Prepared by Karen Work Richardson (karen@ivyrun.com)

Find more spreadsheet and database information at my resources web site: http://www.ivyrun.com/education/resources/resources.html

Excel PowerPoint Tutorial

Database PowerPoint Tutorial

Spreadsheet and Database Tips:

• Use a spreadsheet to make a quick matching quiz
• Turn on word wrap so you can enter text in cells
• Turn on formulas so they display in cells
• Do multiple sorts
• Make data entry easy by using the Fill command, especially Fill Series
• Dont make students do too much data entry
• Format certain types of cells with different colors to help students distinguish data and formulas
• Focus on the research databases students use like the card catalog
• Create student-interest databases like address books or music catalogs
• Visit online shopping sites
• Make the difference between fields and the data in the fields clear to students
• Get class copies of the World Almanac to use for curriculum-related data
• Use a database like Autotrader to help students understand querying: http://www.autotrader.com/

Virginia's Technology Standards: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/home.shtml

General Intro to Spreadsheets in the Math Classroom: http://www.math.byu.edu/~lfrancis/readings302/Spreadsheets.html

The BEST website ever created by teachers: http://rcs.rcps.k12.va.us/creativeways/index.htm

Lesson Plans:

• Spreadsheet in Math: http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/ssheet/aims.html
• An lesson plan introducing databases to second graders: http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Process_Skills/SPS0023.html(Want more plans? Go to http://askeric.org, click on lesson plans, and search on -database)
• Database Lesson Plans from North Carolina: http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/Curriculum/Computer.skills/lssnplns/Database/dbtoc.htm
• Mathematicians are People, too!http://manassas.k12.va.us/round/classweb/Volz/database_lesson.htm
• Sweet Spreadsheets: http://www.ivyrun.com/education/techclass/Candy/index.htm
• Fast Food Fun: http://www.ivyrun.com/education/techclass/Lesson/index.htm
• Middle School Computer Skill Lesson Plans from North Carolina: http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/Curriculum/computer.skills/lssnplns/sstoc.html
• MarcoPolo: Internet Content for Your Classroom: http://marcopolo.worldcom.com/

Microsoft Resources:

• Microsoft Education Home http://www.microsoft.com/education/
• Microsoft Education K-12 Home http://www.microsoft.com/education/?ID=schools
• A Sample Lesson: Do Vampires Really Exist? http://www.microsoft.com/education/?ID=vampire   

Other Related Web Links:

• Links to tutorials: http://www.gppsd.ab.ca/~rgilson/courses/comp10/excel/
• Middle School Computer Curriculum from Texas: http://www.lisd.net/schools/hedrick/LISD/
• Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Newsletter: http://www.macul.org/newsletter/ (Do a search on spreadsheet lessons OR database lessons)
  • Heres a sample spreadsheet lesson: http://www.macul.org/newsletter/1991/septoct91/spread.html
  • Heres a sample database lesson:  http://www.macul.org/newsletter/1990/june90/social.html
• Integration Materials:  Check Computer Literacy Press http://www.complitpress.com/

Send mail to wwofw@wmburgweb.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2001 Ivy Run