THE ROLE OF THE NATURAL EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPETENCE OF PRIMARY STUDENTS

Introduction. It is not sufficiently considered the scientific literature on the importance of the natural educational environment, its functionality opportunities in the educational process, role, and didactic potential of formation of the environmental competence of primary students. Purpose. The article aims to reveal the role of the natural educational environment in the formation of the environmental competence of primary students. Methods. Theoretical analysis of psychological and pedagogical, methodological literature to clarify the state and prospects of the outlined problems were used. Results. The article analyzes the essence of the concept of the «educational environment» and its natural component, it is established the importance of the formation of the ecological competence of primary students. Analyzing the views of scientists, an attempt was made to expand the interpretation of the essence of the concept of «natural educational environment» as a set of natural, physical, and social components affecting the comprehensive development of the student, his personality formation, contribute to the formation of a responsible, safe nature-appropriate behaviour in the surrounding world, form a scientific one worldview, thereby ensuring successful interaction with nature. The main principles of the modern educational environment are characterized, by natural ˗ safety, freedom from violence and discrimination, inclusiveness, development, and motivation to study. Originality. It is analyzed general approaches to the peculiarities of the organization of developmental education environment, established, didactic possibilities of using it during the lessons «I explore the world». The essence of the concept of «natural educational environment». Conclusion. It was established that the natural educational environment includes a school site, educational and research and geographical sites, an educational ecological trail and a living nature corner. It is noted that a natural educational environment creates favourable conditions for encouraging, educational motivation, development of cognitive activity, mastery, ecological natural knowledge, formation of environmental protection skills and nature-appropriate behaviour. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the selection of constituent elements of the natural educational environment. It is described the structure of the arrangement of the preschool, educational and research area playground, an educational ecological trail and a corner of living nature primary school, which motivates and adjusts to productive cognitive activity. Attention is focused on the importance of the living nature corner of the class to develop research abilities, aesthetic tastes, and grafting skills of caring for natural objects and understanding the meaning of environmental protection activities of elementary school students. It is noted that creating a natural educational environment in primary school is very important and necessary for learning the natural educational field, in particular in the formation of environmental competence.