Carolyn N. Kinder
This unit is not designed to answer all of the questions you may have about crystals or crystal growing. It is designed to serve as a motivational device for teachers and students who are interested in learning about crystals.
The success of this unit relies heavy on activities used or developed by the teacher. As you explore different activities, perhaps you will better understand general information about matter, and atoms and how they relate to crystals and other fascinating things in our universe.
The unit will allow you to formulate and investigate many of your own questions and concerns. It is designed so that the classroom teacher can best determine on a day-to-day basis your discussions, findings, and opinions.
Remember, you are using the unit on “Crystals What Are They And What Holds Them Together”, as a vehicle to get students to practice all forms of expression and to help develop improved work skills in dealing with unfamiliar problems. The final goal is not just to know facts about crystals, but to help students in their work with crystals to develop a process. This process will lead to a method of thinking and a scheme through which they learn to organize their own personal experiences.
This is the desire and motivation of which inspires me to share this unit with you. There are six other units written by New Haven Teachers on crystals. You may refer to “Crystals In Science and Technology”, Yale New Haven Teachers Institute, 1989; as a resources in studying this unit.