To help ds cut corners on his homework?

[AvenueQ]

The homework is to make a 3D leaf model.
He is 13 and in year 8 but has additional needs. Essentially the homework would have to be done 80% by me, and be rubbish because I'm terrible at practical things.

I found a template online which is a cube grid with all the leaf layers printed on. So he could just colour it in then stick it together and done.
Would that be wrong?

Would he be able to copy the template? Draw it and cut it out himself?

That’s not cutting corners - that is using all resources available to you!

Maybe get him to attempt to find the template himself with a “I wonder if we can find some help with this on the internet” and some handy hints as to the best search terms. Being able to find what you need on on the internet is far more useful than being able to build a 3D leaf anyway. (Wtf even is that?????)

My husband writes code for a living. The vast majority of his job is “search for code already written and freely available, make small adaptations, use it”.

Wtf is the point of that homework for a 13 year old? Which subject was that for?

I’d maybe help him find the cube grid for himself online, but then yes that sounds fine.

I agree with pp, that isn't cutting corners at all. It's very likely to be what 50% of the class do.

It sounds like a stupid homework task, so do whatever works, frankly.

@8by8

Leaves have layers. It teaches how the physically manage photosynthesis and all the chemical interactions etc.
It's just making a 3D model of skin. Skin has layers.

I think that is absolutely fine.

Sounds good to me
Op! 😊

@Lulualla how would you do this homework though? Clay?
One suggestion by the teacher was to make an edible model - I mean how? I just can't do that sort of thing!

Lullualla--sure, but he could demonstrate his knowledge just as well by drawing a cross section of a leaf in his exercise book, labeling each layer/part and then writing a paragraph describing each part's function.

With the homework task as it is, 95% of the time spent on the homework is basically being spent doing craft activity. That would be fine if this was a craft homework, but I'm assuming it was science.

@Kokeshi123 that's exactly how I see it and yes it's science.
He already did a worksheet homework a couple of weeks ago which was labelling a leaf structure and describing the functions of each.

Yeah I learnt the layers of leaves at some point, but I did it by drawing a cross section. At 13 it seems odd to me to have homework that’s essentially “now get out your pritt stick and crayons” - surely you do that kind of thing at a younger age?

Plasticine might be your friend here. Though your plan sounds fine too.

Model making is used in science. I remember doing this homework, we had the choice of doing an image on a computer or doing a 3d model.

I really have no idea where to start!!

I'd do what you suggest without worrying about it. I have one secondary and 3 primary children. 2 of the primary have sen and I don't think twice about printing stuff from twinkl so they can complete their homework. It makes it a lot less stressful and it gets done.

They've coloured and cut out models of pyramids, a sarcophagus, Tudor house amongst others this term. You've adapted the homework to the needs of your child. Nothing wrong with that.

www.google.com/search?q=model+of+a+leaf+cross+section&client=ms-android-tmobile-gb&prmd=ivn&sxsrf=ACYBGNRw6jpGZaj_w2TYtxDnT-wAlM46nQ:1572611935614&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi5wKr-g8nlAhVipHEKHd6wC4EQ_AUoAXoECA0QAQ&biw=360&bih=631#imgrc=7zlsik9EQFuNrM

One of those packs of plasticine would work, just use a different colour for each structure.

you make a sandwich or cake for an edible model. Not that I am suggesting you do, just giving an answer.

This is one of those homework that is meant to be fun but isn't. And what you have suggested is absolutely fine.

Looks great, but would in reality be fiendishly difficult to do - and even more difficult to transport to school wouldn't it?

Seems perfectly reasonable

(As in your plan op, not the homework, sorry if that wasn’t clear!)

Dip string into PVA glue and make leaf skeleton shapes out of it.

What you have suggested is more than fine.
It's a classic Y7/8 science homework. DS & DD (different schools) both had to make and label a 3d cell. DS did it in plasticine. DD did a pizza. Others did assemblages of found objects, someone did a cake. Don't sweat it.

I used to absolutely hate these half term wasting poorly thought out homeworks. All of my kids would have much preferred an essay to handmaking a Roman Fort out of cardboard ( a horrific task requiring endless cardboard collection and scapels because sissors just didn't work.. I had to do the scapels because they cut themselves and it was hand aching work that took hours and that was before the gluing. We didn't manage all the painting and I had to drive them to school as it wouldn't have survived the journey. Oh yeah and the Shoe Box we had to paint green to make into a plant cell. OMG.. I HATE THESE STUPID so called projects!!!!!
Most of this rubbish is designed to stick in the classrooms to make them look good for open day.
Its still going on.. My other son spent hours, which he needed to spend on other work, designing a History A Level poster. He could have written flash cards on the subject in 5 minutes. Instead Colouring In and typeface at Alevel for heaven's sake.

One suggestion by the teacher was to make an edible model - I mean how

Fondant icing?