One of the most important aspects of education at Trinity Academy is the idea that students take ownership of their learning. In the classroom we encourage them to ask questions, pursue ideas with curiosity, and delight in what they discover. This philosophy shapes the work we do each day. It also comes vividly to life once a year during Project Week.
During this special week of learning—counted as a full week of school—students work independently at home, immersing themselves in a single topic, with the luxury of time to explore it deeply.
Every grade level is assigned a project that is related to a particular part of their curriculum.
Seventh graders select an endangered animal to research. Their work culminates in a hand-crafted model of the animal in its natural habitat, accompanied by a short, written reflection explaining what they learned through their research. This project supports the study of seventh grade science and provides an opportunity for students to practice scientific inquiry.
Eighth graders, who study medieval history, turn their attention to architecture. They investigate the structure and purpose of castles or cathedrals, then design and build detailed models that reflect the historical and architectural features of these iconic structures.
Ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders undertake a more advanced challenge. Students choose a topic of historical significance and conduct an in-depth study of it culminating in a ten-page research paper. The papers are divided among the faculty, who read them carefully and then meet with students individually to discuss their work. In addition to attaining greater knowledge of their topic, the project allows students to practice research skills and articulate some of what they have discovered.
Seniors engage in a hands-on engineering project that brings together knowledge they have obtained in their physics course. Working in pairs, students design and construct a balsa wood bridge that meets certain parameters. (One of this year’s models sustained over 90 pounds!) After building and testing an initial prototype, they revise their designs based on what they discover. The second bridges arrive on campus where they are tested in front of classmates to determine which bridge can bear the most weight. As part of this project seniors also write a report that explains their design choices and includes a force analysis of their bridge.
Project Week is more than a week of independent study. As students are granted time and space to learn the discipline and experience the reward of learning about a topic on their own, they cultivate necessary skills to become lifelong learners. This outcome is one we desire for every student at Trinity Academy Meadow View.