PEDAGOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

This article analyzes the pedagogical foundations of developing critical thinking skills among primary school students. Particular attention is paid to the importance of transforming students from passive recipients of information into active learners who can ask questions, compare different ideas, identify cause-and-effect relationships, search for alternative solutions, and formulate evidence-based conclusions. The article examines the potential of problem-based learning, open-ended questions, group activities, comparison tasks, discussions, and creative exercises in developing students’ critical thinking skills. The author’s practical observations are also incorporated to demonstrate the importance of providing young learners with opportunities to express their own opinions and participate actively in the learning process. The study emphasizes that an educational environment based on independent thinking can contribute significantly to students’ cognitive activity and overall learning effectiveness.