New
New
Lesson 15 of 18
  • Year 10

Presenting a portfolio: creating pages of documentation

I can select a focus for my portfolio and create a narrative through the pieces chosen.

Lesson 15 of 18
New
New
  • Year 10

Presenting a portfolio: creating pages of documentation

I can select a focus for my portfolio and create a narrative through the pieces chosen.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Decide on the theme or focus of your portfolio to highlight specific skills, projects, or a particular artistic style.
  2. Select your most interesting work that aligns with your portfolio’s focus aiming for quality over quantity.
  3. Showcase a range of styles, techniques, or themes to demonstrate your versatility and depth as an artist.

Keywords

  • Portfolio - a collection of your artwork, sketchbook work, experiments, and final pieces

  • Focus - the main idea, theme, or approach you choose to explore in depth

  • Theme - the big idea or subject that your artwork is based on

  • Narrative - the story or journey shown through your artwork and sketchbook

Common misconception

A common misconception about portfolios is that you need to include everything you've made.

It's much better to select work that clearly shows your ideas, development, artistic journey and skills.


To help you plan your year 10 art and design lesson on: Presenting a portfolio: creating pages of documentation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

When selecting work for your portfolio, choose pieces that show your progress, creativity, and decision-making, not just the ones that look the most finished.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Artwork and sketchbooks.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the term to its definition.

Correct Answer:portfolio,a collection of sketchbook work, experiments, and final pieces

a collection of sketchbook work, experiments, and final pieces

Correct Answer:focus,the main idea, theme, or approach you choose to explore in depth

the main idea, theme, or approach you choose to explore in depth

Correct Answer:theme,the big idea or subject that your artwork is based on

the big idea or subject that your artwork is based on

Correct Answer:narrative,the story or journey shown through your artwork and sketchbook

the story or journey shown through your artwork and sketchbook

Q2.
What is the main purpose of an art portfolio?

Correct answer: to show your progress, creativity, and skills
to make your work look colourful
to include every piece of art you’ve ever made
to only display your favourite artist’s work

Q3.
Why is it important for a portfolio to have a focus?

Correct answer: It makes your work feel more connected and meaningful.
It makes your portfolio larger.
It hides the weaker pieces of work.
It ensures you use only one material.

Q4.
Which of these could be a theme for a portfolio?

colour
technology
Identity
Correct answer: All of the above

Q5.
Community themes in art only focus on places, not people.

Correct Answer: False, Incorrect, Wrong

Q6.
Why is it useful to include mistakes or failed experiments in your portfolio?

It fills up more pages.
Correct answer: It shows your creative process and what you learned.
It hides your best work among weaker pieces.
It makes your portfolio look messy.

Additional material

Download additional material