<![CDATA[This study examines the breakthroughs in the Islamic Cultural History (SKI) curriculum through the implementation of problem-solving strategies in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) education. This qualitative study adopts a single case study design at MI Nizhamiyah Tanggungkramat Jombang. Data collection was conducted through triangulation, which included in-depth interviews, observations, and analysis of learning documents. The results of the study clearly show that the SKI curriculum innovation driven by the problem-solving approach has succeeded in sparking a significant increase in students' critical thinking skills through a series of key stages: (1) the process of systematically integrating problem solving into the school's operational curriculum, (2) the execution of learning that prioritizes contextual problems, and (3) the development of students' abilities to analyze and evaluate historical evidence. Crucial findings from interviews reveal that students have become much more proactive in unraveling historical dilemmas and formulating arguments based on strong logic. However, the main obstacle identified is the instant learning culture among today's students (Generation Z), which requires specific and adaptive scaffolding strategies. This study strongly recommends the adoption of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method as a core innovation of the SKI curriculum, accompanied by highly contextual adjustments to the characteristics of MI students. Keywords: Curriculum Innovation, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, SKI, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah]]>
