FORMATION OF KEY COMPETENCES OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE INTEGRATED COURSE “I EXPLORE THE WORLD”

The article reveals the problem of the peculiarities of the formation of key competencies of primary school students. Based on the analysis of research, it is determined that competence is defined as the general ability of a person to use knowledge, skills and abilities to achieve specific goals in a certain area. On the other hand, key competence is a certain set of universal skills that are important for successful functioning in modern society. The main elements of key competence are identified, such as: communication, critical thinking, creativity, decision-making and self-government. It is shown that the competency-based approach in primary school consists in the fact that the orientation of the educational process is transferred from the simple presentation of educational material to the formation of students’ skills and abilities to apply the acquired knowledge in various life and educational situations. It was found out that, according to the concept of the New Ukrainian School, the competency-based approach involves not only the acquisition of knowledge, but also the development of key competencies, including communicative, social and informational, which ensure the readiness of the younger student for effective interaction in the team and the world of information. At the heart of this approach is the integration of the student’s knowledge, skills, values and attitudes, thanks to which the ability to independently analyze problems, make decisions and adapt to new conditions is formed. In primary school, the competency-based approach is implemented through the organization of integrated lessons, when the topics of different subjects are combined around a common practical task, which stimulates students to apply knowledge in a complex and develop skills of cooperation and critical thinking. The competency-based approach in primary school in Ukraine is implemented primarily through the integrated course “I Explore the World”, which has become the main tool for implementing a new paradigm of education, as it combines knowledge from various educational fields - natural, social, civic, health-saving and technological - into a single holistic picture of the world. “I Explore the World” is not just a combination of several subjects into one, but a purposeful process of creating a common educational space that meets the modern requirements of the competency-based approach and prepares the student for active participation in social life and self-development.