The article is devoted to the problem of organization of educational and research activity of junior pupils. The state of development of the investigated problem in scientific and methodical sources has been determined, the essence of the concept of "educational and research activity" has been clarified. The scientific comprehension of the concept "educational and research activity" is based on the ideas of Confucius, F. Distervega, Socrates, Ya. Komensky, J. Locke, J.-J. Russo, K. Ushinsky, O. Dukhnovich, S. Rusova, B. Raykova, V. Sukhomlinsky and others, who in certain historical periods of human development emphasized the need for organization of training aimed at discovering subjectively new knowledge and ways of activity. Scientists believe that educational and research activity: forms an active, independent and proactive stance of schoolchildren; develops their general skills and abilities: research, reflexive, self-esteem; forms not just skills but competencies, ie skills directly related to the experience of their application in practice; realizes the principle of communication learning with life. The authors consider the types of educational and research activity of junior pupils, in particular: by the number of participants - individual, group, collective; at the place of conducting - weekly and extra-curricular; by time - short-term and long-term; on the topic - educational and social. As teachers and psychologists point out, pedagogical interaction, that is, the interaction of those who teaches, with those who are studying, is the basis of the organization of teaching and research activities of junior pupils. The article illustrates the peculiarities of its organization at the lessons of literary reading, natural science, mathematics. It has been determined that for the successful formation of experimental research skills it is necessary to conduct systematic studies taking into account the age and educational capabilities of children. Students' activities should take place in a creative, psychologically comfortable environment.