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?

I'm a Science teacher and these are most definitely not set (IMO) to decorate the classroom although it is lovely for the students to have their work on display! The whole point of homework like this is that the child can present it in a way that they most enjoy, it is entirely adapted to the child. As you said OP you know what your son is capable of so give him some options you know he will choose from. What does he enjoy doing?

Colour-coded key!

Do your print out thing and then move on!!!!!!

The trouble with him handing in a good looking model is that the school then have no idea it’s tricky for him.
In similar situations I’ve had my son do a diagram in place of a model. You could see time had been spent on it, you could also see it wasn’t much good, and that it stretched him.
At least the school and the individual teacher is able to build up a picture of your child’s abilities.

One of the most useful lessons I taught DD was when to do your best and when to do just enough. This would be a just enough homework in our house.

@FrancisCrawford good idea but what again be essentially my job to do

You doing your son’s homework for him is only a short term fix, it isn’t supportive in the longer term.

@vivacian true, but if I sit him down and ask him to do it he will produce nothing because he can't

true, but if I sit him down and ask him to do it he will produce nothing...

Don’t sit him down. Ask him, “What thoughts have you had about that homework? It’s due in on Monday”

...because he can't

If the homework is beyond his capabilities at the moment you need to let the teacher know. You’re doing him no favours at all passing off your work as his.

I agree with Vivacian. If you do the work for hiime then it will appear that he is not putting in the effort at school (since -clearly- he can do far more at home).

Ask for homework adjusted for his abilities. He needs something he CAN do . This will be much better for him than being faced with something he has to do with so much 'support'.