I had engaged in many positive, thought-provoking conversations with students during the unit. 

By the end of that school year, I was determined to improve how I integrated my biblical worldview into my teaching. I knew there had to be a way I could teach evolution while still holding true to the Word of God because I truly believed Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:26: “‘with God all things are possible’” (NIV).

At the beginning of the summer, I asked the Lord, How can I be a better steward of this unit? How can I present this topic in a way that offers students the freedom to choose what to think and believe without violating school policy? How can I use this unit to prepare students’ hearts to receive Christ someday? 

In response, God ignited a desire in my heart to search for creative solutions. I began researching my questions and examining topics through a biblical lens with the help of the Answers in Genesis website. As I spent the next month combing through the website, my desire to visit the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter grew, and I felt God inspiring me to take an impromptu summer trip with Him.

So, I booked a flight, rental car, and one-room Airbnb. By the end of July, I was in Kentucky with brochures in hand, ready to visit the museums like a nerdy science teacher! 

As I walked through the exhibits, I knew God was with me. Just Him and me…no rush…no need to be anywhere else as I searched for answers to the questions I had wrestled with for quite some time. I stopped to read, listen, watch, and soak it all in. Throughout my time there, God highlighted little nuggets of information He wanted me to take back to my classroom… 

My jaw dropped as I walked through the Creation Museum’s Fearfully and Wonderfully Made exhibit and learned about the intricate stages of human development in the womb. I marveled at the detailed explanations on display in the Bible History exhibits titled “Did God Use Evolution?” and another asking “Could God Have Used a Million Years?” I analyzed a comparison of the biblical creation model with the naturalistic evolutionary models, brainstorming ways I could tie this information into my teaching.

While exploring the Ark Encounter, I learned what air ventilation and lighting might have been like while Noah and his family were in the ark. Information about animal kinds, the pre-flood world, and Noah surrounded me in the life-sized ark replica. Another exhibit displayed archeological and geological evidence of Noah’s ark and the flood, supporting the validity of the biblical accounts recorded in Genesis. 

Not surprisingly, I found so much more than just the answers to my questions that day—I also found a new sense of wonder and awe of God as our Creator. I expected to find information, and I did. But God always has so much more up His sleeve. He also boosted my confidence and stirred up a boldness within me. As I flew home to Minnesota, I thanked Him for prompting me to take this trip.

I no longer dreaded teaching my evolution unit. In fact, I actually looked forward to it. 

When the time came to implement the evolution unit that fall, I let my students know they were allowed to disagree with or not believe in what would be presented. I shared that I would be teaching the theory of evolution and the evidence that some scientists use to back it up. I encouraged them to be detectives and ask themselves and others why some agree with interpreting this evidence one way and some do not. 

Then, I put my freshly inspired confidence and knowledge into practice. I began the unit by asking my students what they already knew about evolution. I asked them why this topic might be controversial. Every time, God was faithful to provide at least one student in each class who could explain that some people believe God created everything, including man and woman. 

As we worked through the unit, He continually revealed to me simple ways that I could present the curriculum to encourage students to see the truth and give them the opportunity and freedom to choose what they believe, allowing them to learn how to think, rather than telling them what to think.

Through my trip with God and my experiences this past school year, I learned to rely on Him to provide everything I need to glorify Him in my curriculum. He demonstrated that He can and will make a way for His followers to bring restoration to curriculums, discussion topics, relationships, and so much more. He is our Redeemer, and He wants to use us to redeem different areas within our schools, including our curriculums.

This school year, I have been assigned to sixth-grade science and math, so I will no longer teach evolution. However, I will still rely on God to guide me. I will teach with the expectation that He will bring restoration and redemption to my ministry at school. And, He may just use my curriculum to achieve it. I’ve seen it happen…

Emma Johnson, a Christian Educators member, teaches sixth-grade science and math in Minnesota. She loves the relationships she gets to build at school and is passionate about seeing teaching as her mission field.

Exclusive discount: At Answers in Genesis, we know how challenging it can be to serve as a Christian teacher in a public school. This is why we offer a variety of resources to encourage teachers to remain true to God’s Word and equip them with answers to questions their students may be asking. In addition, we want to extend an exclusive 20% discount code “24TVM” to Teachers of Vision readers between now and September 30, 2024, for purchases at our online store!