Developing critical and systems thinking in primary school students through mind mapping
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31652/3041-2439-2026-6-1Keywords:
critical and systems thinking, mind map, primary school students, integration course «I Explore the World», science and language & literary educational, visualization of educational informationAbstract
The article addresses the issue of developing critical and systems thinking in primary school students as one of the key transversal skills defined by the State Standard of Primary Education. The relevance of using mind maps as a modern didactic tool that ensures the visualization, structuring, and comprehension of educational information in accordance with the cognitive characteristics of young learners is substantiated. The essence of the concepts of critical thinking and systems thinking is analyzed within the framework of the competency-based approach, and their interrelation in the learning activities of primary school students is identified. Particular attention is paid to the possibilities of using mind maps in the integrated course «I Explore the World», where they contribute to the development of meaningful reading skills, text interpretation, critical analysis, identification of cause-and-effect and systemic relationships, as well as the formulation of students’ own judgments and arguments. It has been found that constructing mind maps activates analytical, synthetic, and generalizing mental operations, promotes the development of cognitive independence, and forms the ability to perceive educational material as an integral system of interconnected concepts. The article presents the results of the implementation of mind maps in work with third-grade students while studying the topics «Insects» and «Fish» under the standard educational program edited by R. Shyian through the integration of the natural science and language and literary educational fields. The main difficulties in organizing such activities under blended learning conditions are identified, and ways of overcoming them through information segmentation, map structure templating, and step-by-step content processing are described. It has been established that the systematic use of mind maps increases younger learners’ motivation, facilitates the assimilation of educational material, and creates favorable conditions for the development of critical and systems thinking. The prospects for further research are seen in studying the potential of digital mind maps for the development of metacognitive skills in primary school students.References
Гиря О. Інтелект-карти як засіб підвищення ефективності навчання. Освітні інновації: філософія, психологія, педагогіка: збірник наукових статей у 2 томах / За заг. ред. О. В. Гузенко. Суми: ФОП Цьома С. П., 2020. Т.1. С. 28-31. URL: https://bit.ly/4bNMysP (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).
Дмітренко Н., Франчук Н. Розвиток навичок критичного мислення учнів ЗЗСО на уроках англійської мови. Modern Information Technologies and Innovation Methodologies of Education in Professional Training Methodology Theory Experience Problems. 2024. № 73. С. 79-86. URL: https://doi.org/10.31652/2412-1142-2024-73-79-86 (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).
Державний стандарт початкової освіти. Затверджено постановою Кабінету Міністрів України від 21 лютого 2018 р. № 87. URL: http://nus.org.ua/news/uryad-opublikuvav-novyj-derzhstandart-pochatkovoyi-osvity-dokument/ (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).
Полонська Т. Критичне мислення як технологія компетентнісно орієнтованого навчання іноземних мов учнів 5-6 класів гімназії. Український педагогічний журнал. 2022. № 1. С. 70-79. URL: https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/730320/1/%D0%A3%D0%9F%D0%96_2022_01-71-80.pdf (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).
Полонська Т. Ментальна карта як ефективний засіб розвитку критичного мислення учнів на уроках іноземної мови у 5-6 класах гімназії. European Scientific Platform. 2022. № 3. С. 26-28. URL: https://bit.ly/4deqatJ (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).
Рудницька Н. Формування критичного мислення учнів початкових класів на уроках математики в умовах становлення Нової української школи. Актуальні питання гуманітарних наук. 2025. Вип. 83. Том 3. С. 274-280. URL: https://eprints.zu.edu.ua/43392/1/1.pdf (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).
Струтинська О. Особливості сучасного покоління учнів і студентів в умовах розвитку цифрового суспільства. Відкрите освітнє Е-середовище сучасного університету. 2020. № 9. С. 145-160. URL: https://doi.org/10.28925/2414-0325.2020.9.12 (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).
Шмига С., Богданович Л. Використання інтелектуальних карт у плануванні та організації освітнього процесу. Вісник Науково-методичного центру навчальних закладів сфери цивільного захисту. 2018. Вип. 29. URL: https://bit.ly/4bB71T9 (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).
Buzan T., Buzan B. The Mind Map Book: Unlock Your Creativity, Boost Your Memory, Change Your Life. Pearson BBC Active, 2010. 217 p.
Whiteboard. Zoom electronic board. URL: https://whiteboard.zoom.us/wb/doc/IVBDcMImTIKYWrl24m6VKA/p/189326788853760 (дата створення: 03.02.2026)
Hyria, O. (2020). Intelekt-karty yak zasib pidvyshchennia efektyvnosti navchannia Intelligence cards as a means of increasing learning efficiency . Osvitni innovatsii: filosofiia, psykholohiia, pedahohika: zbirnyk naukovykh statei u 2 tomakh; za zah. red. O.V. Huzenko, Educational innovations: philosophy, psychology, pedagogy: collection of scientific articles in 2 volumes; edited by O. V. Guzenko. Sumy: FOP Tsoma, S.P., 1, 28-31. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/4bNMysP [in Ukrainian].
Dmitrenko, N. & Franchuk, N. (2024). Rozvytok navychok krytychnoho myslennia uchniv ZZSO na urokakh anhliiskoi movy [Development of critical thinking skills of ZZSO students in English lessons]. Modern Information Technologies and Innovation Methodologies of Education in Professional Training Methodology Theory Experience Problems , 73, 79-86. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.31652/2412-1142-2024-73-79-86 [in Ukrainian].
Derzhavnyi standart pochatkovoi osvity [State standard of primary education]. (2018). Approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from 21 February 2018, No. 87. Retrieved from: http://nus.org.ua/news/uryadopublikuvav-novyj-derzhstandart-pochatkovoyi-osvity-dokument/ [in Ukrainian]
Polonska, T. (2022). Krytychne myslennia yak tekhnolohiia kompetentnisno oriientovanoho navchannia inozemnykh mov uchniv 5-6 klasiv himnazii [Critical thinking as a technology of competency-oriented teaching of foreign languages for students of grades 5-6 of the gymnasium]. Ukrainskyi pedahohichnyi zhurnal Ukrainian Pedagogical Journal , 1, 70-79. Retrieved from: .iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/730320/1/%D0%A3%D0%9F%D0%96_2022_01-71-80.pdf [in Ukrainian].
Polonska, T. (2022) Mentalna karta yak efektyvnyi zasib rozvytku krytychnoho myslennia uchniv na urokakh inozemnoi movy u 5-6 klasakh himnazii [The mental map as an effective means of developing students' critical thinking in foreign language lessons in grades 5-6 of the gymnasium]. European Scientific Platform , 3, 26-28. Retrieved from: https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/730325/1/Chicago_%D0%B7%D0%B1%D1%96%D1%80%D0%BD %D0%B8%D0%BA-385-1302-PB-27-29.pdf [in Ukrainian].
Rudnytska, N. (2025). Formuvannia krytychnoho myslennia uchniv pochatkovykh klasiv na urokakh matematyky v umovakh stanovlennia Novoi ukrainskoi shkoly [Formation of critical thinking of primary school students in mathematics lessons in the conditions of the formation of the New Ukrainian School]. Aktualni pytannia humanitarnykh nauk – Current issues in the humanities, Vyp. 83, Tom 3, 274-280. Retrieved from: https://eprints.zu.edu.ua/43392/1/1.pdf [in Ukrainian].
Strutynska, O. (2020). Osoblyvosti suchasnoho pokolinnia uchniv i studentiv v umovakh rozvytku tsyfrovoho suspilstva [Peculiarities of the modern generation of pupils and students in the conditions of the development of the digital society]. Vidkryte osvitnie E-seredovyshche suchasnoho universytetu – Open educational e-environment of a modern university, 9, 145-160. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.28925/2414-0325.2020.9.12 [in Ukrainian].
Shmyha, S. & Bohdanovych, L. (2018). Vykorystannia intelektualnykh kart u planuvanni ta orhanizatsii osvitnoho protsesu [The use of intellectual maps in the planning and organization of the educational process]. Visnyk Naukovo-metodychnoho tsentru navchalnykh zakladiv sfery tsyvilnoho zakhystu – Bulletin of the Scientific and Methodological Center of Educational Institutions in the Field of Civil Defense, 29. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/4bB71T9 [in Ukrainian].
Buzan, T. & Buzan, B. (2010). The Mind Map Book: Unlock Your Creativity, Boost Your Memory, Change Your Life, Pearson BBC Active. [in English].
Whiteboard. Zoom electronic board. Retrieved from: https://whiteboard.zoom.us/wb/doc/IVBDcMImTIKYWrl24m6VKA/p/189326788853760 [in English].
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
- You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
- No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
