Introduction. Currently, issues related to the professional and pedagogical activity of students – future teachers are becoming more important. The purpose of the study is to consider the theoretical and methodological foundations of professional pedagogical activity of students preparing to become teachers. Materials and methods. In the process of organizing the research, the following theoretical methods were used: the study and analysis of philosophical, sociological, psychological and pedagogical literature, synthesis, generalization, systematization; classification. Research results, discussion. Approaches to the concepts of “activity”, “social activity”, “active life position” are analyzed. The author’s definition of the phenomenon of “active life position” is given. Activity is represented at several levels of its development, the authors study each, showing the path from simple forms of body activity to developed forms of social activity. The subjective meaning of activity as a mental phenomenon and its place in the structure of a person’s personality are revealed. Approaches to activity as a synonym for activity, in its relationship with will, as a qualitative readiness to carry out activities, are analyzed. Conclusion. Professional and pedagogical activity appears in the unity of its components: cognitive, motivational, behavioral, where motivational is recognized as leading in the process of its formation among students - future teachers. The need to study the structure of professional and pedagogical activity is justified by the fact that knowledge of parts of the personality quality we study increases the effectiveness of managing its development at a pedagogical institute. The results of the study showed that the components of professional and pedagogical activity are closely related in the personality of the teacher and their totality represents an integral system, and the personality quality of the future teacher studied by us has the character of an integral property.