Based on observation and interview with biology teacher students critical thinking skill were not optimally developed yet. The experiment aims to find out the influence of applying pictured card media through NHT cooperative learning model towards improvement of students critical thinking skill. This quasi experiment study used pretest posttest group non equivalent designed. Sample in this experiment are students from X2 and X4 class which obtained from population by cluster random sampling tehnique. Quantitative data was obtained from pretest and posttest scores which statistically analyzed with t-test using SPSS version 17 in 95% confidence levels. Qualitative data are student’s learning activities and students responses about applying pictured card media through cooperative learning model type NHT which descriptively analyzed. Result of this study showed that the average of students critical thinking skill improve significantly ( eksperimen class="70",64 control = 33,44). The average of student learning activities percentage in all observed aspects in experimental class showed increased significantly (eksperimen = 81,69% kontrol = 67,51%). The students (90,09%) also gives positive responses in appyling pictured card media through NHT cooperative learning model. Keywords: picture card media,, cooperative learning of NHT critical thinking skill, protista