Caring for People and the Planet
Dig in to the biblical basis for creation care and learn some practical ways we can be good stewards of all God has made.
Caring for People and the Planet
Ecology
7
4:30-6:00 hours, plus outside service project
Digital download
English
Christians should be known for creation care.
In some circles, environmental activism and conservation work are viewed as liberal political issues that don’t concern Christians. But as the need for more sustainable practices becomes more and more obvious, voices from within the church are urging believers to embrace the call to be stewards of creation. How can you help students listen well to this challenge and see the connection between caring for the planet and living out their Christian values?
Essential Questions
- Why should creation care be a priority for Christians?
- How can we exercise dominion with gentleness and care?
- What does Scripture say about caring for creation?
- How do human activities affect the earth?
- How does the way we treat the environment affect people?
- I’m only one person. How can I make a difference?
- Why should Christians care about how we treat the earth?
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Learning Outcomes
What will students know or be able to do after this unit?
- Reflect on how gentleness equips Christians to care for creation.
- Explain how a proper understanding of dominion over creation motivates stewardship, not exploitation.
- Justify caring for creation as a Christian scriptural mandate.
- Propose ways people can balance caring for people with caring for the earth using examples of human activities that can harm or restore the environment.
- Explain how environmental degradation limits human flourishing.
- Practice creation care strategies.
- Participate in restoring an ecosystem and reflect on the experience.
Modules Included in this Unit
13.1 Meet: Urban Farmer Jason Adkins
Mr. Adkins explains what it means to follow Jesus in our call to be stewards of God’s creation.
13.2 Grow: Gentleness
In this brief devotional, students reflect on how the gentleness of God can be a model for us as we care for creation.
13.3 Engage: Biblical Basis for Creation Care
Students discuss two videos, examine a number of Bible passages, and complete a matching activity in order to think deeply about what the Bible has to say about caring for creation.
13.4 Experience: Human Impacts on the Planet
Students make a list of human activities with negative impacts on the planet and explore stories of people working to restore their local environment.
13.5 Engage: Love Earth to Love People
Students learn that when we harm the earth we are in turn negatively impacting many of our human neighbors. Caring for people means we must also care for the Earth.
13.6 Experience: Restoration Project
Students participate in a local restoration project and play a game that provides additional strategies to care for creation.
13.7 Integrate: Making All Things New
Students develop an argument for why Christians should care about how we treat the earth. Then they compare their response to two other Christian responses.
Integrate is a fascinating learning tool that provides a needed bridge between science and faith. I was happy to see the biblical arguments for creation care as well as an emphasis on the current state of ecosystem health and what individual students can do to honor God by caring for His creation.
What’s Included
- Unit lesson plans (PDF download, 37 pages)
- User Introduction and Overview (Google Doc)
- 9 student handouts (Google Docs)
- 1 presentation (Google Slides)
- 1 answer key (Google Doc)
- 10 images for printing or projecting (JPEG)
- Integrate Glossary (Google Docs, 64 pages)
- NGSS Alignment (Google Doc)
I heartily endorse the BioLogos Integrate curriculum. As its name implies, it nicely integrates current science with a solidly orthodox interpretation of scripture. It provides an engaging and inspirational means for translating information into values, and values into action.
