<![CDATA[Students’ understanding and appreciation of local culture need to be strengthened, as school learning has not optimally integrated local wisdom as a meaningful learning resource and context. This study aims to develop and evaluate the validity, practicality, and effectiveness of the “Nobar Bunga Bakal” learning model based on local wisdom to enhance elementary school students’ understanding of local culture. This research employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using Thiagarajan’s 4D model, comprising Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate stages. The research participants involved elementary school students and teachers, while experts participated as model validators. Data were collected through observations, validation questionnaires, practicality questionnaires, and local cultural understanding tests. The data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative descriptive analyses. The results showed that the “Nobar Bunga Bakal” learning model achieved an average validity score of 90.4 and a practicality score of 89.5, both indicating excellent feasibility for classroom implementation. Regarding effectiveness, 91% of the students achieved the minimum mastery criterion for local cultural understanding. The developed model consists of the learning syntax Nobar (Watching Together), B (Providing Examples), U (Organizing Systematically), N (Narrating the Material), G (Using Supporting Media), and A (Analyzing Cultural Understanding), while “Bakal” represents local culture. In conclusion, the “Nobar Bunga Bakal” model is valid, practical, and effective in enhancing students’ understanding of local culture. The model provides an alternative contextual learning approach that integrates local wisdom to strengthen students’ cultural understanding, appreciation, and respect for cultural diversity.]]>
