Development of Nature-Themed Language Literacy Teaching Materials to Enhance Language Skills and Environmental Awareness of Elementary School Students
Abstract
The objective of this study is to develop and test the effectiveness of nature-themed language literacy teaching materials that are relevant, engaging, and able to foster environmental awareness among elementary school students. The method used is the Research and Development (R&D) model proposed by Jolly and Bolitho, involving 30 fifth-grade students and teachers at SDN 1 Bungurberes, Kuningan. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, expert validation, and pretest–posttest instruments. The results show that 83% of students prefer nature-themed readings and that teachers need contextual materials supported by illustrations and character-building content. Expert validation indicates a high feasibility level of 88.5%, while the effectiveness test shows a significant increase in students’ literacy scores from 64.3 to 81.7, with 89% student satisfaction. Furthermore, the module effectively enhances ecological awareness, with 85.5% of students demonstrating positive attitudes toward environmental care. The novelty of this study lies in integrating literacy skill development with ecological character education through contextual, nature-based materials that reflect students’ real-life experiences. These findings confirm that the materials developed are valid, practical, and effective in improving literacy skills and fostering environmental awareness of elementary school students.
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