Irina Shevchenko

The paper discusses the features of cultural-ecological approach, which is an important methodological basis of modernization of Russian education, held in a worsening of environmental problems and understanding the leading role of culture in their resolution. This confirms the importance of the use of this approach for the development of modern geographic education. The particular value it has in the initial course of physical geography, where we have developed a cultural-ecological module “I am Nizhny Novgorod native”, comprehensively revealing different aspects of the urban landscape.

Today was the issue of expanding the horizon of students. Having considered the textbooks and programs, you may notice that in the school curriculum little attention given to the issue of place names that creates a gap in knowledge and cultural development of pupils. The time frame of the lesson in the school does not allow you to more deeply study the priceless creations of the past. Therefore optional – optimal solution able to solve the problem. Optional course “Toponymy in the town of Gorodets” for students of grade 6 is designed with consideration of age and psychological and pedagogical characteristics of children of this age, is based on learner-centered approach.

Changes taking place on our planet, require displaying them in a modern educational content. In this regard, an important place belongs to the modernization axiological context. It is intended to include the content of geographical education multidimensional objects such studies, which are axiological phenomena. By similar objects include "Geography and ecology of native land" as "an island of the noosphere" and represents a model of harmonious interaction between man and nature, thus realizing the humanistic values. This concept is of great importance in the educational enrichment of educational content and value- activity aspect, per-sonal meaning, and therefore has a huge importance in the implementation of axiological approach. Its area has great potential formation of the valuable relationship.