<![CDATA[This study aimed to identify the needs of elementary school teachers for AI assisted science teaching materials that incorporate the natural resources of South Papua. The analysis was conducted as an initial step toward developing teaching materials that are contextual and relevant to students’ local environment. A descriptive quantitative approach was used, involving 50 elementary school teachers in Merauke Regency. Data were collected through a needs analysis questionnaire consisting of 35 statements using a five-point Likert scale. The questionnaire focused on teachers’ needs for science teaching materials, the integration of South Papua’s natural resources, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the need for AI-assisted teaching materials, and teachers’ readiness and challenges in using AI. The data were analyzed descriptively using mean scores and percentages. The findings showed that the need for science teaching materials was very high, with a mean score of 4.60 (92.07%). The need to integrate South Papua’s natural resources also reached a very high level, with a mean score of 4.67 (93.37%). Teachers’ use of AI obtained a mean score of 4.34 (86.80%), while the need for AI-assisted teaching materials reached 4.68 (93.54%). Teachers’ readiness and need for support in using AI obtained a mean score of 4.38 (87.66%). Overall, all five aspects were in the very high category. These findings indicate that teachers need science teaching materials that make use of AI while incorporating the natural resources of South Papua. The results provide an initial basis for developing contextual and innovative science teaching materials that are appropriate to teachers’ needs and students’ local learning environment.]]>
