You might be wondering why Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis is encouraging you to show kids an example of evolution! But there’s a reason—nearly every example of “evolution in action” is exactly like the one we’re about to show you. It’s the best evidence they have for evolution (and, spoiler alert: it fails miserably!). Kids and young people should know this so that when they go off to high school or college and are overwhelmed with evolutionary teaching, they’ll be prepared and will see evolution for the false belief that it is.

So, here’s the study (prepare to be shocked—lizards evolved into lizards!). This study is hailed as a “front-row seat” to real-time evolution as two lizard species interact with each other. These lizards eat similar foods and inhabit similar environments. So, what happened when they met?

Well, one species (crested anoles) spent more time in the trees, while the other (brown anoles) stayed mainly on the ground. Within a few generations, the ground-dwelling anoles had longer legs to match their grounded lifestyle.

In other words, the lizards remained lizards, with minor variations that allowed them to adapt to slightly different habitats. This adaptation is due to already existing genetic diversity. Nothing new was created, and the lizards remained lizards. Can’t you see the obvious evidence for evolution?

This is what we see time and time again. We’re told scientists have an example of “evolution in action” when all they’ve observed is natural selection, as organisms, using the genetic diversity already present in their genomes, adapt to a new or changing environment. There’s variety in lizards (like anoles) because God created each kind with genetic diversity.

What they’ve never shown (and never will show) is any evidence of a change in kind or the creation of brand-new, functioning genetic information coding for new forms or features. That’s never been observed because life didn’t evolve—it was created by God.

Using examples like this equips kids to know why they believe what they believe, giving them confidence in God’s Word from the very first verse.

Avery Foley is a writer and speaker for Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum, and the Ark Encounter. She and her husband are homeschool parents to five young children and the producers of Building Blocks, a chronological walk through the Bible for kids on Answers.tv.

Ken Ham is the Founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis, the ministry behind the Creation Museum, the Ark Encounter, Answers Bible Curriculum for churches, and the best-selling Answers VBS.