Science

Each grade receives two hours of weekly science instruction from a dedicated science teacher, ensuring deep engagement with various scientific disciplines. Our curriculum aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), emphasizing inquiry-based learning and critical thinking.

Students explore ecology, living organisms, and environmental science starting in the early grades. As they progress, they study physics, chemistry, and geology, with math integrated throughout as the language of science. Learning occurs in the science lab, garden, and greenhouse, where students conduct real-world investigations.

Fieldwork is central to our program. Younger students participate in trips to places like the Marine Science Institute and Hidden Villa Farm to experience ecosystems firsthand. Students embark on a one-night trip to the Santa Cruz Mountains in third grade to explore ecosystems. At the same time, fourth graders visit Pinnacles National Park for a multi-night experience focused on geology and environmental science. The program culminates in the fifth-grade capstone trip to Teton National Park in Wyoming, where students conduct scientific research in the snow-covered mountains for a week.

The fifth-grade science fair highlights students’ ability to design, conduct, and present their experiments, tying together the skills and knowledge they've gained. Trinity’s science program offers a dynamic and enriching experience that prepares students to think critically and engage meaningfully with the world around them. By the time they leave Trinity, our students love science, and their natural curiosity has been ignited, empowering them to explore and question the world with wonder and enthusiasm.