Exploration in the Montessori Classroom

At the beginning of school I start with minimal lessons.  I want my students to become comfortable in my environment and I'm getting to know where they are in the curriculum.  They need time to learn the work cycle procedure.  When I choose a work for the shelf I really think about what I want the student to learn when using the material.  My exploration shelf allows for students to become comfortable as they learn to choose an activity, take it to their table, and restore once finished.  On my exploration shelf I try to incorporate fine motor and materials they may have seen before.  I have space for 9-10 activities on this shelf.

I begin with an open/close activity.  I want this activity to indirectly help a student with lunch time.  I use a tin Crayola lunch box with a simple latch and inside I put containers they may use at lunch including a zip lock bag.  Some other items I use on this shelf are bear magnet dress up, a sorting cup with plastic pencils that can be sorted by color, shape, or number, latch board, wooden fruit balancing game, bead stringing, lacing, a back to school exploration game, fabric puppets in a bag, wooden fruit cutting, and place setting. 

Each month I refresh this shelf with different activities that will engage the students.  I incorporate puzzles, tool boards, tangrams, and linking cubes to name a few.  

Do you have an exploration/manipulative shelf in your classroom?  Comment below.