Choosing a
Portfolio Artefact
2014 Edition
Lesson Overview
 WHY is this lesson important?
 WHAT is an artefact?
 WHICH Social Studies concepts am I interested in?
 HOW and WHERE do I find an artefact to match my interest?
 WHOM can I approach for help?
 WHEN should I have my artefacts chosen by?
WHY is this lesson important?
 Last year, your Portfolio was
based on the “Family Tree” and
the “I am..” assignments
 This year, there will be more
independent choice
 BOTH your Portfolio entries will
begin with YOU choosing an
artefact!
WHY is Portfolio work important?
 Working on a portfolio may not be easy!
However it can be very rewarding.
 Remember, creating a portfolio allows you to:
 Pursue your areas of interest
 Learn independently
 Work according to your own learning style
 Develop your potential
WHAT is an Artefact?
 Something ancient which
was dug out of the
ground?
 Something rare and
valuable?
NOT NECESSARILY!
WHAT is an Artefact?
 The Oxford Dictionary defines an Artefact as:
An object made by a human being, typically one
of cultural or historical interest.
 Etymology (word origin):
From the Latin phrase arte
factum
ars (skill) + facere (to make)
Using Artefacts
 Many objects can spark off interesting
Commentary and Reflection
 A picture of an ancient water vessel
might prompt you to discuss the
civilisation that made it
 A modern plastic bottle could spark
off reflections on pollution and
wastage
 Comparing the two will let you write
about change and continuity in
human technology
WHAT makes a good SOCIAL
STUDIES Portfolio Artefact?
 For Social Studies, we look out for
Historical, Cultural or Social artefacts:
Anything made by a person or a group
which gives information about the
history, culture or society of its creator
and users
Qn: What have my seniors chosen as
artefacts in P5?
 News articles from the past and/or
present day
 Books or Films
 Collections of items e.g. photographs
or stamps
 Physical Objects
SOCIAL STUDIES Portfolio Structure
An Example
An Introduction,
Transition and
Conclusion can INTRODUCTION
give you
opportunities for
Reflection too!
ENTRY
1
TRANSITION
FROM
ENTRY 1 TO
ENTRY 2
CONCLUSION
ENTRY
2
Possible Structures for
Portfolio Entry
SELF-SELECTED
ARTEFACT
ARTEFACT
ARTEFACT
SELF-CREATED ARTEFACT
ARTEFACT
ARTEFACT
ARTEFACT
+ COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY
+
REFLECTION
COMMENTARY
+
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
WHICH Social Studies concepts am I
interested in?
 Your Portfolio Entries must be related to concepts
and ideas which you learn about in Social Studies.
 Refer to the handout “Concepts and Generalisations”
 On the worksheet “Choosing a Portfolio Artefact –
my own pathway”, list down ALL the concepts which
you are interested in.
 Share with the classmate next to you WHY you are
interested in these concepts.
HOW and WHERE do I find an
artefact to match my interest?
 You can:





Search the Internet for articles
Search the Library for books / films
Find an object (or collection of objects)
Create an artefact if you cannot find anything suitable
Use your Creative Achievements Logbook (*only for Entry 2)
 REMEMBER that your artefact must :
 Have links to Social Studies concepts
 Generate many thoughts, reactions and opinions for you
Object-Based Study – Example 1
 A single Object can tell us a lot about its owner!
 Look at your own pencil case. If someone were to
examine it, they might be able to tell:
 Who your favourite movie character is
 That you are creative (many different colour pens)
 That you like to be prepared (spare pencil lead and
stapler bullets)
 That you are a neat person (pens all face the same way)
 Likewise, an Artefact can tell us a lot about past
civilisations.
Object-Based Study – Example 2
 One day, you find these two objects in the drawer of
an old desk at home.
 You have never seen them before and are not sure
what they are.
Object-Based Study – Example 2
 Both have moving parts but cannot move on their
own.
 You try to figure out what their purpose. Are they:
 Toys?
 Small machines?
 Holiday souvenirs?
 Eventually you figure out (with help from your
parents) that they are older forms of INFORMATION
STORAGE
Object-Based Study – Example 2
 Using this cassette tape and floppy disk as your
portfolio artefacts, you can reflect on:
 Change and Continuity – how do these items compare
to methods of storing information in ancient times, and
to methods used in 2014?
 Human Ingenuity – Why do we invent ways of storing
information? What problems does it solve?
Object-Based Study – Example 2
 Change and Continuity
 Man has stored information on clay tablets, printed
books, magnetic media, optical discs and now USB flash
drives
 Evidently the MATERIAL we use has changed, as well as
the SPEED of making copies
Object-Based Study – Example 2
 Change and Continuity
 However, though they look very different, all these
forms of storage are chosen for the same reasons
 They are relatively DURABLE, CHEAP and PORTABLE
Object-Based Study – Example 2
 Human Ingenuity
 By finding ways to store and copy
information, mankind no longer has to rely
on speech and memory. Ideas can be
preserved for many years.
 This has allowed man to accumulate and
improve on knowledge
Object-Based Study – Example 2
 You could also reflect on the
process of figuring out the
importance and use of a strange
object from the past.
What skills do archaeologists need?
What difficulties might they face?
Creating your own Artefact
Important:
Making your own artefact can be very timeconsuming!
If you wish to try this, do it for your second
Entry.
e.g. creating a poem, news article, poster,
game, model or website
Remember that you are graded according
to the quality of your COMMENTARY and
REFLECTIONS, not how good your artefact
itself is.
WHOM can I approach for help?
 My Teacher
 My Friends (for ideas)
 My Family, especially my elders (for
interesting objects)
 REMEMBER that YOU should do the searching
– do not make others do it for you!
WHEN should I have my artefacts
chosen by?
 <Teacher to advise on timeline>