The Scientific Approach with a Problem-Based Learning Model to Enhance Creative Thinking Skills in Grade VI Elementary School Students

This study aims to describe the implementation of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model integrated with a scientific approach to enhance the creative thinking skills of sixth-grade students at SD Negeri 1 Padangsidimpuan during the odd semester of the 2025/2026 academic year. The background of this research is the observed low level of students' creative thinking skills, primarily attributed to the dominance of conventional, teacher-centered instructional methods. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through classroom observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies. The findings indicate that the application of the PBL model based on the scientific approach has a significant impact on increasing students' active participation, their ability to formulate and solve problems, and their skills in expressing ideas coherently and creatively. The scientific stages—observing, questioning, gathering information, associating, and communicating—integrated into the PBL syntax effectively encourage students to think logically, analytically, and creatively. Challenges encountered include limited instructional time and varying levels of students' learning readiness. Nevertheless, overall, this model successfully fosters learner autonomy and improves the quality of the learning process. This study concludes by recommending the scientific-based PBL model as an innovative strategy for strengthening creative thinking skills among elementary school students.