The teacher then thinly slices them and gives each group or class an assortment. See manufactures suggestions for how thin to slice them. I slice them onto sheets of wax paper and then layer sheets inside a covered plastic container. The slices can be used even weeks or months later. When time to share, I take out sheets carefully and place on metal cookie sheets to pass around to students.
Students transfer the slices they want onto wax paper they have placed on a foam plate.
They then can safely carry back the slices to their table. With little children, I walk around with trays, have them pick their slices and then put them on to their wax paper for them. I also make rules on when they can carefully apply them to their object. Sometimes having younger children wait for teacher or aide to help place them. I like using multiple canes especially with children but many great and beautiful projects can be made with all of the slices are the same pattern.