treasure blocks

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Flowers can be delicate and fierce simultaneously, making it hard for children to get up close to study them. The Alberta Wild Rose, with its fragile rosy-pink flowers and thick thorny stems, is one such flower. Rather than having children handle the prickly-stemmed blooms, flower treasure blocks are a good way to introduce the prickly rose.

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The Alberta Wild Rose is a hardy, bushy shrub that grows in sunny spots in the wild all over temperate regions in Canada. It is a low-maintenance plant that is drought-tolerant and fire-resistant. The plant is non-toxic, and the leaves and fruits are edible. The beautiful, five-petaled flowers with yellow stamens are easy to spot at this time of year.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies for this flower-themed science and sensory activity:

fillable treasure blocks
flowers, petals, leaves, and stems

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Introducing Flower Treasure Blocks

Fillable treasure blocks, also called window blocks, generally have wooden frames and clear panels. One side of each block is removable, so loose parts like buttons, beads, gems, or natural items such as flowers, leaves, pine cones, and twigs can be placed inside. The see-through blocks are a valuable resource for the home or classroom.

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Unscrew one side of each block and add flowers such as the Alberta Wild Rose or your favorite flowers to the blocks. Include the blooms, buds, leaves, and stems. Then screw the panels back on.

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Set the flower-filled blocks in a display corner or on a light table for children to observe. Or place them in a block corner with a variety of other blocks. Your little charges will be delighted to handle the see-through blocks and study what’s inside.

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Another Way to Display Flower Parts

Instead of using treasure blocks to display flowers, gently place their parts between two clear magnetic tiles.

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The Alberta Wild Rose showcases brilliantly between the tiles, and the flowers look gorgeous. I skipped adding the spiky stems since the magnetic tiles are easy to take apart.

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Skeleton Treasure Blocks

Christmas Treasure Blocks

Winter Treasure Blocks

Valentine’s Day Treasure Blocks

St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

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[Read more…]

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Children love using loose parts in pretend play centers and sensory trays, and they make playful playdough accessories. I also enjoy featuring them in treasure blocks, and these skeleton treasure blocks are among my favorites.

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Supplies In the Treasure Blocks

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The following supplies are featured in the skeleton treasure blocks:

wooden treasure blocks with two clear panels
skeleton figurines
skeleton and bone metallic necklace pieces
green, orange, and purple pompoms
orange bead necklace
white, green, orange, purple, and black beads
skull treat holder
squishy eyeballs
toy bones

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The Skeleton Treasure Blocks

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Treasure blocks are fillable wooden blocks with two clear or transparent panels. They are perfect for holding natural and found objects and sensory loose parts. They can be used in many different ways, and I highly recommend having a set or two in your collection of educational supplies.

Bendable skeleton figurines in purple, green, and orange, are the highlight of my skeleton blocks. They are featured in a large square sensory block, and in the rectangular block. The neon skeletons set the color scheme for most of the rest of the supplies.

Bright, sparkly green, orange, and purple pompoms are included in the orange skeleton block and also have a moment of their own in a small square block.

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Similarly colored small beads accent the block with two skeletons.

Skull and bone necklaces that are cut apart make tiny, exquisite loose parts for a second small square block.

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Strips cut from a metallic orange bead necklace provide the sensory base for the second large square block. Bones are featured on the middle layer, and white squishy eyeballs are layered on top.

Individual beads cut from the orange bead necklace are also featured in the third small square treasure block.

A small skull treat holder fits perfectly inside the last square block.