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Social Studies (IPS) learning in elementary schools plays an essential role in developing students’ critical thinking skills and civic attitudes as part of 21st-century competencies. However, in practice, IPS learning is still commonly teacher-centered and lacks contextual learning experiences, resulting in low student engagement and limited development of higher-order thinking skills. This study aims to analyze the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) in IPS learning to enhance critical thinking skills and civic attitudes of grade VI students at SDN Prekbun. The research employed a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with teachers, students, school principals, and parents, as well as documentation of learning activities. Data analysis was conducted using the interactive model of Miles and Huberman, including data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings indicate that the implementation of PjBL effectively enhances students’ active participation, critical thinking skills in analyzing social issues, and civic attitudes such as responsibility, cooperation, and social awareness. Learning becomes more meaningful as students are directly involved in contextual, collaborative, and problem-based project activities. Despite these positive outcomes, several challenges were identified, including limited learning facilities, time management constraints, and variations in students’ confidence levels. This study implies that PjBL is an effective instructional model for strengthening character education and developing 21st-century skills in elementary social studies learning

Social Studies (IPS) learning at the elementary school level plays a strategic role in shaping students’ understanding of social, cultural, and economic life, as well as national values. This study aims to analyze the differences between the 2013 Curriculum and the Merdeka Curriculum in IPS learning, including planning, implementation, the use of methods and media, and the assessment of learning outcomes. The research employed a descriptive qualitative approach with a case study, collecting data from curriculum documents, lesson plans (RPP), syllabi, classroom observations, interviews with teachers and school principals, and student questionnaires. The results indicate that the 2013 Curriculum provides a clear learning structure, detailed lesson plans, and systematic material organization that facilitates teachers, but it is less flexible and less contextualized for students. In contrast, the Merdeka Curriculum emphasizes flexibility, relevance of content to the local context, innovative methods such as project-based learning and blended learning, as well as holistic assessment focusing on critical thinking skills, social literacy, and student character. The implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum can enhance students’ learning interest, active participation, understanding of social concepts, and social awareness; however, its effectiveness depends on teacher readiness, school support, facilities, and consistency in assessment. These findings suggest that selecting an appropriate IPS curriculum should consider a balance between structure and flexibility, content relevance, teacher competence, and supporting facilities.

This study aims to analyze the application of the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) model to improve students’ creativity in Social Studies and to measure its effectiveness in enhancing creative learning outcomes. The research was conducted as a Classroom Action Research (CAR) across two cycles during the even semester of the 2024/2025 academic year, involving 30 fifth-grade students at SD Inpres Barombong 2. Data were collected through observation, questionnaires, and documentation, while analysis employed descriptive statistics for quantitative data and reduction–triangulation techniques for qualitative data. The creativity indicators examined included fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. Findings reveal that the implementation of PjBL significantly enhanced students’ creative thinking skills, as evidenced by an overall increase in average scores across all creativity indicators. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the PjBL model was reflected in the improved implementation of its instructional syntax, progressing from the “Moderate” category in the initial cycle to “High” and eventually “Very High” in the subsequent cycle. These outcomes confirm that PjBL promotes active, student-centered, and collaborative learning that fosters creativity in Social Studies. The study concludes that continuous implementation of PjBL is essential for cultivating creativity in elementary classrooms and suggests further research to explore its applicability in different contexts and educational levels.

This research is motivated by the low enthusiasm, participation, and creativity of students in social studies learning which is considered boring and difficult, resulting in low learning outcomes. One effort to overcome this problem is to apply the Project Based Learning (PjBL) learning model based on the Mirigambar Temple photography project through Blogger media. This study aims to determine the effect of PjBL on learning outcomes, creativity, and both simultaneously. The study used a quantitative approach with a quasi experimental nonequivalent control group design. The sample consisted of 20 control class students and 20 experimental class students selected using the purposive sampling technique. The instruments used were creativity questionnaires and learning outcome tests. Data analysis used the Independent Sample T-Test and MANOVA. The results showed that PjBL learning had a significant effect on learning outcomes, creativity, and learning outcomes and creativity of students together. These findings indicate that the application of PjBL through a Blogger-based photography project can create active, enjoyable learning, and is able to optimally increase student potential, so it is worthy of being an alternative strategy for learning social studies in schools.

The humanistic approach in social studies learning emphasizes holistic student development, including cognitive, emotional and social aspects. This article aims to examine the application of this approach in social studies learning as well as its benefits and challenges. The method used is a literature study by analyzing various relevant academic sources. The results show that the humanistic approach is able to increase learning motivation, student engagement, and critical thinking skills, helping students understand social issues more deeply and fostering empathy. The teacher acts as a facilitator who creates a learning environment that supports students' exploration and freedom of thought. However, the implementation of this approach faces several challenges, such as limited teacher understanding, limited time in the curriculum, and difficulties in evaluating learning outcomes that are more oriented towards affective and social aspects. Therefore, effective implementation strategies are needed, such as teacher training, project-based learning approaches and integration of humanistic values in the curriculum. With the right strategy, this approach can create a more meaningful and relevant learning experience for students and help them develop independent, critical and caring characters for their social environment

The main problem in this study is how to apply the Project Based Learning learning model to improve student learning outcomes for social studies learning in class V SD Inpres Bontomanai. This study aims to improve student learning outcomes in Social Studies learning with the Project Based Learning learning model in class V SD Inpres Bontomanai. This type of research is Class Action Research which consists of two cycles where each cycle is carried out as many as 3 (three ) meeting times. The research procedures included planning, carrying out actions, observing and reflecting. The subjects in this study were 25 students of grade V SD Inpres Bontomanai. The results showed that in the first cycle that was completed individually out of 25 students only 10 students or 40% fulfilled completeness. student learning outcomes on social studies learning. Classically it is not sufficient enough because the average value is 65. Whereas in cycle II where out of 25 students there are 19 students or 76% completeness of student learning outcomes on social studies learning and classically it has been fulfilled, namely the average value is 75.80 or is in the very good category. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that student learning outcomes on social studies learning using the Project Based Learning learning model in class V SD Inpres Bontomanai have increased.