1st – 3rd Grades

Elementary School at Trinity

Trinity is dedicated to educating the whole child and incorporates state standards and biblical truth throughout the curriculum. Our program is academically oriented, in that we stress the basics: language arts, science, social studies, mathematics, physical education and fine arts. The aim is to challenge each child to reach his or her maximum potential, thus preparing them for productive and effective lives of Christian service and leadership. Our textbooks are prepared by well-known publishers and our curriculum align well with the Minnesota State Standards.

1st – 3rd Grades at Trinity

Building the foundation for a life of learning.

In these early grades, instruction is grounded in the basics of “reading, writing, and arithmetic.” A curriculum and objectives that meet or exceed state-level standards is the basis for classroom lessons, and a healthy dose of creative and stimulating learning activities ensures that students develop a love of learning.

“Jesus loves me this I know…for the Bible tells me so!” 

Our Faith Formation time in these grades builds on the foundational stories of the Bible and helps children know they are loved, forgiven, and saved.  Students gain knowledge about both Old and New Testament stories and learn important Bible verses for Memory Work that they can hide in their hearts forever.  There is a joy each day as teachers share their faith and help their students see how their relationship with Jesus is the most important part of their lives.  All classes come together for Chapel once a week to pray, sing, and study God’s Word.

Reading instruction in these grades focuses primarily on decoding words and building fluency while also exposing students to new vocabulary and comprehension strategies to help them understand what they read.

  • Students are explicitly taught the patterns of the English language, and supported in applying them to read and spell words, phrases, and sentences. As students become more independent in this, they are given opportunities to read a variety of texts and practice their oral reading fluency, both together with the class and in small groups.

  • Our Language Arts curriculum includes a strong focus on handwriting - beginning with correct letter formation for print and introducing cursive beginning in 2nd grade.

  • Comprehension and vocabulary are taught using a variety of read-alouds and rich non-fiction texts. Students are exposed to many genres of high-quality books to help find something that interests them and build a love for reading.

  • Writing instruction begins with a focus on grammar and works towards strong paragraph construction in the three core modes of writing - narrative, opinion, and informative. Teachers employ a systematic approach to writing that prioritizes the writing process––planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.

Students in grades 1–3 build strong basic math skills. They learn how to add, subtract, and solve problems while understanding how math works.

  • Program Focus: Students learn math in a traditional way with daily lessons that build strong skills step by step.

  • Key Areas: Students practice problem-solving, reading charts and data, early algebra ideas, shapes, and basic probability.

  • Teaching Style: Skills are reviewed often so students remember them over time.

  • Tools: Teachers use hands-on materials (like counters and blocks) to help students learn.

  • Focus Skills: Students work toward mastering math facts (addition, subtraction, and beginning multiplication) and learn real-life skills like measuring, counting money, and understanding fractions

Our science instruction is hands-on and is designed around the Minnesota State Standards.  Students are guided through activities that include making observations, creating and reworking models, designing experiments to answer questions, and completing STEM challenges.

Social Studies in the classroom helps us learn about the world around us. We cover subjects including history, geography, civics, and economics, which gives students a well rounded perspective. Through history, we learn about the past and how it shapes today. Geography teaches us about different places and cultures. Civics helps students learn about rights and responsibilities as a citizen and economics explains how money and resources work. In the classroom, we read a variety of texts, work on projects and presentations, and may take field trips to learn through application. We aim to understand different perspectives, solve problems, and make decisions that impact our community and world.

In addition to the core subjects, students enjoy daily physical activity in gym class and receive weekly instruction in art and music.