A Practical Study on the Calabash Gourd as a Manufacturing Material for Comprehensive and Interrelated Guidance across Subjects

― Verifying Characteristics for Teaching Materials and Elementary School Students' Learning Motivation ―

Abstract

Students in the fourth grade who cultivated the calabash gourd used it to make musical instruments, specifically maracas, which they subsequently played. At first, 60% of the students (n=104) were familiar with the calabash gourd. However, 20% had ever seen one in real life. This finding implies that the calabash gourd's novelty as a teaching material would encourage students to learn about it. Second, students' expectations grew depending on the features of their gourds (e.g., shape, number, and size). Third, 91% of the students (n=109) said they could smell the material, processed by a new post-harvest method. The odor did not hinder their activity. Moreover, the students had prospects for cross-curricular activities at each stage of the lesson. Finally, it became clear that learning using the calabash gourd can increase learning motivation across subjects.