The presentation of the blocks is done in an orderly fashion to maintain the initial "wholeness" of the cube. The box is turned upside down, lid on the bottom. The box is carefully lifted off, revealing the two-inch cube from Gift 2 now made from eight one-inch cubes. This is the process for opening Gifts 3 through 6. Gently insist on this ritual -- no dumping of the blocks. The child will develop a respect for this order if you show them that you also respect it. It is also important to use all of the pieces when working with the Gift since the wholeness is a key point. The child will begin to see the pieces as part of the whole cube and their relationship to the whole. In this way, nothing is wasted or left out. This is a subtle but powerful message of inclusion and conservation. Putting the Gift away is the reverse of the presentation. Have the child reassemble the whole cube on the lid, cover with the base, and then flip the box upright. Actually, this process is really just a continuation of the presentation and of the whole cycle of playing with each Gift. The underlying concept is of a unity of parts moving through various forms and returning to the whole (before the whole cycle repeats again). This idea is planted in a child's mind like a seed and will germinate until the child begins to see this cycle in broader life, as well. Froebel strongly believed in the value of symbolic play. "What shape is this?" Have the child count the number of cubes. Count the six faces of each cube, the twelve edges and the eight corners. Emphasize this idea by returning to this observation with individual children at different times during play.