Thematic Learning at The First Grade of Elementary School: Life Skills Development Practice

Abstract

The learning process in Indonesian elementary schools uses a thematic model. This policy aims to optimize the achievement of student competencies by integrating various subjects in a particular theme.This observational study aimed to gain an overview of the practice of thematic learning-oriented on the establishment of life skills in initial primary school classes. Through classroom observation, the researchers tried to describe the teaching-learning process that integrated several subjects in a unified theme to develop life skills through training affective, psychomotor, and cognitive competencies equally. Sources of data in this study were students and teachers of 1C grade of SD Muhammadiyah 1 Jember. The results of the observations show that learning with the theme of "myself" takes place through observing phenomena based on context, digging up information, doing assignments, discuss the results, and strengthening competencies. Through this series of activities, we found students gaining academic and vocational abilities, also showing positive attitudes regarding the subject matter. Thus, this thematic learning can be a reference model for teachers in the same context.