Perspectives of cross-curricular activity in Japanese mathematics education

Historically, we can find cross-curricular activities (“life unit study”) after World War II in Japan. When we consider the arguments of “life unit study”, the following three approaches will serve as reference: the approach orientated to the independent aspect, the approach orientated to the societal aspect, the approach orientated to the scientific aspect. By reflecting the critique of “life unit study”, it is suggested that a balanced approach should be carried out. In other words, teachers had better focus on one aspect according to the aim of classroom teaching, and balance three approaches on the whole.