This study aims to increase the interest of first-grade students at Gunung Pamah Private Elementary School in learning mathematics, particularly addition and subtraction, through the application of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model. PBL was chosen because this approach involves students in solving real-world problems, encourages active engagement, and builds deep understanding, which is relevant for early childhood education to avoid passive learning. The research used a classroom action research method with two cycles, each comprising the stages of planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. The research subjects were first-grade students at Gunung Pamah Private Elementary School. Data were collected through learning interest questionnaires, observation of student behavior, and documentation of activities. Descriptive analysis was performed to identify changes in learning interest between cycles. The results showed a gradual increase in student learning interest: from a low category in the pre-cycle, increasing to moderate in cycle I, and high in cycle II. This shows that PBL is effective in making mathematics learning more interesting and meaningful for lower grade students. This study provides recommendations for teachers to adopt PBL to increase student motivation and prevent learning difficulties in the future.
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