THE ALTERNATIVE SET OF COUNTRY STUDY TEACHING AIDS “KEY” (“RAKTAS”)

Primary forms of reformed school of general education in Lithuania had a possibility to choose only one course of country study teaching until now. Present education is based on the principles of democracy, so it's necessary to look for the alternative because teachers, pupils and their parents have a right to choose the content of education according to their needs and interests. Moreover, it is inspired by actively changed environment, regulations of society, long-lasted teachers' discussions in seminars and conferences, articles in press. Teachers can best confirm the value of present course books of country study teaching and their use for the process of education. 684 primary teachers participated in the scientific research in 2002. The aim of it was to ascertain if the course books of country study correspond the needs of participators of the process of education, if the alternative is necessary and what it has to be. The research indicated that for 76,6 percent of teachers present course books are only partly suitable. They would like to choose the alternative if it would be possible. It is important to mention that Lithuania is one of the few Europe countries, which didn't have the alternative set of country study teaching aids. The alternative set of country study teaching aids “Key” for the natural science and social literacy education for the first formers consists of: Course book (part I, part II); Workbook (part I, part II); Teacher's book. Course book corresponds the aims and didactic principles of the Curriculum of Primary Education. It will help for pupils accomplish the requirements of natural science and social education that are gave in the Curriculum and achieve the certain level of the competences from Standards of Primary Education. Course book extends to interest the small readers. Its content consists of 5 characters: 4 children and uncle whose name is Juozas. Egle and Laurynas are the first formers from the city school. Aiste and Ignas live and study in the village. All of them are lively, interesting and clever, all of them have the serious point of view to the learning. They are also different. Children differ from each other in their interests, features of character, home environment, etc. New piece of information and new topics are presented during these characters. Uncle Juozas is an older person. He is the symbol of wisdom and life experience. He is in best relations with children. Preparing “Key” the principle of seasons is regarded, so we offer lessons of investigation for every part of the year. We also considered teachers' needs for the alternative course book: evident link of course book and workbook, we offer more information from the field of natural sciences, more colorful and various tasks that incites positive emotions, critical thinking, pupils' communication and parents' participation in the process of education. All the tasks foster the abilities of nature research, teach to evaluate learned, understood and invented knowledge. There are two workbooks in the set. One part of tasks are access for the pupils' individual work, others should be done in groups or discussing with desk-mate. Some tasks should be done with parents or other adults. Some tasks are given to use knowledge that pupils already have or to confirm new information, some educates pupils' thinking, esthetic taste and practices creativeness, regulations of values. Doing the activities the most important thing should be child's activeness, his/her frame for the work, responsibility for the final result. The numbers of tasks are given according to the topics. It means that teachers have a possibility to choose tasks that seems to be more expedient, more interesting and more attractive to their pupils. Some tasks will be useful organizing individual or differentiated work in a class.