Environmental education: conceptual and historical aspect, main directions and forms of organization in primary school

Abstract

The article actualizes the problem of environmental education of primary school children due to the fact that modern society urgently needs environmentally literate people who are able to solve problems related to the relationship between man and nature. The article views the evolution of the ideas of environmental education of younger youth from the 19th century to the present. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the concept definitions “environmental education” presented by various scientists. The authors take into account the results of the analysis when formulating the definition of this concept in the context of their own point of view. Three main directions of environmental education of primary school children are identified: 1) the formation of a careful and responsible attitude to nature based on Russian traditional spiritual values, skills of protection, protection, restoration of nature, the environment; 2) fostering a sense of rejection of actions that harm nature; 3) the formation of environmental culture of elementary school students. The authors characterize the corresponding forms of organization of environmental education of younger schoolchildren which are popular in modern conditions in educational organizations of general education and implemented during regular and extracurricular hours. The research materials show that in primary schools the content of each of the areas of environmental education for younger schoolchildren complements the content of the other two and is implemented in accordance with basic regulatory documents (the Federal State Educational Standard of Primary General Education and the Federal Educational Program of Primary General Education).