International Journal of Research and Review Vol.8; Issue: 1; January 2021 Website: www.ijrrjournal.com Research Paper E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 65 Vol.8; Issue: 1; January 2021 The Traditional Games-Based Thematic Teaching Materials in Improving Students’ Social Competence Muh Ahadi 1 , Phil Ihwan Azhari 2 , Anita Yus 3 1 Student of Master’s Degree of Primary Education, Universitas Negeri Medan 2,3 Lecturers of Master’s Degree of Primary Education, Universitas Negeri Medan Jl.Willem Iskandar Psr. V Medan Estate, Medan, Indonesia, 20221 Corresponding Author: Muh Ahadi ABSTRACT The aims of this study were to produce the traditional games-based teaching materials that were suitable for use in thematic learning and to determine its effectiveness in improving students’ social competence for the fourth grade students. The study applied the ADDIE developmental model. The results showed that: (1) a validation of design expert was 88% (excellent), a material expert regarding the language feasibility was 95.53% (excellent), a social studies expert was 84% (excellent), a science expert was 85.8 (excellent), (2) the students’ responses on the traditional games- based teaching materials in the individual trial of 3 students were 81.66% (excellent), small group trial of 9 students were 87.77% (excellent), field trial of 17 students were 86.21% (excellent), and (3) there was an improvement of students’ social competence after conducting the learning activity with the traditional games-based teaching materials. This has proven that traditional games-based teaching materials were very suitable for the use in thematic learning of the fourth grade students. Keywords: Thematic Teaching Materials, Traditional Games, Social Competence INTRODUCTION The negative influence of globalization has an impact on the waning of the nation’s cultural values as a guide for life (Nurhaidah & Musa, 2015). Children who tend to continually use smartphones will feel cool enjoying game offerings compared to playing with their peers in the home environment (Putri, 2018). In traditional games, children achieve faster physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. Traditional games have high social and psychological values, have beneficial values on the physical-motor, intellectual, socio-economic, emotional and personality development of children (Latifah & Sagala, 2015). Traditional games are very rarely done by children nowadays. As we all know, games are the most effective means of interaction for children. Vygotsky’s theory of learning (Trianto, 2009) proposes that to gain new knowledge, children need full interaction with other people. Re- applying traditional games is an educational alternative to optimize children's development. The results of several studies that have been conducted has shown that traditional games can improve various aspects of child development (Haris, 2016). Traditional games can improve character education and social competence in early childhood which includes religious values, honesty, tolerance, discipline, hard work, creative, independent, democratic, curiosity, love of the country, respect for achievement, friendly/communicative, love of peace, social care, and responsibility (Lestari, 2017). The teaching materials used in the fourth grade of SD Negeri 060837 Medan are the thematic book packages of Grafindo