<![CDATA[This study aims to explore forms of local wisdom in Batu Bara Regency that are relevant to Social Studies learning in elementary schools through an ethnopedagogical interview approach. As the cultural heritage of Batu Bara's multiethnic community, consisting of Batak, Malay, Javanese, and Minangkabau ethnic groups, local wisdom has strong potential as a contextual learning resource that remains underutilized in Social Studies instruction. This qualitative case study was conducted at Pematang Rambai 08 PES and Bandar Sono 11 PES during the 2026/2027 academic year. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with fourth and fifth grade teachers, students, and four community leaders representing different ethnic groups, supported by participant observation and documentation. Data were analyzed using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña interactive model. The findings reveal three main results. First, eight forms of local wisdom relevant to elementary Social Studies were identified, including Dalihan Na Tolu, Tepung Tawar, interethnic mutual cooperation, the annual Pesta Tapai tradition, and Bolo Kampung. Second, the ethnopedagogical interview approach enhanced students' active participation and critical thinking compared with conventional instruction. Third, integrating local wisdom into Social Studies contributed to strengthening three dimensions of the Profil Pelajar Pancasila: global diversity, collaboration, and critical reasoning. The novelty of this study is the development of the Three Layer Ethnopedagogical Interview Model (MWET), which systematically connects Batu Bara's local wisdom with Social Studies learning outcomes in the Merdeka Curriculum and provides a practical framework for contextual learning in culturally diverse elementary classrooms]]>
