Materials
Several colors of construction paper markers scissors photo of each child, optional 12" dowel rods, one for each child glue clear tape 2 plastic rectangular flower boxes in contrasting colors rectanglular Styrofoam (enough to fill flower boxes)
Instructions
1. Explain to the children that they are going to help you create an Attendance Garden, which will be used to keep track of who is present and who is absent.
2. Let the children choose their favorite color of construction paper and ask them to draw and cut out a flower shape.
3. Help the children write their names in the middle of the flower shape.
4. If desired, take a photo of each child and ask her to glue it to the center of the flower above her name.
5. Encourage the children to cut out flower petals from green construction paper.
6. Demonstrate how to glue and tape the flower and petals to a dowel rod.
7. Label one flower box "Absent" and the other flower box "Present." Put some Styrofoam into each flower box.
8. Ask the children to put their flowers in the box labeled "Present" by pushing the dowel rod down into the Styrofoam. Explain to them that when you see their flowers in the "Present" flower box, you will know that they are in school that day.
9. At the end of the day, ask the children to put their flowers in the "Absent" flower box. Explain to them that since they are going home they will be absent from school.
10. The next morning, remind the children to move their flowers from the "Absent" to the "Present" flower box as they come to school.
11. Throughout the day, encourage the children to notice the Attendance Garden. Ask them to tell you who is present and who is absent.
