This study is aimed to: 1) Analyze the effect of contextual-based discovery learning on the learning independence of elementary school students; 2) Analyzing the effect of contextual-based discovery learning on the understanding of elementary school students' concepts. This type of research is quantitative with Two Group Posttest Only design. The class selection was obtained by using cluster random sampling technique. The research sample was 4th grade students of SDN 2 Adiarsa which consisted of 20 students as the experimental class while the 4th grade students of SDN 1 Adiarsa, consisted of 14 students as the control class. The data collection technique is used a question instrument to measure understanding of students' concepts and questionnaires to measure students' learning independence. The data analysis technique used the t-test. There is a significant difference between the experimental class and the control class, so it can be said that the contextual-based discovery learning model influences in learning independence and understanding of elementary school students' concepts.