Contradictions between ecological consciousness, behavior and a condition of an environment should be resolved by purposeful education which would induce people to participate actively in protection of an environment. The formation of ecological consciousness - one of the main directions in overcoming of ecological problems. We believe, that formation of ecological consciousness can be productive from a position of activity approach which is developed by psychologists. Achievement of the certain level of erudition demands to provide corresponding conditions for formation of motives of cognitive activity and mastering of basic skills of problem-solving, to use effective methods of training. In our opinion, the fulfillment of these aims is possible through the organization of research activity of ecological character since research as a way of the organization of educational process promotes not only the formation of special research skills (to observe, experiment, describe, work with the equipment, the scientific and popular scientific literature), but also formation of universal methods of activity (statement of a problem, definition of the purposes, a choice of techniques, self-checking and introspection).

We concretized levels of ecological consciousness as follows:
1. An elementary level when ecological knowledge is not systematic, is fragmentary, and students lack methodological knowledge;
2. An intermediate level, when is beginning to form the rough basis of action, (adequate motivation) and its realization;
3. An advanced level - ecological consciousness with systematic type of the orientation, adequate of the specifications of a modern educational paradigm. The advanced level distinguishes: operative character of thinking, various approaches to the resolving of many problems, speed of actualization of the necessary system of knowledge for the sanction of unplanned situations, a choice of optimum decisions.