Artifacts
What is an "artifact?" An artifact is a piece of work that demonstrates a student's understanding or skill in a particular area, but one that she or he makes (so, not a scan of a math test). The artifacts are mostly based on class assignments (completed in class or as a project), but can come from activities in which students participate outside of class (for example, a merit badge earned in Scouts). For physical artifacts, a picture can represent the work. For artifacts created on the computer, a link to the document can be created.
What is an "artifact?" An artifact is a piece of work that demonstrates a student's understanding or skill in a particular area, but one that she or he makes (so, not a scan of a math test). The artifacts are mostly based on class assignments (completed in class or as a project), but can come from activities in which students participate outside of class (for example, a merit badge earned in Scouts). For physical artifacts, a picture can represent the work. For artifacts created on the computer, a link to the document can be created.
A particular artifact can appear in more than one student's portfolio, as some work might be the result of a group effort. Such artifacts should also describe efforts of various students (who did what).
A particular artifact can appear in more than one student's portfolio, as some work might be the result of a group effort. Such artifacts should also describe efforts of various students (who did what).
The number of artifacts used in a portfolio will vary by grade and subject area. The goal is to have at least one artifact for each major unit or lesson covered in class.
The number of artifacts used in a portfolio will vary by grade and subject area. The goal is to have at least one artifact for each major unit or lesson covered in class.
The following are examples of artifacts that might be included the portfolios of students at different grade levels in elementary school (just a few topics are chosen per grade level, but more or fewer might ultimately be used in a student's portfolio).
The following are examples of artifacts that might be included the portfolios of students at different grade levels in elementary school (just a few topics are chosen per grade level, but more or fewer might ultimately be used in a student's portfolio).
Portfolios in Kindergarten to Second Grade
Portfolios in Kindergarten to Second Grade
Students will be introduced to what it means to select and present their work both in paper and in digital representations. Students at Salem will use Seesaw as a way to display their work.
Students will be introduced to what it means to select and present their work both in paper and in digital representations. Students at Salem will use Seesaw as a way to display their work.
Examples of possible Kindergarten artifacts
Examples of possible Kindergarten artifacts
- Math: a page of the student's writing that shows numbers 1 to 20
- English Language Arts: a recording of the student reading a short series of words
- Science: A worksheet that identifies different parts of an animal
- Social studies: A picture drawn by a student about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Arts Education: a picture drawn by the student that shows different colors, shapes, and textures
Examples of possible 1st Grade artifacts
Examples of possible 1st Grade artifacts
- Math: a picture of a physical set of objects that demonstrates understanding of addition and subtraction
- English Language Arts: a recording of the student answering questions about a story she or he has read
- Science: A drawing of how recycling, reducing, and reusing products can help keep our environment clean
- Social studies: A map drawn by a student that shows major features found on maps
- Arts Education: a picture taken of a piece of clay art created by the student
Examples of possible 2nd Grade artifacts
Examples of possible 2nd Grade artifacts
- Math: A recording of the student doing skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s
- English Language Arts: A worksheet that identifies nouns, verbs, and adjectives
- Science: A picture of a weather measuring device created by a small team of students
- Social studies: A drawing made by a student about types of traditional clothes found in other parts of the world
- Arts Education: A picture drawn by a student based on a photo that she took with a digital camera at the school of an object or place
Portfolios in 3rd Grade
Portfolios in 3rd Grade
Students will use either Seesaw or the WCPSS GoogleDrive system to create their portfolios.
Students will use either Seesaw or the WCPSS GoogleDrive system to create their portfolios.
Examples of possible 3rd Grade artifacts
Examples of possible 3rd Grade artifacts
- Math: Pictures drawn by students that show the time on an analog clock
- English Language Arts: A link to the same short story written from two points of view - the author's and the main character's
- Science: A worksheet completed by the student that labels the planets and other aspects of our solar system
- Social studies: A recording made by a small group of students where they ask a question to a local town council board member
- Arts Education: A picture of a special, three dimensional piece of art created by the student
Portfolios in 4th & 5th Grade
Portfolios in 4th & 5th Grade
Starting in 4th grade, students will start putting together a website that showcases their work and growth. They will refine this in 5th grade, and the portfolio will follow them into middle school.
Starting in 4th grade, students will start putting together a website that showcases their work and growth. They will refine this in 5th grade, and the portfolio will follow them into middle school.
Examples of possible 4th Grade artifacts
Examples of possible 4th Grade artifacts
- Math: A worksheet that demonstrates the student's ability to round up or down to whole numbers
- English Language Arts: A short composition that explains the main ideas of a story the student has read
- Science: A drawing that shows the phases of the moon and explains its motion relative to the earth and the sun
- Social studies: A video produced with a small group of students that demonstrates supply and demand
- Arts Education: A picture of an annotated piece of art that shows a student's understanding about how to critique elements of it
Examples of possible 5th Grade artifacts
Examples of possible 5th Grade artifacts
- Math: Video of a student explaining the concept of a number line with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
- English Language Arts: Student creates a poem using a variety of poetry techniques
- Science: Student creates a video of how different surfaces impact friction on an object
- Social studies: Pictures of a scrapbook the student created about important facts of the U.S. Civil War
- Arts Education: Student presents a picture book about a past or current artist from North Carolina