Integrating Local Wisdom and Scientific Inquiry in Early Childhood Education: A Contextualized Science Learning Approach

Authors

  • Suharti Suharti Department of Early Childhood Teacher Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia
  • Hapidin Hapidin Doctoral Program in Early Childhood Education, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Yuli Pujianti Department of Islamic Early Childhood Education, STIT Al Marhalah Al ‘Ulya Bekasi, Indonesia
  • Edi Suwandi Department of Education and Human Potentials Development, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan
  • Muhammad Naufal Fairuzillah Department of Early Childhood Teacher Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32505/atfaluna.v8i1.11349

Keywords:

local wisdom, scientific inquiry, early childhood education, science learning, a culturally contextualized approach, marine environment awareness

Abstract

This study explores the integration of local wisdom and scientific inquiry in early childhood education (ECE) on Untung Jawa Island, Administrative City of Kepulauan Seribu, DKI Jakarta. Employing a mixed-method approach, the quantitative phase utilized a one-shot posttest experimental design involving 21 children aged 5-6 years old, consisting of 11 boys and 10 girls. The children participated in culturally contextualized science activities that incorporated local wisdom. In addition to quantitative data collection, qualitative data were gathered through observations and interviews with five ECE teachers to gain deeper insights into the implementation process. The results indicate that integrating local wisdom enhances children's engagement and understanding of scientific concepts. This study recommends further research to explore long-term impacts and broader applications of culturally responsive teaching methods in early childhood settings.

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Integrating Local Wisdom and Scientific Inquiry in Early Childhood Education: A Contextualized Science Learning Approach. (2025). Atfaluna Journal of Islamic Early Childhood Education, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.32505/atfaluna.v8i1.11349

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