Purwosari, Gunungkidul— On Tuesday, September 14, 2026, lecturers from the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FITK) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta conducted a community service program entitled “Downstreaming Giripurwo Educational Tourism Village through the Development of STEM-Based Learning and Local Potential in Schools”at SMPN 1 Purwosari.

The program, guided by Nira Nurwulandari, M.Pd., a lecturer in the Physics Education Study Program at FITK, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, was enthusiastically attended by dozens of junior high school students. Their enthusiasm was evident during the classroom activities and group documentation, which featured a program banner displaying icons representing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Bringing Local Potential into the Classroom

The program is part of an effort to promote the downstreaming of the potential of Giripurwo Educational Tourism Village in Gunungkidul Regency by incorporating the village’s natural resources and local community activities into authentic science learning contexts.

Through the STEM approach, students were not only encouraged to understand physics concepts theoretically but also to observe how these concepts are applied in tools and technologies used by local residents in their daily activities. These included cassava pressing equipment, water storage tanks, and agricultural spray pumps.

By connecting classroom learning with real-life technologies and local practices, the program encouraged students to recognize that scientific concepts are closely related to the environment and community in which they live.

Water Rocket Experiment: An Engaging Application of Gas Pressure

One of the highlights of the activity was a simple physics experiment using environmentally friendly materials, featuring a water rocket launcherassembled from used PVC pipes and recycled plastic bottles.

The launcher operates based on the principle of gas pressure. Air pumped into the bottle increases the pressure inside the enclosed space. When the launcher is released, the compressed air pushes the water and propels the rocket upward.

The experiment provided a concrete illustration of the topic of Gas Pressure, which is included in the instructional module accompanying the program. In particular, students were introduced to the concept that reducing the volume of air in a closed system increases its pressure, in accordance with the basic principle of Boyle’s Law.

Beyond being an enjoyable hands-on activity, the experiment enabled students to experience firsthand how the concept of pressure—often encountered only through textbooks—can be observed, tested, and demonstrated through a simple experiment.

Part of an Integrated Instructional Module

The activity was supported by a comprehensive instructional module entitled “Pressure in Solids, Liquids, and Gases Based on STEM Learning and the Local Potential of Giripurwo Educational Tourism Village.”

Developed by Nira Nurwulandari, M.Pd., the module includes a concept map, student worksheets, presentation materials, and practice questions. All components are designed to help students connect the concept of pressure with phenomena and technologies found in their surrounding environment.

The module also aims to foster students’ awareness of and appreciation for the potential of their own village and local community. By integrating science learning with local contexts, students are encouraged to see their surroundings not only as a place to live but also as a valuable source of learning and innovation.

Expectations for Program Sustainability

Programs of this kind are expected to continue and be replicated in other schools around Giripurwo Village. Such initiatives can contribute to strengthening students’ scientific literacy while simultaneously supporting the downstreaming of local village products and potential through formal education.

Through sustained collaboration between universities, schools, and local communities, STEM-based learning can become a means of connecting scientific knowledge with local potential, community needs, and sustainable educational development.