From KATE CRENNELL
Now is the time to raid your children’s toy cupboard in a good cause. The
British Crystallographic Association (BCA) wants to encourage children to
appreciate the principles of symmetry using ‘colouring books’ of patterns
built up on the principles of plane groups, or using 2-D or 3-D
‘construction kits’ which demonstrate ways to tile the plane, or building
space filling models. The BCA may also produce some simple microcomputer
programmes which encourage exploration of pattern design.
The BCA Council has asked me to report to them in November 1993, listing
available materials, and how they might be used.
I am asking your readers for help in this project. Please send me your
suggestions for suppliers and what projects the BCA might support. I would
be particularly pleased to hear from teachers, who may already be using such
materials in their courses. If any of you have contacts in other
countries, I would be interested to learn how they teach their children to
enjoy crystallography.
Kate Crennell
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory,
Chilton Didcot, Oxon OX11 0SE
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