Semantics of the toponymic space of Southern Yakutia as a tool for patriotic education

This article is devoted to the study of the potential of using local toponymic material in teaching the native language. The relevance of the work is due to the possibility of using toponymy as an effective tool for expanding students’ knowledge of the geographical environment, forming cognitive interest in the history and culture of their native land, and fostering patriotism. Despite the availability of scientific papers devoted to the study of the toponymy of Southern Yakutia, the development of methodological materials integrating toponymic material into extracurricular activities for middle-school students is an insufficiently studied area. The purpose of the study is to develop and methodologically substantiate the structure of an extracurricular lesson for students of grades 5–8 of comprehensive schools of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), focused on the use of toponymic material of Southern Yakutia in order to form students’ interest in regional history and culture, as well as to increase their level of civic and patriotic identity. As a theoretical basis for the study, scientific papers devoted to the toponymy of Yakutia and the methods of its use in the educational process were analyzed. Based on the analysis of these sources, 83 toponyms were selected, which served as the basis for developing the scenario of an extracurricular activity. The selection criterion was the reliability of the toponymic material, compliance with the level of development, interests and age of students. The study is based on the principles of a systems approach, considering the toponymic material of South Yakutia as an integral system interconnected with historical, cultural and geographical factors of the region. A cultural approach is also used, focusing on the role of toponymy as a means of transmitting and preserving cultural heritage. The result of the study is the developed structure of an extracurricular activity, aimed at activating the cognitive activity of students and forming a sense of involvement in the history and culture of the region. The integration of toponymic material into extracurricular activities seems to be a promising direction in pedagogical practice, contributing to the development of interest in their native land among schoolchildren, preserving the memory of its past and strengthening the sense of patriotism.

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