Formation of environmental competence of primary school students in the process of activity with artistic works

The article actualizes the problem of formation and development of environmental competence in modern Ukrainian society. Its importance for educational institutions of different levels is determined; the necessity of working on this issue with primary school students is emphasized. The modern didactic characteristics of the paradigm of environmental education of elementary school students are revealed. The newest educational documents (The Сoncept of Environmental education, the State Standard of Primary Education, the Model Educational Program, the Concept of the New Ukrainian School) on the essence of environmental competence, goals and objectives, mandatory learning outcomes for students in terms of environmental competence are characterized. The authors of the study are of the opinion that the formation of environmental literacy of students of primary education should take place in a mixed form (the educational component “I explore the world”, lessons of literary reading and extracurricular lessons in which ecological works are studied). The potential of literature for children and youth as means of forming and developing the environmental competence of primary school students is determined, the possibilities of its use in activity on this issue are revealed. Four issues of ecocentric discourse in Ukrainian literature are characterized, forming the concept of nature as an important component of life. Emphasis is placed on the requirements for the selection of fiction texts for work with younger schoolchildren on the specified problem. Based on the analysis of the latest publications, texts for children and youth by Ukrainian and foreign writers hat can be used by primary school teachers in practice to develop environmental competence. The system of tasks for the development of environmental competence of primary school students in the process of extracurricular activity is presented.