Abstract. This article is devoted to the study of the importance of extracurricular activities in the formation of the socio-ecological thinking of third-grade students. The research examines children's attitude to the environment, ways to develop environmental knowledge and skills. In order to increase the impact of extracurricular activities on students' thinking, it is recommended to use games, practical exercises and methods of communication with nature. Methodological recommendations based on practical experiences are presented in the article.