THE ARRANGEMENT OF RESEARCH ACTIVITY OF GYMNASIUM PUPILS AT CHEMISTRY LESSONS

The paper shows that the creative thinking process, which can be formed by involving pupils into research activity, is very significant within the terms of social and economic, engineering and technology changes taking place in modern society. The author considers the research method can be applied in school practice when pupils do creative exercises and tasks, carry out laboratory and practical works, do research homework and special exploratory tasks, and perform thought experiments. The paper defines the content of the “research activity” concept, describes the stages of pupils’ work and the research skills formed during the activity. The author describes the educational experience of application of research tasks and projects at various steps of training, and makes the conclusion that the involvement of school students into research activity increases the learning efficiency as it activates all types of pupils’ activity, promotes development of their personality and formation of creative thinking, and forces to think by themselves.