The Extra Habit Method Using Natural Materials to Enhance Scientific Literacy and Environmental Awareness in Children Aged 5–6 Years

Abstract

The 2023 educational quality mapping by the Ministry of Education and Culture indicated that 68% of children aged 5-6 years old still possessed poor basic science skills due to conventional teacher-centered models and a heavy reliance on two-dimensional worksheets. Consequently, this instructional gap led to a low internalization of environmental care character from an early age. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the EXTRA HABIT method based on natural materials in enhancing early science literacy and environmental care character in children aged 5-6 years old. Employing a quasi-experimental approach with a Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design, this study involved 40 Group B kindergarten children in Cimanggis, Depok, who were selected via purposive sampling and equally assigned into experimental (n=20) and control (n=20) groups. Data were gathered through a validated pictorial science literacy test (Aiken's V = 0.88; KR-20 = 0.81) and an environmental care character observation sheet (Alpha = 0.79). The data were statistically analyzed using the Independent Sample T-Test and Normalized Gain (N-Gain) analysis. The results demonstrated that the experimental group achieved a significant increase in science literacy with an N-Gain score of 0.72 (high category), whereas the control group only reached 0.31 (moderate category). The post-test t-test verified a significant variance between the two groups (t(38) = 8.412; p < 0.05). Furthermore, the average environmental care character score of the experimental group improved substantially by +15.8, successfully shifting the children’s developmental criteria from "Developed as Expected" (BSH) to "Highly Developed" (SBB). In conclusion, the EXTRA HABIT method based on natural materials is proven effective and highly recommended as a contextual learning innovation to support the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum in the Foundation Phase.