PROFIL KETERAMPILAN BERPIKIR KRITIS SISWA DALAM PEMBELAJARAN IPA : STUDI DESKRIPTIF PADA KELAS VI SD SURABAYA BARAT

The low level of higher-order thinking skills in elementary schools poses a crucial challenge in 21st-century education. This study aims to describe the profile of sixth-grade elementary school students' critical thinking skills on alternative electrical energy topics. The study employed a quantitative descriptive design. The participants were 81 students across three schools in West Surabaya: 28 students from SDN Lontar 481 (Class VI-A), 23 students from SDN Banjar Sugihan II (Class VI-A), and 30 students from SD Khadijah 3 (Class VI-C). Data were collected using a 10-item Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) multiple-choice test (C4–C6 cognitive levels) measuring Facione's five critical thinking indicators, complemented by teacher interviews and observations. Data were analyzed using mean percentage scores and categorization rubrics. The results indicated that students' critical thinking skills at SD Khadijah 3 were dominated by the moderate category (75%), at SDN Banjar Sugihan II by the high (48%) and moderate (44%) categories, and at SDN Lontar 481 by the moderate category (75%). Overall, the critical thinking profile across the three schools falls into the moderate category. These findings provide an empirical foundation for developing inquiry-based and contextual project-based learning strategies in primary science education. ABSTRAK Rendahnya keterampilan berpikir tingkat tinggi pada jenjang sekolah dasar menjadi tantangan krusial dalam implementasi pembelajaran abad ke-21. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan profil keterampilan berpikir kritis siswa kelas VI sekolah dasar pada topik energi listrik alternatif. Desain penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kuantitatif. Subjek penelitian berjumlah 81 siswa yang berasal dari 3 sekolah di kawasan Surabaya Barat, yaitu 28 siswa kelas VI-A SDN Lontar 481, 23 siswa kelas VI-A SDN Banjar Sugihan II, dan 30 siswa kelas VI-C SD Khadijah 3. Pengumpulan data menggunakan instrumen tes pilihan ganda sebanyak 10 butir soal Higher Order Thinking Skills (level C4–C6) yang mengukur lima aspek berpikir kritis menurut Facione, serta didukung wawancara guru dan observasi. Teknik analisis data menggunakan penghitungan persentase skor rata-rata dan kategorisasi berjenjang. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan persentase keterampilan berpikir kritis siswa di SD Khadijah 3 didominasi kategori sedang (75%), SDN Banjar Sugihan II didominasi kategori tinggi (48%) dan sedang (44%), serta SDN Lontar 481 didominasi kategori sedang (75%). Profil keterampilan berpikir kritis siswa secara keseluruhan pada ketiga sekolah berada pada kategori sedang. Temuan ini memberikan dasar empiris mengenai perlunya inovasi strategi pembelajaran sains berbasis inkuiri dan proyek kontekstual di sekolah dasar.