Caves: A Course of Study.

Middle school students from The College School, a private school in Webster Groves (Missouri) have completed a class called "Caves and Crystallography." A thematic approach was used in the course in which students and teachers read books telling how caves were formed, saw movies which explained the delicate balance of life underground, made several crystals typical of the calcite formations seen in the caves, and spent 1 day a week exploring wild caves. In addition, two overnight trips were held, one of which involved spending 24 hours underground. An outline of literature, handouts, movies, written experiences, art projects, and science projects is included. (JN)