Features of formation of the cognitive activity of children of middle school age using simple experiments

The article reveals the content of the concept of cognitive activity of children of middle preschool age, which was considered through the prism of the child's personal development and its influence on the child's intellectual sphere, therefore, cognitive activity develops through cognitive operation. The peculiarities of the use of simple experiments in the preschool education institution, which create prerequisites for the formation of cognitive activity, intuition towards nature and understanding of its meaning and acquisition of nature research skills, are analyzed. Identified components of cognitive activity: motivational, cognitive, activity, evaluative. The following practices (interviews with educators, questionnaires) and research methods were determined for pedagogical diagnosis of the levels of formation of the cognitive activity of children of middle preschool age: diagnostic method of cognitive development "What objects are hidden in the pictures?" (R. Nemov), the method of diagnosing the psychosocial maturity of children's behavior (O. Taran), the method of D. Godovikova, the method of examining the cognitive development of children by E. Strebeleva. The presented results of an experimental study of the peculiarities of formation of the cognitive activity of children of middle preschool age showed mainly an average and low level of development. The presented method of forming the cognitive activity of children of middle preschool age by means of simple experiments provided for a number of specially selected simple experiments that were included in classes from different sections of the program. The selected experiments were aimed at forming the cognitive activity of children of the middle group, and were diverse in terms of subject matter and duration. The results of observation of children after the implementation of the method showed increased interest in cognitive activities, motivation to independent search for the causes and consequences of various natural phenomena, etc