An ethnomathematics study of the days on the Javanese Calendar for learning mathematics in elementary school

Abstract

Ethnomathematics is a mathematical value that presents in a culture. Calendar as a system of
time periods is ethnomathematics. The calendar has days, dates, months, and years. Likewise, the
Javanese calendar has years, months, dates, days (7 cycles on a week), and also pasaran (5 cycles on a
week at the Javanese). The use of days in the Javanese calendar can be used as contextual and enrichment
material in learning mathematics. This study aims to reveal the ethnomathematics values on days of
Javanese Calendar as mathematics learning material. It uses qualitative methods that follow the
ethnomathematics study framework. We took data from the indigenous community at Yogyakarta,
Indonesia. Data collection techniques use interviews with traditional elders, and document analysis of
Javanese Primbon (the special of Javanese Book) and mathematics curriculum content. The data analysis
is determined by relational ideas of the days on Javanese Calendar, and the mathematics curriculum
content. The result shows the ethnomathematics value of the remainder and modulo associated with
days in the Javanese Calendar. Based on the results, the days on Javanese Calendar can be incorporated in
mathematics learning material. Elaborating the days on Javanese Calendar is the potential for connecting
culture and mathematics in the classroom. The days on Javanese Calendar contain mathematics values,
and close to students' thoughts, so it can be used in elementary school mathematics class to make
learning mathematics more meaningful.