The article highlights the problem of realization of the connection between theory and practice in the course of biology of the 6th grade as a condition of the competence approach to learning.It reveals the issue of developing the content of biological education, as well as the potential possibilities of the 6th grade biology course in the formation of students’ competencies that allow the application of knowledge about plants, bacteria and fungi in life.The author considers the conditions of realization of the competence approach to teaching biology from the standpoint of the connection between theory and practice.The article demonstrates that the problem of using knowledge in practice requires rethinking and bringing its content in line with modern requirements of socio-economic development of the country, science and technology.We revealed the most important concepts of polytechnic nature on the example of the topic “Root”. It can form the basis of further professional training of specialists in various fields of activity.The analysis of the 6th grade biology course allowed to purposefully identify the areas of application of polytechnic knowledge (crop production, animal husbandry, nature protection, rational use of nature, microbiological industry, medicine, etc.).The article also indicates the importance of the analysis of the effectiveness of programs and teaching aids in the implementation of a competency-based approach to school education.It figures out the main conditions for the implementation of a competency-based approach to teaching biology from the standpoint of the relationship between theory and practice. They are the following:- formation of students’ ideas about biology as a science that underlies the future profession;- formation of interest in professions related to biology as a profile discipline;- allocation of knowledge of polytechnic orientation (knowledge in the field of crop production, animal husbandry, nature protection, environmental management, microbiological industry, medicine, etc.);- selection of polytechnic material in school biology textbooks;- disclosure of causal links between the theoretical provisions of science and their applied orientation;- development of skills of application of theoretical knowledge in practice, development of ways of involvement of pupils in practical activity.
 Keywords: competent approach to schooling; knowledge, skills; subject competences; 6th grade biology course; the content of biological education; polytechnic knowledge; rural schools, biology-related professions.