Integrating Christian Virtues into the Science Classroom FAITH STULTS
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used to tell my physics students that I would know I had done my job well if they left my class not only knowing how to calculate an object’s kinetic energy but also with a sense of wonder at the way the universe works and a deepening love for the God who created it. Science, after all, is about so much more than mere facts and equations. It’s also about how we view and respond to the world around us. As Christian educators, we strive to develop the hearts of our students along with their minds. Faith integration in the science classroom, however, can feel forced or superficial when it is limited to out-of-context Bible verses or thinly stretched spiritual metaphors. But while there may not be a Christian version of electrostatics that we can teach our students, that doesn’t mean our science education can’t be distinctly Christian in nature. BioLogos, a Christian nonprofit that explores God’s Word and God’s world to inspire authentic faith for today, has created a science and faith curriculum supplement called Integrate designed for high school biology and Bible teachers. Integrate not only allows students to consider the theological and ethical questions raised by modern science, it also explores and cultivates Christian virtues such as humility, wisdom, and wonder in the unique context of scientific inquiry.
Curriculum Structure The Integrate curriculum includes fifteen units covering a variety of topics that are covered in a general biology course, ranging from cells and genetics to fossils and ecology. Each unit consists of a series of five different types of modules: • Meet: A short video introduction to a Christian role model in an academic field that relates to the unit’s topic. Discussion questions are provided to help students personally connect with the content of the video and get them thinking about some of the essential questions the unit will explore. • Grow: A devotional on a Christian virtue that includes guided Scripture reading and reflection questions. • Engage: An activity that invites students to explore a topic related to the intersection of science and faith and respond in a meaningful way. • Experience: A hands-on activity that interacts with specific (often scientific) content that is important for students to understand and address from a Christian perspective. Christian Educators Journal
October 2022
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Science, after all, is about so much more than mere facts and equations. It’s also about how we view and respond to the world around us.
