Building a Flexible, Literacy-Rich Social Studies Experience
For elementary classrooms, Social Studies is most powerful when students can build content knowledge while strengthening literacy skills and exploring ideas through multiple access points. In Bozeman School District (Montana), Kids Discover Online supports this work by giving district leaders and classroom teachers a flexible, standards-aligned resource that helps students engage deeply with Social Studies content.
Alex Ide brings more than 25 years of experience across public schools, international education, and higher education, and now serves as the district’s Curriculum and MTSS Integration Specialist. From the district level, Alex focuses on ensuring that resources align to essential standards while giving teachers the flexibility to meet diverse student needs.
In the classroom, 5th grade teacher Krystal brings that vision to life through daily instruction. After years of teaching 7th grade, Krystal now integrates more Social Studies into her elementary classroom, pairing content knowledge with ELA skill development in meaningful ways.
Together, their perspectives tell the story of how Bozeman is building a Social Studies program rooted in accessibility, flexibility, and strong instructional design.
Kids Discover provides teachers with an opportunity to draw from many titles to meet their instructional needs. It allows for flexibility, and the platform is engaging for teachers and students alike.Alex Ide, Curriculum and MTSS Integration Specialist
NAME
Alex Ide
DISTRICT
Bozeman Public Schools
LOCATION
Bozeman, MT
GRADES
Grade K-8
SUBJECT
Curriculum and MTSS Integration Specialist
KDO MEMBER SINCE
2025
A District Resource Built Around Standards and Choice
For Bozeman, alignment was a critical factor in adopting Kids Discover Online.
According to Alex, the platform fully aligns with the district’s essential standards, making it easy for teachers to select the exact content and skill practice needed to meet their instructional goals within limited classroom time. This flexibility supports both district pacing and classroom autonomy, ensuring teachers can use the right resources at the right moment.
A standout part of the partnership has been the creation of a Montana History Unit, designed specifically to support Bozeman’s 4th grade curriculum and Montana state standards. This localized approach helps students connect Social Studies learning to their own state and community while strengthening historical thinking skills.
▲ Our Search by Standards feature helps teachers find grade-level resources in just a few clicks.
KDO offers differentiated levels and interesting content for students to learn.Krystal, 5th Grade Teacher
Bringing Social Studies and Literacy Together
In Krystal’s 5th grade classroom, Kids Discover Online has become a natural bridge between Social Studies content and ELA instruction.
As her teaching practice has evolved, Krystal has increasingly integrated Social Studies into literacy work, helping students build background knowledge while practicing close reading and comprehension skills. Kids Discover supports this shift by providing high-interest content at differentiated reading levels, allowing every student to access the same topic at the Lexile level that works best for them.
From an instructional lens, Krystal values how easy Kids Discover is to implement. The platform gives her an accessible, ready-to-use Social Studies resource that supports all learners without adding complexity to lesson planning.
Engaging Every Learner Through Accessibility
For Krystal’s students, one of the most popular experiences has been the Scavenger Hunt, which adds an interactive layer of exploration that keeps students engaged and curious.
From her perspective, the most impactful features is the ability for content to be read aloud and translated, ensuring students who need language or reading support can still participate fully in the learning experience.
This combination of accessibility tools and engaging design helps Bozeman teachers create classrooms where all students can explore Social Studies concepts with confidence.
Kids Discover Online is helping Bozeman School District build a Social Studies program that is standards-aligned, flexible, and accessible for every learner. From district-wide curriculum planning to classroom-level literacy integration, the platform supports meaningful learning experiences that help students become thoughtful, informed future citizens.
Kids Discover Online helps school libraries across the country empower students to explore science and social studies topics with confidence and independence. Is your school ready to strengthen social studies instruction with a resource designed to support curiosity, discovery, and learning at every level?
