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This study aims to apply a simple experimental approach titled “Balloon Expands Without Being Blown” to enhance fifth-grade students’ understanding of gas concepts in science learning at MI Malik Ibrahim. The study originates from the observation that students often struggle to grasp the concepts of gases and acid–base reactions, which are typically taught in a purely theoretical manner without engaging hands-on experiences. The research employed a Classroom Action Research (CAR) design following Kurt Lewin’s model, which includes four interconnected stages: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. The participants consisted of 22 fifth-grade students from MI Malik Ibrahim. The findings reveal a substantial improvement in both learning achievement and classroom participation after the experimental activity was introduced. Students’ average scores increased from 62 to 85, with 82% showing measurable progress. Furthermore, inquiry and discussion activities became more frequent, and most students could correctly explain the formation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas. Overall, the results suggest that the balloon expands without being blown experiment effectively fosters scientific conceptual understanding, promotes active engagement, and stimulates motivation toward learning science.

Science learning in elementary schools plays a vital role in fostering scientific thinking, curiosity, and critical thinking skills from an early age. However, classroom practices are still dominated by conventional methods that make students passive and less motivated, which affects their understanding of abstract concepts such as the states of matter and their changes. This study aims to describe the effectiveness of using Canva as an interactive learning medium to enhance the motivation and learning outcomes of fourth-grade elementary school students on the topic of states of matter and their changes. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method through literature review and theoretical experimentation. The study involved reviewing various scientific sources and conducting a simulated Canva-based learning activity that visualized changes in the states of matter through images, animations, and simple classroom experiments. The findings reveal that using Canva encourages active student participation, clarifies abstract science concepts, and creates an engaging learning experience. Canva has proven to be an effective and innovative medium that supports the principles of the Merdeka Curriculum, emphasizing creativity, collaboration, and independent learning.