THE QUEST FOR INTEGRATION - SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE

The importance of comprehensive reform-oriented curricula fbr the wide -scale improvement of elementary school mathematics has long been reco gnized. This article is a case study of one such curriculum, Math Trai lblazers, from the Teaching Integrated Mathematics and Science (TIMS) Project at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Math Trailblazars an d other TIMS materials attempt to integrate mathematics and science by emphasizing science as method and by focusing on a small set of varia bles that are thought to be fundamental. The TIMS materials are examin ed in a framework that considers the meaning of math and science integ ration and its possible advantages and disadvantages, and the difficul ties in writing and implementing integrated materials.