Spreadsheets

Tools for Calculating:

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets provide number crunching for mathphobs. They give users a chance to make calculations, try out new ideas, and visualize the results.

Explore topics for spreadsheet projects.
Spreadsheet Background
Spreadsheet Basics

Electronic paper
Cells
Values, labels, formulas
Information areas
Cursor, cell pointer, active cell
Auto updating
Entering vs generating data

The Software

Integrated Packages
- Microsoft Works, ClarisWorks
Single Applications: Excel
Kid's Packages
- Crunchers, ClarisWorks for Kids

Spreadsheet Strategy

Use a template
Adapt an existing spreadsheet
Create a spreadsheet
Extrapolate from spreadsheets
Jonassen

Categories

Information organization
Demonstration
Record keeping
Calculation
"What if" applications

Identify Data

Consider what will be calculated.
Comparing? Averaging?
Insects & Animals Spreadsheets
- Sizes
- Weights
- Speeds
- Reproduction

Create Questions

Weather
- Temperature
- Precipitation
- Barometer
- Wind conditions
Relationship between wind & season
When is wind most stable? Least stable? Calmest, strongest?

http://www.nws.noaa.gov
Spreadsheet Topic Ideas
Spreadsheet Topics

Silly Starters
M&M or Skittles bag
Chocolate chips in cookies
Pizza options

Explore Spreadsheet

Number Games
Statistics Exploration
Smoking Spreadsheet

Money

Pricing
- a car
- clothing
- stocks
Budgeting
Financing
Banking

Expenses

Getting an apartment
Going to college
Moving to another state

http://www.homefair.com/homefair/cmr/salcalc.html
Do It!

Comparison Shop

Do some online comparison shopping. Explore the following sites and compare the price of three items. Make a simple spreadsheet that lists the place, the item, and the price. An easy place to start is with the titles of three books, movies, or CDs.

Start with these:

amazon.com

barnesandnoble.com

borders.com

powells.com

Also try these:

etoys.com

bluefly.com

outletmall.com

cybershop.com

landsend.com

gap.com

Construction

Sizes
Costs
Resources
Use web-based calculators

http://www.bhglive.com/homeimp/docs/
Food Finder

Fats
Cholesterol
Vitamins
Calories
Use food calculators

http://www.shapeup.org/sua/
Energy

Inventory home appliances
Record energy use in kilowatts per hour
Measurements in house
Windows, doors, insulation
Determine heating & cooling requirements

History Studies

Census statistics
Cost of items
Change of attitudes
Issues Studies
Trace issues over time
Compare different populations

Health Science

Measure effect of exercise on heart
Predict energy cost of appliances
Compare effects of substances on basal metabolism rate
Compare effects of pest control
Relate current & resistance
Compare strong/weak acid-base titrations

http://www.who.int/whosis

Spreadsheet Project Ideas Spreadsheet Ideas

Identify Resources
Conversion tables
Data sets

http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/appe.html
http://WWW.StatCan.CA/start.html
http://stats.bls.gov
Locate Lessons

Consider:
- entry skills
- grade level
- learning outcome
- spreadsheet skills
- relevance of activity

http://www.richmond.edu/~ed344/96/math/
Use Data Generators

Software packages:
- encyclopedias, simulations
Internet
- calculators, databases

http://www.indo.com/distance
http://tycho.usno.navy.nil/time.html
Do It!

Calculations

Try some web-based calculators:

Home Improvement Calculators

Shapeup America

Travel Distances

Time Zones

Salary Calculator

Try these formulas for spreadsheet projects:

Math formulas

Sound

Echos:
- distance
- sound level
- one mountain
- two mountains

Do Experiments

Recording data
Keep it simple

Water Bottle Project

Need: clear bottles, varied shapes, milliliter measure, ruler, water
Experiment:
- pour 10ml of water into bottle
- measure height in bottle in mm
- make charts, compare shapes
- relationship bottle & graph
- predict bottle shape from graph

Sound Detectives

Measure decibel levels
Build a database or spreadsheet
sound: name................vacuum
decibel: number...........75
level: soft, avg, loud....loud

Now you see it...

Opaque, translucent, transparent
Item, reaction, color reflected
Wood.................Wax paper
Frosted glass.......Water
Notebook paper....Orange

Keeping warm

What materials absorb heat?
Put in filled cup in sun for 30 min.
Measure temperature every 30 min.
- sponges
- water
- marbles
- soil
- cotton
- salt

Do It!

Create Spreadsheets

Conduct a science or social studies experiment and analyze the results on a spreadsheet.

Identify a problem and gather the data.

Create a file in Microsoft Excel.

Develop the layout.

Enter formulas.

Enter data.

Analyze the data.

Try some "what-ifs".

Draw conclusions.

Developed by Annette Lamb, 7/99.