Choosing a Portfolio Artefact revised 2014
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Transcript Choosing a Portfolio Artefact revised 2014
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>