A research approach to the study of biology: the implementation of the experience of the past in the present

The comprehension of the historical experience accumulated during the activities of Russian advanced teachers and methodologists-biologists contributes to the enrichment of teaching methods with time-tested passages and methods, which determines the effectiveness of their application in the context of the modern educational situation. The ideas and proposals expressed earlier by the scientists in the past can be implemented now to achieve the goals of the Federal State Educational Standard, in particular, when organizing the design and research activities of schoolchildren. The article presents the results of a study of the works of outstanding natural science methodologists of the XIX–XX centuries, concerning their views on the application of a research approach to teaching natural science at school. The article reflects the dynamics of the content of the research activity of schoolchildren in the history of biology teaching methods: from performing descriptive work to conducting biological experiments. Significant attention is devoted to the analysis of the organization of the educational process in natural sciences at commercial schools in Russia and the possibility of applying this experience in teaching biology today. One of the objectives of the article is to consider the topics of observations, research and specific experiments that may be in demand among modern biology teachers during lessons and in extracurricular activities of students.