The article considers the development of active activity of students in primary school through problem-based learning. The psychological and pedagogical features of problem-based learning are described. Based on the research, special tasks of problem-based learning are taken as a basis, i.e. (the use of logical methods or individual methods of creative activity); education of skills for the creative application of the acquired knowledge (in new situations) and skills for solving educational problems. The skills expected from problem-based learning are concretized by the desire and ability to learn, preparation for self-education, speech and logical thinking. The article also analyzes that the essence of a problem lesson can be covered in one sentence, for example, "creative assimilation of knowledge". The phrase "creative mastery of knowledge" means that in the lesson the student goes through all the links of scientific creativity: setting a problem and finding a solution - at the stage of knowledge introduction; expression of the solution and productive implementation – reproduction (utterance) of knowledge, etc. In problem-based learning, the difference between the dialogue leader and the motivator is analyzed.