A Gospel in a Seashell: Discovering Jesus in a Fifth Grade Presentation at Hillcrest

There’s something deeply contagious about wonder. Step into a classroom at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, and you just might catch it. In fact, it’s hard not to. Curiosity is often on full display—students leaning forward in their seats, hands shooting up with questions, and voices ready to share something meaningful. But on a recent Friday morning, what unfolded in the fifth-grade classroom didn’t just reflect engaged learning—it unveiled a living testimony to how our students are learning to see the world.

When we stepped into Mrs. Diniz’s classroom that morning, we expected to observe a typical lesson. What we encountered instead was an impromptu presentation bursting with Gospel truth. A student, having been stirred earlier in the week by a brief mention of sand dollars, had brought some from home. With Mrs. Diniz’s gentle encouragement, the student stood before classmates and guests and began to unfold a story—one written not just in words, but etched in the design of creation itself.

As the student held up the delicate white shells, the class grew quiet. Wide-eyed, they listened as their classmate explained how the humble sand dollar has been used by Christians to share the Gospel story. Each marking on the shell—each hole, ridge, and symbol—was a touchpoint to Christ.

“There are five holes,” the student explained. “They remind us of Jesus’ wounds on the cross—His hands, His feet, and the spear in His side.”

“On the top, there’s a star,” they pointed out, “like the Star of Bethlehem that led the wise men to Jesus when He was born.”

“And when you break it open,” the student said with a smile, “you’ll find five tiny doves inside. They remind us of the Holy Spirit—and how we can go and share peace with others.”

Awed whispers filled the room as students passed around the fragile shells. Eyes lit up, not only at the intricacy of the sand dollar itself but also at the revelation that nature, something they might have picked up on a beach walk, could tell the story of the Savior. The Gospel wasn’t confined to the pages of a textbook; it was woven into the fabric of creation.

This is what makes Hillcrest unique. Here, students don’t just study science; they study significance. In every subject, they are learning not only to understand the world, but to interpret it through the lens of Scripture. It’s not a new idea. Psalm 19 puts it this way:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands… The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.” (Psalm 19:1, 7)

At Hillcrest, students are experiencing the wonder that King David wrote about. They’re following the ancient practice of considering the works of God in creation, what the church has called general revelation for centuries, and letting that awe draw them into the special revelation of God’s Word. In other words, when they notice the stars or the detail in a sand dollar, they don’t stop at curiosity. They’re driven to Scripture to find meaning, identity, and purpose in Christ.

This is the heartbeat of Hillcrest: helping students become not just learners, but worshippers, people who see God's fingerprints in the world and are eager to point others to Him.

And sometimes, all it takes is a surprise moment in a fifth-grade classroom, a handful of sand dollars, and a student ready to speak up.

Because at Hillcrest, the Gospel is alive in our learning.