DIDACTIC GAMES IN BIOLOGY LESSONS AS A MEANS OF ENHANCING STUDENTS' COGNITIVE ACTIVITY
Background. The problem of enhancing the cognitive activity of students in a secondary school is relevant to the modern school system. Adolescence stage is accompanied by a decrease of schoolchildren's results in connection with a change in the general hormonal background. In this regard, students have reduced attention and memory. The teacher's task is to find ways and methods to enhance the cognitive activity of middle-school grades students. It is current to arrange education process by means of gaming activity. The game forms the prerequisites for the creation and effective implementation of the learning process and cognitive activity of adolescents in a difficult period of their maturation. The aim of the research is to develop didactic games for biology lessons to be used in the educational process of secondary school. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of MBEI "Belgorod Lyceum No. 32". The study involved eighth grade students. The study is based on theoretical methods, including analysis of literature, scientific articles, teaching aids. Results. It's necessary to arrange didactic games during each lesson. The games contribute to the motivation of cognitive activity of students. The choice of a specific form of a didactic game and its duration are determined by the purpose and content of the lesson. Eight didactic games were developed as a methodological support to the Biology course of the secondary school. Conclusion. The use of didactic games in the teaching process helps to increase attention, enhance cognitive activity and improve the memory of students.