From Play to Purpose: Nurturing Character Through Games at SDN Kasiman Tuban Regency

Abstract

Character education at the elementary level requires learning experiences that enable students to practice values through meaningful social interactions. Game-based learning (GBL) provides an engaging approach by transforming play into opportunities for cooperation, responsibility, discipline, honesty, respect, and perseverance. This community engagement program, entitled “From Play to Purpose: Nurturing Character Through Games at SDN Kasiman, Tuban Regency,” aimed to strengthen students' character through structured and reflective game-based activities. The program was conducted with elementary school students at SDN Kasiman, Tuban Regency, through a series of cooperative, rule-based, competitive, and problem-solving games designed around targeted character values. The activities followed three stages: preparation, implementation, and reflection. During implementation, students participated actively in games that required teamwork, adherence to rules, responsible decision-making, and persistence in overcoming challenges. Observations and reflection activities indicated that the games encouraged students to demonstrate cooperation, discipline, responsibility, honesty, and perseverance in concrete situations. The program also provided teachers with an accessible strategy for integrating character education into interactive classroom activities. These findings suggest that games can function not merely as recreational activities but as purposeful pedagogical spaces for practicing and reflecting on character values. The program highlights the potential of structured game-based learning as a practical approach to strengthening character education in elementary schools.