Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are an incredibly powerful tool that can be used at all grade levels and across the curriculum. Teachers can promote critical thinking, problem solving, and information literacy for the 21st century. Spreadsheets can help students know how to learn from raw data. It can help them learn to think like researchers and connect with real life all around them. What will your students do with spreadsheets?!

Spreadsheets Introduction and Overview

Spreadsheet Tools
Start here! Has articles, lesson plans, etc.

Spreadsheets for Teachers and Students
This is a great overview of spreadsheets complete with links to how-to's plus sample lessons for a variety of grade levels and topics.

Spreadsheets in Math Class
Find out how NCTM views technology and math, get ideas for cross-curricular data analysis ideas from the real world (math, science, health, social studies, language arts, and physical education).

Spreadsheet Tutorials
Take time to explore these tutorials so you will continue to grow and learn spreadsheets.

Spreadsheets - Top 10 Design Rules for Formatting Spreadsheets - The Basics
From Carla Jolley
These are good rules to know!

Sweet Math Experiences with M&M's

Collecting and Numerically Analyzing M&M Data
This site is better organized than some of the other M&M sites. It also starts with making a pictogram with the M&Ms.

M&M Math
Be part of a collaborative project where you contribute your classroom's M&M data to a common spreadsheet. There are good lesson ideas here, too.

M&M Cookie Math
Another version of the familiar M&M lesson ideas.

Probability with M&Ms
This is not just a lesson plan but a ready-to-go handout for students.

"M&M's"® Candies, Line Plots, and Graphing
By: Deanna Lehar
Has ready-to-go handouts for the classroom.

Spreadsheet Lessons and Projects

How to Make a Timeline in Excel
There are many creative ways to use Excel

Classroom Excel Resources
There are resources, templates, ideas, etc., for all grade levels.

Spreadsheet Activities & Lessons
Explore these resources for K-12 students and teachers.

The ABC's to Excel
Find creative ways to use Excel across the grade levels.

Integrating Spreadsheets in the Classroom
More great ideas with a ton of resources!

The ABC List of Things to Graph
Short on ideas of what your students could graph? Don't worry! This list will surely get you going.

ISTE NETS Lesson/Unit Database
This is a tremendous resource for teachers to find exemplary lesson plans.

Microsoft Excel Activities
You will find some unique spreadsheet activities here.

To Excel is Elementary: Directions on Creating Different Types of Documents in Excel
You will find lesson ideas, templates, directions, sample files and much more to get you started with using spreadsheets!

Let's Make a Deal Math: The Study of Probability
This MultiMedia Schools' article will give you more ideas on how to use spreadsheets to teach probability.

EXCEL-lent Middle School Math Lessons!
This EducationWorld article is for grades 7-8. "Can a computer program motivate math students weary of "drill and kill"? Teachers all over the country use Microsoft Excel in ways that excite students about the power of math in everyday life."

Code Crackers Math Game
Middle school math lesson sponsored by Microsoft.

Microsoft Excel Projects
Includes how to make things such as

• Graph Your Monthly Spending
• Organize Your CD Collection
• Make a Product Table for the Web
• Make Your Own Crossword Puzzle
• Make a Multiplication Table
• Create a Hidden Word Puzzle