# A little compound, a clear choice

## Adult preparation before class

Use only a **familiar soft modelling compound already approved locally for these learners**, in its current condition, with its actual label/manufacturer directions available. Adult checks ingredients/contact concerns, hygiene, individual access plans, supervision, amount, surface protection, cleaning and storage/disposal. Nothing in this pack certifies a product safe. Do not introduce a recipe, food mixture, scent, powder, new product or required purchase. No tasting. No knives, wire, skewers, kiln, heat, sharp tools, moulds, small decorations or thin delicate parts. Keep food/drink separate; follow local hand/surface cleaning rules.

Adult prepares a clean stable tray/mat and a few broad portions that suit the actual child's access and local controls. Broad palm-sized forms are an adjustable starting idea, **not a size-based safety guarantee**. If the approved compound/setup is unavailable, or contact/handling is unsuitable, use drawing/directing today and record `COMPOUND NOT AVAILABLE` or `NOT TRIED`. Do not pretend a substitute material was tested. Adult may try the actual approved material before class and record what happened; that is adult setup evidence, not child achievement.

Keep forms low, broad and separate. Press/reshape a single portion; make a second separately if wanted. No joining, stacking load, tall construction or required fine-motor movement. Child may press with a comfortable part of a hand, use an individually approved broad aid, or direct an adult. No hands-on guidance without agreement. Stop at discomfort, unsuitable material, breaking/slipping or a requested pause; adapt amount, position, rest or response route. Do not promise that a ridge holds, dries, stays put, travels or lasts. Do not use this art as a container, toy, wearable, food object or route/safety sign.

## Three complete response routes

- **Make directly:** child chooses and shapes/arranges broad portions comfortably. Record actual compound, maker/date, specific event and any help.
- **Direct an adult:** child points, speaks, signs or uses AAC for one exact form/position choice at a time. Adult repeats and waits for agreement before acting. If adult actually shapes compound, record `CHILD-DIRECTED / ADULT-SHAPED COMPOUND`; child decisions and adult physical contribution are separate.
- **Draw or direct a plan:** make an original drawing of proposed forms, or give exact choices with no material/print/device. An actual drawing is actual 2D artwork. Its depicted sculpture stays `UNMADE 3D PLAN`; a verbal-only plan is `PLAN ONLY`. These routes preserve art intention/development without inventing physical modelling evidence.

Enlarge/high-contrast diagrams, mask one part, read exact descriptions in short chunks and offer pauses. A welcomed locally approved tactile model may show actual broad form/space from an agreed near edge; touch cannot establish unseen colour, shading or viewpoint details. Adult description is an attributed report if direct view is unavailable. Do not invent visual observations. Routes are choices for everyone, not learning-style or diagnosis assignments. A child may switch routes.

## Viewpoint, purpose and truthful records

Mark the mat's **near edge for this agreed seated viewpoint**. Page-left/page-right and near/far refer to that view; turn the mat only with agreement and rename references. A top-view diagram shows footprints; an oblique diagram suggests height. Neither shows every unseen side, an actual volume or a guaranteed compound result. A mound picture is not proof of a sphere; a flat oval footprint is not a claim about every view. Use plain form language before mathematical labels.

Record: actual date; actual source/work ID; compound/tool if used; child decision; actual maker/support; direct observation or attributed report; `NOT TRIED` if no event; keep/change; intended meaning/use; actual viewer/permission/response only if it occurs. Private self-review is valuable but is not audience sharing. No names, faces, location, home/family story, photo, audio or upload is required. Private teacher records follow local policy.

A quiet desk display requires child agreement, adult approval of the actual stable placement and supervision/storage decisions. If an artwork must be recycled, ask first and retain a chosen drawing/description where practical; preservation is not promised. A willing viewer may describe what they notice without agreeing with the maker's meaning. Touch needs separate permission and local approval. Home bridges need no compound, print, device, purchase or return evidence.

The optional local [screen planner](digital/README.md) makes an illustrative plan only. It stores/transmits nothing; closing/reloading clears choices. Use one control/chunk at a time or complete the same choice by words/sign/AAC.