Welcome to CreationLens.org Website
The materials on display here at the CreationLens website are the culmination of ITEST's primary education effort. Our founder, Fr. Robert Brungs, SJ, saw the need to reach the youngest Christians with the message of compatibility between faith and science. ITEST undertook the project Exploring the World, Discovering God and built an ensemble of learning modules for grades K – 4. There is continuity between this work and what ITEST has always told the adult community: faith and science are two complementary pathways toward greater knowledge of God. They need not be kept separate. Moreover, it is in the early grades where that affinity should be introduced.
Our hope is that teachers in Catholic and Christian schools will make use of these learning modules to supplement existing curricula, where religion and science are commonly in completely separate compartments. As you peruse these modules, and consider how you might take advantage of them, feel free to download whatever you like. We also have a tutorial video intended to help you navigate to exactly the parts that are of greatest relevance to you: Tutorial Video
In addition, ITEST staff will be pleased to respond to your questions and describe how others have used these learning modules successfully in their classrooms.
| – Dr. Thomas P. Sheahen Director, ITEST |
Creation Lens: Exploring the World, Discovering God, (EWDG) is the culmination of a three-year pilot program, that was the vision of Father Robert A. Brungs, SJ director of the Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology (ITEST).
Exploring the World, Discovering God (EWDG) is a series of FREE faith/science lessons available to teaching professionals. The project was largely funded by a grant from the Our Sunday Visitor Institute and developed by ITEST.
As part of the development process, an Advisory Council was established to set guidelines for the development of the lessons, review the completed pilot lessons and finally review the entire set of lessons available on this web site to insure that only the highest standards of science, theology, and education are presented.
A Creative Teacher Think Tank was also established. This group of creative teachers were nominated by their Principals and fellow teachers for this project. The Teacher Think Tank met regularly on Saturday mornings to write and review the lessons.
Seven lessons were originally developed as a Pilot Program for testing in the Pilot Schools. The Pilot Program was taught in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Texas. The Pilot Schools included urban and suburban schools, traditional and home-schooling programs, and the size of the schools varied from seven students to 700 students.
Several faith/science lessons are currently available for grades, Kindergarten through Grade Four. Each lesson calls for the teacher’s conscious interfacing of the scientific concept to the faith concept with the students. There are lessons for Life Science, Earth Science and Physical Science. There is also an introductory lesson for each grade level called "Be a Scientist" that highlights one science skill. The teaching and application of science skills is built into each lesson. The Faith Aspect of the lessons consists of both Christian and Catholic concepts and practices.
About • Advisory Council • Teacher Think Tank • Pilot Schools • Legal Info • Contact Creation Lens