#144. Excel graphing introduction

Mathematics, level: 1-2
Posted Mon Jun 29 10:06:16 PDT 2009 by Valorie Haneckow (Valorie Haneckow).
Alcona Community Schools, Lincoln, MI, USA
Materials Required: computer lab equipped with spreadsheet program
Activity Time: one hour with possibility for second hour
Concepts Taught: Introduces students to Excel and graphing

Step 1: Ready the Learners
•The learners remain the same.
•We will have been entering daily weather report data into Excel each day as a part of our calendar routine so students will have been exposed to the spreadsheet portion of the lesson.
Step 2: Target Specific Objectives
•Students will follow the teacher step by step to create a graph from Excel spreadsheet data with 60% accuracy based on a teacher created rubric.
•Students will independently answer 10 questions based on the graph data with 80% accuracy.
Step 3: Prepare the Lesson
•Classroom preparation -- For this lesson we will use the school computer lab at our regularly scheduled time. Teacher will prepare the rubric to score the graph and will create the ten question assignment base on the graph data.
•Lesson preparation
1.Pre-organizer -- Show students an enlarged copy of the graph that has been created from weather data.
2.Motivator -- Tell students that they will create and print their own graph using their computer.
3.Bridge to prior knowledge -- Remind students of previous monthly graphs that have been teacher created (this lesson is planned for April/May after students have been exposed to the spreadsheets and questions).
4.Share objectives -- Students will follow the teacher step by step to create a graph from Excel spreadsheet data with 60% accuracy based on a teacher created rubric. Students will independently answer 10 questions based on the graph data with 80% accuracy.
5.Introduce new knowledge -- Take students step by step through the process of making a graph from the spreadsheet data. Students will be able to see teacher's steps on the wall mounted television.
6.Reinforce knowledge -- Review computer steps orally. Review graph data orally.
7.Provide practice -- once students have created graph have them print it. They will then use the graph to answer ten questions about the data independently.
8.Culminating review -- Score printed graph based on teacher created rubric. Score questions based on graph data.
•Technology/ Media Prepartion -- Be sure the computer lab is available. Be sure that the spreadsheet data is complete and is available on lab computers.
•Assessment Preparation -- Have students turn in their printed graph and completed graph questions. Plan for differentiated instructed including reteaching in small groups and extension activities.