academics
Lower School at Einstein
Lower School at Einstein
The Lower School experience at Einstein offers a careful blend of academic development and opportunity for personal growth.
Starting in 7th grade, we create individualized, 6-year plans tailored to each student and designed to grow their talents and feed their love of learning.
These plans sequentially prepare students for the rigors of High School and provide an opportunity to enroll in courses offering higher-level content designed to be age appropriate.
At Einstein we understand the importance of meeting students where they are academically, while still preserving and protecting wholesome connection with their same-age peers. Students attend Lower-School-only events, participate in clubs and activities, and have time to just be a kid!
Department
LS English 1 (5th Grade)
Prerequisite: None
English 1 is an integrated language course which teaches word study, vocabulary building, reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, and writing. Students learn about the structure of the English language and engage in lively, meaningful discussions.
LS Math 1 (5th Grade)
Prerequisite: None
Math 1 teaches all four operations, place value, part-to-whole relationships and equivalence, problem solving with expressions and equations, foundations of functions through patterning, identify prime and composite numbers, and order of operations. Students also determine and generate solutions to expressions, classify two-dimensional figures, connect geometric attributes to the measures of three-dimensional figures, use units of measure, and represent location using a coordinate plane.
LS Math 2 (6th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS Math 1
Math 2 expands students’ knowledge of numbers, numerical operations, computation, proportionality, expressions and equations, geometry, measurement and data, personal financial literacy, and the fundamental concepts of algebra. Students prepare for the rigor required in higher math courses through sustained computational practice and problem solving and learn that process in mathematics is as important as the final answer.
LS Math 3 (7th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS Math 2
Math 3 develops students’ proportional thinking, algebraic reasoning, operations with rational numbers, geometric and spatial reasoning, statistical analysis, and problem solving. With emphasis on process and justification, students learn to evaluate their answers for reasonableness, as well as draw conclusions, evaluate arguments, and make recommendations.
LS Math 4/Pre-Algebra (8th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS Math 3
Math 4 emphasizes Algebra readiness, problem solving, and geometric applications. Students study real numbers and scientific notation, linear equations, functions, graphing, angle measurements in parallel lines and triangles, Pythagorean Theorem, volume, surface area, variables on both sides of an equation/inequality along with distributing and combining like terms, transformations, dilations, similarity, proportionality, scatter plots, trend lines, mean, absolute deviation and personal financial literacy.
LS Science 2 (6th grade)
Prerequisite: None
Students in Science 2 learn about the nature of scientific discovery, examine minerals and rocks, and conduct experiments to learn about force, motion, and energy. Students also study the organization of the solar system, read about space exploration, and learn about organisms and their environments.
LS Science 3 (7th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS Science 2
Science 3 examines the relationship between organisms and their environment. Students explore some of the characteristics that allow life to exist: force, motion, matter, and the energy observed in living systems. Student also learn about the structure and function of cells, plus the systems of the human body, as well as various ecosystems.
LS Science 4 (8th grade)
Prerequisite: LS Science 3
Science 4 emphasis group and individual projects as students explore various topics. Students learn about force and motion, atoms, chemical and physical properties, interactions between matter and energy, ecosystems, characteristics of the universe, cycles in earth systems, interdependence among living systems, and human impact on the Earth.
LS Geography (6th Grade)
Prerequisite: None
Students in this course study the physical features, places, environments, cultures, and communities that make up our world. Students explore the relationship between people and their physical environment and examine the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual developments of various regions on Earth.
LS Texas History (7th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS Geography
This course traces the history of Texas from early times to the present by focusing on the impact of key individuals, events, and issues. Students learn about the structure and function of municipal, county, and state governments, the influence of the U.S. Constitution on the Texas Constitution, and the rights and responsibilities of Texas citizens.
LS US History (8th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS Texas History
This course examines the historical content of the political, economic, religious, and social events and issues related to the colonial and revolutionary eras, the creation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution, challenges of the early republic, the Age of Jackson, westward expansion, sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.
Twentieth Century History
Prerequisite: LS US History
This course focuses on the world-changing events that took place during the twentieth century. Students learn about imperialism, both world wars, the post-colonial world, and local and regional conflicts and examine why and how they developed.
LS Art
Prerequisite: None
In this course students explore self-expression while learning basic techniques for drawing, painting, and design. Students recognize and use artistic elements (line, shape, color, value, form, texture, and space), and design principles (rhythm, balance, proportion, variety, emphasis, harmony, and unity) as they develop their individual talents.
LS Creative Writing
Credit: 1.0 | Prerequisite: None
This course encourages student writers to develop versatility by exposing them to the forms, standards, and techniques used by professional authors. Students learn how to scaffold the writing process and to critically evaluate their own work while setting manageable goals for themselves as writers.
LS Robotics
Credit: N/A | Prerequisite: None
Student in Robotics learn fundamentals of engineering design and programming by using the VEX IQ system to design, build and program robots that compete in challenges, Arduino microcontrollers to understand fundamentals of programming logic and physical computing, and Scratch (or similar variants) to blink LED lights, detect button presses and use other sensors with Arduino.
Other Electives
Motivated Middle School students are eligible to enroll in select High School electives with prior approval from Administration.
LS English 2 (6th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS English 1
In English 2 students strengthen their literacy and communication skills as they study themes, genres, and various texts. Students learn beginning techniques for expository and persuasive writing and participate in reading and writing workshops.
LS English 3 (7th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS English 2
Students in English 3 study well-crafted essays, stories, and poems as models for their own literary, expository, and persuasive writing. Students learn to speak in front of a group and contribute to class discussions.
LS English 4 (8th Grade)
Prerequisite: LS English 3
Students in English 4 further develop their interpretive and analytical skills through collaborative discussions and the study of major literary genres. Students continue to practice the mechanics of writing as they respond to the texts they read, and then use their ideas as the foundation for their own analytical writings.
Structured English
Prerequisite: LS English 4
This course explains the rules of English grammar and parts of speech so that students clearly understanding how language is constructed. Students in this course read one novel each quarter and complete several activities, including learning how to diagram a sentence.
Administration
School News
May 31, 2023
College Application Jump Start Program
May 19, 2023
Join Einstein in Japan 2025!
May 4, 2023
Spring Instrumental Showcase
April 20, 2023
Class of 2023 – Final Graduation Checklist!
March 30, 2023
Einstein Spring Arts Showcase
February 27, 2023
The Einstein School Partners with Soles4Souls to Aid People in Crisis
February 24, 2023
Pi Week Is Coming!!!
February 23, 2023
Black History Month – Week 4: Fashion Designers
February 16, 2023
Black History Month – Week 3!
February 9, 2023