THE IMPORTANCE OF STRENGTHENING OF NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION IN A PRIMARY SCHOOL

To one who understands at least something about education it is obvious that science education in primary school is very important. Every person's education fundament is formed here. It is understandable that children before school already have certain knowledge about nature. Pre-school children have to know about animal, plant life, should have knowledge about objects and phenomena of inanimate nature, perceive the essence and meaning of care works. Research works show that pre-school children's knowledge about nature is not sufficiently exact and exhaustive. We should especially focus on enriching and making the knowledge about animal and plant acclimatization more accurate among 5-7 year old children (Ušeckienė, 2000). On the other hand, it is stated (applying modified Kern test) that in the group of 5-7 year old children cognizing nature and its phenomena an average level of thinking functions and intellect predominates which directly depends on child's mental maturity level and not on child's sex and age (Plytnykienė, 2002). It is very important for this knowledge to be deepened and broadened in primary school, i.e., in the 1st -4th forms. In this case, natural science preparation quality largely depends on the teacher, on his competence in natural science. Since 1992 a new subject “The world science” has been introduced in primary school which can be interpreted as one of the components of natural science education. Currently in Lithuanian primary school science education fundamentals are integrated into the world cognition course. Biology, physics, chemistry, technological, ecological problems make the part of this natural science program. The main nature cognition purpose is to educate children's ability understand the world of nature and communicate with it. So, integration of natural science fundamentals on the one hand and social and natural science components on the other hand will further remain a very meaningful sphere of educational process in primary school.