While the students of District 58 were hard at play this summer, the school’s teachers and faculty were preparing to implement a new social studies curriculum — a process that was two years in the making.

MaryBeth Webeler, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said the new curriculum provides more hands-on learning that will help “bring social studies alive” for the students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

“This social studies program is very committed to an inquiry approach,” Webeler said. “Kids are going to be actively engaged, and students will be making those meaningful connections.”

The new curriculum is based more heavily upon conceptual learning. This involves in-depth study of issues, an increase in activities to engage the students, reading about real world topics and more participation in groups.

Webeler said concepts that are introduced at the kindergarten level will continue to be developed as the student progresses in each grade level.

For example, in kindergarten, the students will be introduced to the concept of citizenship. At this level, the students will be taught what it means to be a good citizen to other classmates such as sharing. That concept will be revisited in future grade levels and explored in greater depth. For example, in second grade, students will study citizenship in relation to being a member of a community.

“(The students will examine) what behavior are you illustrating as a good citizen,” Webeler said.

Ginny Lauterbach, curriculum implementation teacher, said district teachers have taken part in several in-service days to learn about the new social studies curriculum. She said a major benefit to the students is the “spiral” or continual leaning design of the program.

“The conceptual teaching gives students a reason for learning the facts,” Lauterbach said. “It gives them a nucleus to tie the information together.”

The two-year process of developing the new curriculum involved the district’s social studies committee working with teachers, students, parents and staff.

Webeler said it’s critical to continue revamping the method in which students gather information and apply it.

“We want to update, revise and change the curriculum to keep up with the growing needs and adhere to best practice,” Webeler said. “You want curriculum to keep pace with the world of today.”