Music, art, physical education, and health help students grow by boosting creativity, learning, social skills, and well-being. They improved motor skills, decision-making, cultural awareness, and focus. This study examined the optimization of the Grade 7 MAPEH curriculum under the MATATAG framework in Sarangani Province, focusing on innovative teaching strategies that enhanced student engagement and learning outcomes. Using thematic analysis of interviews with eight teachers from selected schools, the research explored the curriculum’s evolution, teacher preparedness, and instructional innovations. The findings revealed several key themes regarding the contextual evolution of MAPEH in the curriculum, including curricular structure and content simplification, teaching and assessment approaches, and alignment with holistic and student-centered goals. Teachers’ preparation for implementing MAPEH 7 was categorized into five emerging themes: teacher preparedness and training, strengths and weaknesses of the current curriculum, impact on student engagement and learning outcomes, strategies to overcome delivery challenges, and use of student feedback for teaching improvement. Teachers’ innovations in delivering lessons were grouped into four emerging themes: technology integration and digital tools, interactive hands-on and collaborative learning, student involvement and feedback in the innovation process, and tailoring lessons for diverse learning styles and needs. The MATATAG curriculum transformed MAPEH instruction by simplifying content, fostering holistic and student-centered learning, and promoting innovation through technology, collaboration, and adaptable teaching strategies. The successful implementation of the curriculum relied on school administrators providing support and resources, policymakers refining education policies, educators embracing innovative teaching strategies, students actively participating in their learning, and future researchers examining its impact on diverse educational contexts.

Keywords: MAPEH, MATATAG Curriculum, Innovative Teaching Strategies, Student Engagement, Teacher Preparedness.

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