CURRENT ISSUES IN TEACHING NATURAL SCIENCES IN ELEMENTARY GRADES

<jats:p>This scientific and practical article examines the current issues in teaching natural sciences in primary school and analyzes the content and methodological aspects of this process. Teaching natural sciences plays a crucial role in developing students’ ability to observe, analyze, draw conclusions, and understand cause-and-effect relationships in the natural world. However, in the context of digitalization and the implementation of new educational standards, questions of teaching quality and effectiveness have become increasingly relevant. The article identifies the main challenges faced by primary school teachers in teaching natural sciences, such as the lack of methodological resources, limited teaching materials, insufficient practical orientation of lessons, and difficulties in fostering students’ research activity. Using examples from schools in the Issyk-Kul region, the paper presents ways of integrating local ecological and geographical features into the teaching process. The purpose of the study is to analyze modern methods of teaching natural sciences in primary education and to explore innovative approaches to improving learning effectiveness. The article highlights the importance of interactive and project-based learning, the use of STEM technologies, and the inclusion of environmentally oriented practical activities.</jats:p>