- Definition
An artefact is an old object made by people, like a tool or a pot, that helps us learn about the past.
An old clay pot found buried in the ground is an artefact that shows us how people used to cook or store food.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: An artefact is like an old toy someone left behind that tells us about how they used to play.
Ask your child: If an old spoon could talk, what would it tell us?
Common mix-up: Kids may think an artefact is just any old object, like a rock. An artefact must be something made by a person that tells us a story about the past.
Examples
- An arrowhead is an artefact that tells us about how people hunted.
- Old coins are artefacts that show us what people used for money.
artefact is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
- Grade 1 The Arts
- Grade 5 The Arts
- Grade 6 The Arts
- Grade 7 The Arts
- Grade 1 Social Studies / History / Geography
- Grade 2 Social Studies / History / Geography
- Grade 3 Social Studies / History / Geography
- Grade 4 Social Studies / History / Geography
+3 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
