Project Learning as a Means of Development of Schoolchildren's Cognitive Activity in Waldorf School

The article depicts the problem of project learning (types of projects, specific features and results of project learning) in Waldorf school as one of the schools, which are aimed at formation of creative, active, initiative and independent person who is able and willing to learn lifelong. The purpose of this article is to reveal project learning as a means of development of schoolchildren's cognitive activity in Waldorf school. A complex of methods has been used for this study, namely: theoretical methods (analysis and synthesis of scientific, educational and methodical literature for comparison of different views on the researched problem, definition of conceptual and categorical apparatus) and empirical methods (questionnaire, survey, observation, conversation, dialogue, study of the results of educational activities of schoolchildren to identify the level of development of their cognitive activity). The aim of project learning in Waldorf school is to form various general and special skills and abilities. The tasks of project learning in Waldorf school are: to create preconditions for the mental development of schoolchildren; to form basic habits; to strengthen schoolchildren's will and confidence in their abilities; to develop schoolchildren's independence in learning; to promote the development of creative abilities and imagination of schoolchildren; to awaken schoolchildren's active interest in learning and a sense of responsibility; to maintain schoolchildren's desire and create the conditions for lifelong learning; to develop communication skills, etc. Project learning in Waldorf school involves keeping schoolchildren's workbooks "by epoch", conducting schoolchildren's own research on various topics (often socially significant) and creation of game situations in the study of theoretical subjects and playing life situations. Project learning in Waldorf school enables schoolchildren to test themselves in various activities and contributes to the formation of practical skills, development of individuality, hard working, purposefulness and initiative, attention, memory and will.