Year Three

The third year of the cycle starts with a look at God's most amazing creation - man! Adam was made in the image of God, giving him the ability to enjoy fellowship with God.   Eve was made from the side of Adam and created to be his companion and helper.   They both walked and talked with God.  Unfortunately, their disobedience   caused a curse to come upon the earth.  This year's study will revolve around the effects of this curse.

When sin entered the hearts of Adam and Eve, they began to die.  The scientific field of medical science is devoted to understanding and preventing the causes of death and disease.  We begin this year's study with an examination of human anatomy, medicine and general health.  This topic can be as simple as a young child learning the names of body parts or as complex as a detailed anatomy course for a teen. 

But the curse did not affect just Adam and Eve's bodies, it changed the environment around them as well.  No longer did they live in a perfect world where their every need was met. Weeds grew, thorns sprouted, animals became predators. Evil began to take over the world, and eventually, God decided to destroy the whole earth with a flood.   The second part of this year's study centers around this worldwide flood.   Noah and his family escaped certain death only because God instructed Noah to build an ark.  This is a good place to insert a short unit on simple tools and machines.   It is great fun to speculate just exactly how Noah accomplished his task of ark building.

The worldwide flood of Noah's day changed the face of the earth forever.  The landforms, rock types and strata we see on the earth today are almost all a result of this flood.  Without a solid understanding of what took place at that time, a true understanding of geology (and the age of the earth) would be impossible.

In my opinion, creation-based books with a young-earth worldview are absolutely essential for a clear understanding of geologic processes.  If you can only afford to invest in a few books from a creationist perspective, my recommendation is to purchase books that explain flood geology.  It is the study of geology that most often gives rise to doubt for weak believers and even more so for unbelievers.  Educate your children thoroughly in this area.  Don't forget to include a brief look at the Ice Age which followed shortly after the flood.

The last area of investigation for the third year is one that may surprise many.   Finally, after three years of searching for the truth, it is time to examine the false.  Your child should be ready to take an honest look at the theory of evolution. This is a good place in our study plan to stop and do that. After the flood, the people and animals disembarked and began to repopulate the earth.  After the incident at the Tower of Babel, the people of the earth scattered and began to diversify into the races with which we are familiar today. Isolation of certain animals also brought about many new species through the process of natural selection.  Sadly, many people, even Christians, confuse evolution with natural selection.  Take some time to learn to defend creationism, including natural selection, and to refute evolution. 

This concluding topic naturally leads right back into a study of creation as explained in year one. 

Each time our family completes this cycle we have learned a little more about our Creator and His creation.  The older children begin the study again with the knowledge and skills to dig deeper and learn more on the next cycle.  

Year One
Year Two
Year Three