Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Heilicher offers a middle school experience that fosters lifelong learning through rigorous academics and student-centered learning. Heilicher's middle school provides students with opportunities for independence while receiving the individualized support needed to maximize emotional, social, and academic learning.
Our curriculum, based on national best practices in STEAM/inquiry-based methodology, imparts knowledge, elicits curiosity, and hones student skills.
Recognizing the benefit of collaboration in the working world, our teachers incorporate team projects, group discussions, and interactions with others inside and outside the school walls. Using experiential teaching styles, students engage with ideas and concepts from multiple viewpoints; they are
- asked to learn and think deeply about other cultures, other countries, and, ultimately, other people’s experiences,
- carried from the concrete into the abstract by exploring ethical dilemmas and current social issues,
- allowed to wonder and explore the world of debate and social action, and
- filled with pride as they experience together classmates’ B’nai Mitzvah.
Our thoughtful curriculum, experienced and caring teachers, and challenging and encouraging environment prepares students for the next stage of their educational journeys as Jewish leaders and the lifelong learners they are meant to be.
“Todah rabah for the wonderful capstone project experience you provided to the eighth graders. Their impressive passion and ability to grasp complex issues came through loud and clear as they eloquently communicated to parents and a broader communal audience.”
– Eighth Grade Parent
Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner, Harvard Graduate School of Education professor, identified eight intelligences that each student has the capacity to possess. The understanding that our students have differing strengths and weaknesses allows the faculty at Heilicher to develop these different intelligences in a variety of settings and nurture passions that will result in great accomplishments.
Intellectual
Emotional
Physical
Spiritual
Through inquiry and discussion, our students engage in text study from biblical to modern times, which affords them the opportunity to grow spiritually. Self-reflection is encouraged and is an integral part of prayer experience. We create a safe environment for students to explore their personal beliefs.
- Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Hebrew
- Israel
- Judaic Studies
- Technology
- Information Science
- Art
- Music
- Physical Education
- Health & Wellness
- Field Trips
Language Arts

The middle school language arts curriculum builds on the foundational skills and concepts learned in earlier grades. Students strengthen their writing abilities and integrate research into various projects. They engage in literary analysis and meaningful discussions. The goal is to nurture students’ intrinsic desire to learn by offering content and choices that will challenge and inspire their growing curiosity.
“The best way for me to sum up my nine years at the Day School is by quoting somebody I truly admire, William Shakespeare: ‘I shall the effect of this good lesson keep as watchman to my heart.’”
— Heilicher Student
Math
Heilicher is committed to providing all students with experiences that create lifelong problem solvers who can collaborate, adapt, and adjust to a diverse and ever-changing society. Students are encouraged to adopt a mindset rooted in persistence and growth and build skills for problem-solving and abstract thinking. Students develop their math abilities and knowledge through guided discovery, experiential learning activities, and engaging discussions in order to help students achieve a deep understanding of concepts.
Our middle school math program offers a variety of courses, including sixth-grade math, pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry, to meet the individual needs of our students, allowing them to build on their successes, access their full potential, and be prepared to excel in high school courses.
Grade 6
Advanced students begin Transition Mathematics to enable them to begin algebra in seventh grade. At the end of sixth grade, students at all levels will be prepared to begin or continue their studies in higher-level mathematics. Units of study include:
- Numbers and Numeration
- Operations and Computation
- Measurement and Reference Frames
- Graphing and Data Collection
- Probability and Chance
- Algebra, Patterns, and Functions
- Geometry
Grade 7
The seventh-grade year marks a stronger differentiation in the curriculum with students taking separate courses in pre-algebra and algebra.
Pre-Algebra
The seventh-grade transition math curriculum consists of the following areas of study:
- Using Variables
- Representing Numbers
- Sets of Numbers and Shapes
- Geometry Ideas
- Multiplication in Geometry
- Multiplication in Algebra
- Patterns Leading to Division
- Linear Equations and Inequalities
- Statistics and Variability
- Projects
Algebra
The seventh-grade algebra curriculum features elementary algebra, using real-life applications and manipulative materials to make abstract ideas concrete. Emphasis is placed on understanding underlying concepts rather than memorizing procedures. Units of study include in the algebra curriculum are:
- Variables/Properties/Formulas/Expressions
- Linear Systems
- Linear Equations and Inequalities
- Slopes and Lines
- Powers and Roots
- Quadratics
- Quadratic Equations and Functions
- Polynomials
Grade 8
Algebra
The eighth-grade algebra curriculum features elementary algebra, using real-life applications and manipulative materials to make abstract ideas concrete. Emphasis is placed on understanding underlying concepts rather than memorizing procedures. Units of study include in the algebra curriculum are:
- Variables/Properties/Formulas/Expressions
- Linear Systems
- Linear Equations and Inequalities
- Slopes and Lines
- Powers and Roots
- Quadratics
- Quadratic Equations and Functions
- Polynomials
Geometry
Eighth-grade geometry represents a high school-level course, and students are expected to achieve high levels of competency and understanding. In addition, the text includes a review of algebraic principles and allows students to solve problems from a variety of mathematical disciplines to show the connections between geometry and other branches of mathematics. Units of study include:
- Geometric Art
- Introduction to Geometry
- Reasoning in Geometry including formal proofs
- Tools of Geometry
- Proving Triangle Properties
- Polygon Properties
- Circle Properties
- Transformations and Tessellations
- Area and Volume formulas and problems
- Right Triangles, the Pythagorean Theorem, and Basic Trigonometry
Science

The sixth- through eighth-grade science program builds on its Lower School base by guiding students in learning about the natural world through laboratory experimentation. Students use various media to learn critical scientific content as well as to develop critical thinking skills. Throughout the Upper School experience, students will learn and practice various study and note-taking methods ensuring that they enter high school prepared to thrive as they continue their academic journeys. Our science curriculum is designed to align with Next Generation Science Standards.
Science by grade:
- Grade 6: Earth Science
- Grade 7: Life Science
- Grade 8: Physics and Chemistry
“It was my seventh- and eighth-grade science experience — especially all the labs — that led me to succeed in high school and college science and ultimately to medical school.”
— Heilicher Graduate
Social Studies

Our middle school social studies curriculum is aligned with Minnesota state standards and covers local, national, and global topics. We focus on helping students develop critical thinking skills by analyzing and interpreting historical events, sources, and perspectives. Through interactive lessons, students connect past and present events, explore cause-and-effect relationships, and build strong historical reasoning skills. By the time they graduate, students have a solid foundation of knowledge, along with the research skills and analytical tools needed to explore the world around them and become lifelong learners.
- Grade 6: U.S. and Minnesota history through the mid-19th century
- Grade 7: U.S. and Minnesota history from the mid-19th century to today
- Grade 8: Global studies and capstone research
“I was absolutely amazed after attending the eighth-grade presidential debate. I learned more from the ‘candidates,’ than I have from any of the major TV networks. The debaters were clear, concise, knowledgeable, and professional. I commend the students and the HMJDS Social Studies Department.”
— Heilicher Grandparent
Hebrew
Hebrew
The Hebrew curriculum at Heilicher is designed to build upon students’ previous knowledge of speaking, reading, and writing Hebrew in an authentic and functional manner. The program emphasizes developing deeper communication skills, enriching vocabulary, and fostering pride in students’ ability to express themselves in Hebrew.
Primary Goals of Hebrew Study:
- Effective Communication: Students learn to express thoughts and feelings about new situations, share interests, articulate opinions, and respond to others.
- Acquisition of Information: Students gain the ability to read and understand a range of texts, including newspapers, short stories, and longer novels in Hebrew.
Preparing Your Child for a Dual-Language Program
Across our program we are committed to providing a variety of flexible Hebrew groupings to accommodate many learning styles and paces. This allows us to welcome students midprogram with little or no Hebrew language experience. Regardless of the grade your child enters Heilicher, we will support their Hebrew learning during the defined school day through small-group work and differentiated instruction.
Students entering second grade or above with little or no prior Hebrew language experience will be asked to engage in private Hebrew tutoring during the summer preceding their enrollment. Heilicher will provide families with the names of Hebrew tutors familiar with teaching our curriculum. Tutoring is usually two times per week, and compensation for these tutors will be the family’s responsibility. Heilicher may recommend some additional tutoring during the school year.
“Our students naturally integrate their thinking and learning. Once, a student of mine even pointed out that the Hebrew word for horse (soos) was a palindrome, something she had studied in her English language arts class earlier in the day.”
— Heilicher Faculty Member
Israel
Grade 6
Grade 6 Israel Curriculum: Exploring Tel Aviv
Heilicher’s sixth-grade Israel curriculum focuses on the history and significance of Tel Aviv, Israel’s first modern Hebrew city. Students explore Tel Aviv’s emergence as a unique Zionist vision distinct from Jerusalem and the kibbutz movement, its role as a cultural and arts center, and its ongoing evolution. By studying historical events, ideological debates, and modern realities, students gain a deeper understanding of Tel Aviv's importance in Israeli history and society.
Key topics include:
- Founding Tel Aviv: the creation of Tel Aviv through the Achuzat Bayit consortium and the "first Hebrew city" vision.
- Historical Milestones: the city’s role during the British Mandate, World War I, and pivotal events like the Declaration of Independence.
- Cultural and Social Identity: Tel Aviv as a hub for arts, innovation, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and its unique relationship with Jaffa.
- Challenges and Growth: debates over Zionist ideologies, urban development, and the city's transformation into a global commercial and tech center.
This curriculum connects past and present, encouraging students to analyze Tel Aviv’s significance as a cornerstone of modern Israel.
Grade 7
Grade 7 Israel Curriculum: The Zionist Idea
The seventh-grade Israel curriculum at Heilicher focuses on The Zionist Idea: Dreams and Realities, exploring the creation of the State of Israel and its profound impact on Jewish life worldwide. Students engage with the dual goals of the Zionist dream — to establish a Jewish state and to create a state like any other — while examining the tensions between vision and reality. Through an honest and thoughtful approach, the course encourages critical thinking and personal connection to Israel.
The curriculum
- Investigates the historical context of the Zionist movement, including antisemitism and global nationalist trends.
- Explores the diverse dreams, visions, and contributions of key Zionist personalities.
- Examines critical events and movements in Zionist and Israeli history.
- Analyzes the tensions between the Zionist ideal and Israel’s historical realities over the past 70+ years.
- Encourages students to reflect on current issues facing Israel and their personal connection to the Jewish State.
This curriculum equips students with historical knowledge and personal insight, preparing them to form their own understanding and relationship with Israel.
Grade 8
Grade 8 Israel Curriculum: Modern Israel
Heilicher’s eighth-grade Israel curriculum ties together students’ prior knowledge from grades K-7 to explore Israel’s contemporary issues. It provides historical context and encourages critical thinking about Israel's identity as a Jewish and democratic state, its diverse demographics, and its global relationships. This course also prepares students for their upcoming visit to Israel, enabling them to reflect on their own connection to the land and its stories.
Key topics include:
- Demographics: Who lives in Israel, and why does it matter?
- Jewish and Democratic State: balancing religion and state and envisioning Israel’s Jewish identity.
- Governmental Structure: understanding how Israel’s government functions and impacts current issues.
- Land for Peace: exploring the complexities of peace negotiations and territorial compromises.
- U.S.-Israel Relations: examining the “special relationship” and its challenges today.
Through engaging discussions and critical analysis, students develop a deeper understanding of Israel and its role in the Jewish world and beyond.
Judaic Studies
The middle school Judaic studies program is characterized by a strong emphasis on critical thinking, text skills, and values-based reading of texts. The curriculum challenges students to reflect on the lessons of Tanakh (Bible), the students’ connection to the Jewish people, and their interactions with the texts. Students expand beyond the Torah text to study:
- Mishnah,
- N’vi’im and K’tuvim (the books of the prophets and the Writings),
- Rabbinic commentary, including Rashi,
- Post-biblical texts, including Midrash (ethical stories on the text),
- The Talmud, and
- Legal and philosophical texts up to present day.
Grade 6
B’nai mitzvah/בני מצווה/Children of the commandments is a critical focus of the sixth-grade year. Through an intensive, integrated unit, each student creates a beautiful and functional talit/טלית/prayer shawl or other ritual item. Students move from a study of midot/מידות/virtues through an artistic process that ends with the tying of tzitzit/ציצית/fringes. Students continue to work on units based on material from the books of Bamidbar/במדבר/Numbers and D’varim/דברים/Deuteronomy. Students explore holidays through the lens of the Mishnah/משנה.
Units of Study:
- Blessings and Curses
- The spies
- Miriam’s/מרים’s slander
- The Torah as a system of laws and ethics (mishpat/משפט and tzedek/צדק)
- Moshe’s/משה’s/Moses’ death
- The succession of Yehoshua/יהושע/Joshua
Key Values Explored:
- Appreciation
- Using our words appropriately
- Being a responsible member of the Jewish community
- Leadership.
Text Skills:
- Basic Mishnaic Hebrew
- Understanding longer passages of text
- Biblical language as metaphor
Grade 7
The seventh-grade year looks at the remaining corpus of the Tanakh/תנ׳׳ך/Bible, primarily the books within Nevi’im/נביאים/Prophets and K’tuvim/כתובים/Writings. Through the study of selected texts, students are exposed to the breadth of scriptural material while also giving depth and richness to the Tanakh. Students focus on ethical and family issues raised by the stories in the Tanakh, the use of the Tanakh as a personal resource, and its use as a historical narrative. Weekly parashah/פרשה/selection study focuses on the haftarot/הפטרות/the selections from the Nevi’im read after Shabbat morning Torah readings.
Units of Study:
- Yehoshua/יהושע/Joshua, Shoftim/שופטים/Judges, and the conquest of the land
- Emerging national institutions
- Shaul/שאול/Saul, David/דוד, and Batsheva/בתשבע and the conflict between personal roles and leadership responsibilities
- Ruth/רות, Esther/אסתר, and the role of women
- The call for social justice
- The wisdom literature
Key Values Explored:
- The ethics of conquest
- A nation of tribes or a tribal nation
- Power and family responsibility
- Women in the Tanakh
- Creating a just society
- Finding personal connections to the characters in the text
Text Skills:
- Asking deeper questions
- Use of chevrutah/חברותא/pairs of students as a study technique
Grade 8
The eighth-grade year looks to deepen students’ Jewish identity by offering a variety of perspectives on how Judaism informs our lives. To that end, students take four Judaic studies courses throughout the year. The courses are:
- Jewish Lifecycle and Ritual — Students discover the many different and intricate stages of life, including Jewish concepts of Love, Sex and Marriage, Divorce, Family Purity, Brit Milah/ברית מילה/Circumcision, Simchat Bat/שמחת בת/Celebration of a Daughter, Pidyon Haben/פדיון הבן/Redemption of the Firstborn, and Death and Mourning. Texts include the Tanakh/תנ׳׳ך/Bible, midrashim/מדרשים, Mishnah/משנה, Talmud/תלמוד, halakhot/הלכות, and some of our ancient and modern-day commentaries. All of these are geared toward helping students understand and develop their own insight and relevance in these subjects.
- Text Me: Ancient Jewish Wisdom Meets Contemporary Technology — Students study Jewish texts to see the lens of Jewish values on communication in a global, digital age.
- Parshat Hashavua with Rashi — Students learn פרשת השבוע/parshat hashavua/the weekly Torah portion through the lens of the famous commentator Rashi. Student learn about Rashi the person, looking at his biography and seminal works before focusing on texts that reflect the relationship of bein adam l'atzmo/בין אדם לעצמו/between a person and themself.
- Judaic Elective (students choose one)
- Mishnah/משנה — The first compendium of Jewish legal writing that forms the basis for Jewish beliefs, values, laws, etc. for millennia to come. Students explore the need for Torah Sheb'al Peh/תורה שבעל פה/Oral Torah while learning the organizational structure of the Mishnah/משנה, the historical background and leading personalities of the rabbis, basic vocabulary, technical terms, and the structure and ideas behind the Mishnah's/משנה’s classic makhlokot/מחלוקות/disputes.
- Social Justice — This class is based on the premise that our world is in a state of imperfection and that we feel compelled to improve its condition. We wrestle with the question of how should we respond. Through Jewish texts and exploration of root causes of social issues, students will dig beneath the surface and explore why we feel any sense of responsibility or moral obligation to repair the world and what Judaism tells us about taking action, what our priorities should be, and how we give to the world.
Technology
In middle school students expand and synthesize their prior knowledge through a variety of projects. Students integrate technology into public presentations, the arts, and all their general studies, Judaic studies, and Hebrew classes. Students in middle school also learn principles of digital citizenship, appropriate use of current technologies, and digital organization.
Information Science
The library is open daily during school hours. Individual students may stop by before classes begin and during the day when time allows. Middle school students visit the library in small groups or with teachers based on topics they are studying in classes across curricula. Students make use of both physical as well as online resources.
Art

The middle school arts curriculum offers a choice of experiences that build on the foundation gained in the Lower School. Each trimester students have a choice from the two-three art classes offered. There is a Monday/Wednesday class, a Tuesday/Thursday class, and a Friday-only class. Students in grades 6-8 are required to take one M/W or T/Th art class per year. Each trimester offers a traditional art form, a digital art form, and a craft or skills class on Friday. Assessment of students is based on effort, improvement of artistic skill, creativity, and cooperation. Practice, incorporating new techniques, and being comfortable taking risks improve art skills. There is an art experience for everyone.
- Traditional studio art: drawing, painting, clay sculpture, and printmaking
- Digital art: photography, graphic design, Photoshop (Adobe Creative Suite: Lightroom, Illustrator, Photoshop), and digital drawing (Sketchbook app on Chromebooks)
- Friday art choices, three per year, offer students an introduction or opportunity to further or discover a particular interest or skill: embroidery, digital drawing, watercolor painting, paper sculpture, and art history
“We feel fortunate that our daughter has so many opportunities at HMJDS to express herself artistically. You have played a huge role in building her art skills and her impression of herself and her abilities.”
— Heilicher Parent
Music
As our students expand their study of diverse musical genres, middle school students start to learn to view music as an instrument for social change as well as a driving force in shaping the contemporary musical world.
Students in middle school may be offered additional music course offerings in vocal music, digital music, and/or music literacy, dependent on student interest and instructor availability. Music course offerings change from year to year, and some may be offered after school as extracurriculars.
One of the hallmarks of the performing arts at Heilicher has been a seventh- and eighth-grade musical in which students take on parts as actors, singers, dancers, and all of the production aspects of putting on a Broadway show.
“During her time at HMJDS, our daughter learned so much about American and Jewish composers and music in general.”
— Heilicher parent
Physical Education
The PE program at Heilicher emphasizes development of physical skills, improvement in physical fitness levels, respect between students through competition, and basic joy of play and participation. PE reinforces the Jewish values of being responsible to one another in how we behave in the gym as well as cooperation and sportsmanship. Students are mentored and coached by physical education teachers on teamwork and to support their physical, social, and emotional growth. Students will:
- Further their competence in the ability to control, throw, and catch a manipulative while moving, such as passing a basketball, hitting a pickleball, or receiving a ball while running.
- Gain a strategic and tactical understanding of a variety of sports, from creating space for oneself in ultimate frisbee to shot placement in racquet sports. This understanding can creatively be applied to other sports and activities.
- Gain knowledge of and participate in a variety of strength, endurance, and stretching activities, setting the foundation for a lifestyle that includes physical activity.
- Exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects themselves and others.
After school, middle students also have the opportunity to participate in league play against other independent schools: soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and ultimate frisbee in the spring.
“I love the PE program at HMJDS. The variety of sports, engaging instructors, and focus on ‘fun’ as opposed to competition has given my kids greater confidence and skill. It keeps them active, boosts their overall health, and helps them learn better in the classroom!”
— Heilicher Parent
Health & Wellness
Students in sixth through eighth grades learn about sexuality through a learning program called Our Whole Lives (OWL). This curriculum provides accurate, age-appropriate information in human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. A holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, it helps students clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.
Field Trips
Getting out in the world is an important feature of the Heilicher curriculum. All students attend a middle school reterat in the fall. Sixth graders participate in a four-day Northern Minnesota trip in the spring; seventh graders go to Washington, D.C., in the spring; and eighth graders participate in a capstone trip to Israel. Additionally, students participate in curricular field trips throughout their time in middle school.
Community Connections
Middle Schoolers connect to the broader community through their social action work; participation in We Day, visit to Children's Hospital, STEP food shelf, active participation in school-wide social justice projects, and connections to other schools through participation on sports teams.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Our Middle School students are active in our athletic program, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and more.