This lesson has worked very well in the past and continues to be an activity that students enjoy.  In the past, this has been students’ first introduction to using spreadsheets, but with the implementation of the technology lessons, students should already have had the spreadsheet basics in grade 6.  Excel is very similar to older versions of Microsoft spreadsheet, it is just more powerful.  It will not take you long to become familiar enough with Excel to teach this lesson.

Students are very good about exploring the different functions and tools.  They also are willing to help each other.  I have briefly explained to students how a spreadsheet is set up and demonstrated how to enter data into the cells.  Students are then asked to create the sample shown.  Once everyone is finished, I demonstrate how to create formulas.  There are usually several different ways to accomplish the same end result and depending on the class, I may show more than one way to do something.  I also show students how to format the currency automatically.  As students are working, I’m walking around, helping those who need it and checking that they have actually entered a formula and not just the numbers. 

Some possible pitfalls:

1.  Remind students to press <Enter> once a formula has been entered.  That tells the computer you are finished and would like to get to the next cell.

2.  Error messages usually occur because students have put the wrong cell name in the formula, put the formula in the wrong cell or put the numeric data in the wrong cell.  It might be helpful to show students what an error message could look like and how to find the cause.  The goal is to make them as self-sufficient as possible.  If the column is too narrow to print the entire number, ##### usually is in the cell.  Just drag the column until the number appears.

3.  Students inevitably want to see how big the spreadsheet is…you can go to Edit and Go to to get back to the beginning.

4.  Remind students to save often and save early—better safe than sorry.

Modifying the lesson:

Special education and ESL students can do this with very little modification.  Here are some possible modifications:

• omit the part where you purchase exactly $500

• omit changing the font and color  (The currency format is important—it is an example of how powerful the spreadsheet is.) 

• have all or most of the information already on the computer and have the students concentrate on creating and entering the formulas