<![CDATA[Speaking skills are an essential language competence that should be developed from the early grades of elementary school. Initial observations at SDN 1 Sumerta showed that first-grade students still experienced difficulties in speaking confidently, fluently, pronouncing words accurately, using appropriate intonation, and conveying ideas orally. This study aimed to determine the effect of an experimental method assisted by animated character puppet media on the speaking skills of first-grade elementary school students. The study used a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental Pretest–Posttest Control Group Design. The population consisted of 64 students, with 32 students in the experimental class and 32 students in the control class, selected through saturated sampling. Data were collected through structured observation and documentation. Data analysis included normality and homogeneity tests, N-Gain analysis, and an Independent Samples t-test. The results showed that the mean speaking-skill score in the experimental class increased from 53.72 to 70.84, while the control class increased from 50.94 to 54.22. The mean N-Gain was 0.3704 in the experimental class, categorized as moderate, and 0.0562 in the control class, categorized as low. The Independent Samples t-test produced Sig. (2-tailed) = 0.000 < 0.05, with t = 8.072 and df = 62. These results indicate a significant difference in speaking skills between the two classes. Therefore, the experimental method assisted by animated character puppet media had a significant positive effect on the speaking skills of first-grade students.]]>
