Unit introduction - Getting Started with spreadsheets

A spreadsheet is a computer program that can be used to organise, analyse, sort and graph data.  The user can input the data or the data can be copied from other sources.  They can perform calculations quickly and reliably and can handle large amounts of data.

There are natural curriculum links with other subjects particularly in the areas of Maths, Science (e.g. recording, analysing, graphing results of experiments) and Geography or even P.E (e.g. weather or performance data).  There are also opportunities to talk about careers and to understand that spreadsheets can be used by a wide range of professions, not simply financial.  

During this unit of work the pupils will work in a spreadsheet that they create themselves using Google Drive: Sheets.  All of the activities across the weeks are set out in the Activity Sheet.  There are a number of tasks to complete individually, peer assessment opportunities, questions to think about and reflect back in class time, links to follow to other spreadsheets.  This can be given to the pupils in different ways

• Storing a .PDF version on your school’s network so that the children can access each the document each week
• Sharing the document with your class via Google Drive so that they have access to it through their school email.

Some short written tasks are also completed by the students. These should be completed on the Student worksheet for each lesson. You can provide your students with paper copies or make a copy of the sheet yourself and share it with them as an assignment in Google Classroom, so they have their own editable digital copy.

 

Making a copy of the activity sheet

In order to do this in advance of the first lesson you will need to:

1. Open the Activity Sheet,

2. Click ‘File’ and then choose ‘Make a copy’ from the menu,

 

 

3. Rename the document and save it in your Google Drive, click ‘OK’,

 

 

Sharing your copy with your students

Once you have a copy you need to share it with your students. If you are a Google school you can do this directly from your new copy of the document:

Click on the ‘Share’ button the top right hand side of your document.

 

 

Type the names of your class or the class email group into the box that appears on your screen.  Using the drop down menu on the right choose ‘VIEWER’.

Choosing Viewer, rather than editor is really important as you do not want students to be able to edit the contents of the Activity sheet.

 

 

Then click the blue Send button.

 

 

Your class will now be able to access this document via their email and Google Drive.

 

Sharing the file in other ways

Alternatively, if you are not a Google school, you could share it with your class via OneDrive or Microsoft Teams, or if you prefer, you can simply save it to the school network for them to be able to open from there.

To do this click ‘File’ and then choose ‘Download’ and then ‘PDF document(.pdf)’ from the menus that appear,

Find the downloaded document and store this on your network in a folder that your students can access.

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Lesson 1 introduction

Begin by finding out if anyone knows what a spreadsheet is or if they have used one before, some children may be familiar with them due to family use through work. Do they know the names of spreadsheet software? (Microsoft Excel and Google sheets are the most common examples).  Gather answers, which could include collecting financial information, planning work, organising information.

The following link will take you to a Google Search

Who would use a spreadsheet and why?

The three most common general uses for spreadsheet software are to create budgets, produce graphs and charts, and for storing and sorting data. Within business spreadsheet software is used to forecast future performance, calculate tax, complete basic payroll, produce charts and calculate revenues.

Show them a spreadsheet from your preferred software suite (Google Sheet, Microsoft Excel or similar. Libre Office is a great free suite of office programs if needed, Calc is their spreadsheet tool).

 

Google Sheets

To create a new Google sheet click on the ‘waffle’ icon on the top right hand side of your NTLP mail window.

 

Then select Drive from the menu.

When Drive opens click ‘New’ and then select ‘Google Sheets’.

 

Microsoft Excel

 

Ask: does anyone know any of the features of a spreadsheet or can explain or suggest how they might be used?

Do they recognise any familiar software icons from other packages or can they spot different icons? E.g. similar icons / menu options might include File, undo, print, text editing options 

New icons that children might mention could be

 

 

Move around the spreadsheet and using the appropriate vocabulary, identify the special features of the software that make it different from Word or a drawing package.

Click in a cell to highlight it and ask the children to identify the cell reference

 

 

Repeat a few times asking the children to name the cell reference each time.

 

Demonstrate highlighting several cells at once both across rows and columns.

 

 

Show the class where to find the Activity Sheet.

 

Note - This will differ depending on how the Activity sheet was shared with the pupils. If it is on the school network, show the pupils how to access that shared area. If the Google Doc was shared, then show the pupils how to access it from either their email or from Drive.

 

Main tasks

Give them time to Complete task 1 and 2.  Spend some time reviewing the questions at the end of Task 2.

 

 

Ask the children to complete task 3, experimenting with adding different types of data into cells, what do they notice and what can they find out?  

 

Open up the workbook ‘Demonstration Spreadsheet activities’, Open the Tab ‘The number 21’ and check that you have clicked in a cell in a row below row 1. Ask the children what they notice, what they can predict about each cell A1-D1.

Remind the children that each cell can contain the following data

• individual numbers 1-9
• 2, 3, 4 digit numbers and bigger e.g. 56398
• individual letters a-z, lowercase and uppercase letters
• words, phrases, whole stories

 

And

• formula that can manipulate data

 

Click in cell B1 - look at the formula bar.  Was this expected?

 

 

Ask ‘What will we see if I click in A1?’

After you have gathered suggestions from the class click in A1 to see the answer.

 

 

Repeat with cells C1 and D1.

 

Did the class notice anything unusual about the formula? (= before the calculation, * instead of x, / instead of ).

Explain how to make each of these symbols using the keyboard (* shift plus 8, / question mark key without shift).

 

Can the class suggest other formulae for cells in row 1? E.g. 23-2

Demonstrate entering the formula that would give an answer of 21,make sure to point out that

• = must be entered first
• + is typed when ‘=’ and ‘shift’ are pressed at the same time
• -  is next to the ‘+’ ‘=’ key
• / is used instead of ‘’

 

Ask the children to choose a number between 1 and 10, then on their spreadsheet write a different calculation in cells A1 - D1 using a different operator for each.  The total should always be their chosen number.  Here the focus is on creating accurate formulae.  When the pupils are confident in creating a working formula and finding the appropriate keyboard keys then extend the complexity of numbers.  This is Task 4 on the Activity Sheet.

 

Saving your spreadsheet

Show the children how to save (rename) their sheets.

Click in the Untitled spreadsheet field at the top left hand side of the screen, over type and call the workbook ‘Spreadsheet activities’, this will automatically save into Google Drive

 

 

Microsoft Excel

• Right click on the Tab called ‘Sheet 1’
• Select ‘Rename’ from the menu
• Label the sheet ‘Week 1’
• Click ‘OK’
• Click File > Save As > Save As > Rename the Book ‘Child’s name Spreadsheet activities’
• Choose where you would like the children to save their work