Spreadsheets and Databases
Spreadsheets and databases are finding their way into classrooms more and more.
Many teachers use spreadsheets to record grades, monitor completed work, and
track the academic progress of their students. Spreadsheets can also be used
for teachers to organize and share their daily lesson plans. Even more
beneficial is using spreadsheets in the classroom directly with students as a
way of organizing and presenting data. The following examples are ways to
incorporate spreadsheets and databases into a Kindergarten or 1st grade
classroom.
Many teachers use spreadsheets to record grades, monitor completed work, and
track the academic progress of their students. Spreadsheets can also be used
for teachers to organize and share their daily lesson plans. Even more
beneficial is using spreadsheets in the classroom directly with students as a
way of organizing and presenting data. The following examples are ways to
incorporate spreadsheets and databases into a Kindergarten or 1st grade
classroom.
1. Completing a survey and displaying results in a
graph
Students will learn how to voice their opinion by responding to survey questions throughout the year. The classroom responses can then be displayed in a spreadsheet as a graph or table. Students will use these visuals to interpret the information shown. They will demonstrate knowledge of "greater than" "less than" and "equal to" when answering questions about graphs.
graph
Students will learn how to voice their opinion by responding to survey questions throughout the year. The classroom responses can then be displayed in a spreadsheet as a graph or table. Students will use these visuals to interpret the information shown. They will demonstrate knowledge of "greater than" "less than" and "equal to" when answering questions about graphs.
2. Creating a timeline
Students can use Microsoft Excel to create a timeline to help reinforce content being learned. For example, students can create a timeline showing the different characteristics of each season. They can use a timeline to track their growth and personal experiences from birth to age 6 as well as show when various holidays occur throughout the year.
Students can use Microsoft Excel to create a timeline to help reinforce content being learned. For example, students can create a timeline showing the different characteristics of each season. They can use a timeline to track their growth and personal experiences from birth to age 6 as well as show when various holidays occur throughout the year.
3. Compiling data to create a "classroom favorites" database
Teachers can help students to create a classroom database that shows their favorite colors, pets, activities, etc. This community building activity will allow students to learn about each other as well as discuss similarities and differences between one another. Through this process students will collect data, learn how to ask questions, analyze data, and draw conclusions. This can also serve as a teacher's guide that helps them use their students' interests to create activities, incentives, and rewards.
Teachers can help students to create a classroom database that shows their favorite colors, pets, activities, etc. This community building activity will allow students to learn about each other as well as discuss similarities and differences between one another. Through this process students will collect data, learn how to ask questions, analyze data, and draw conclusions. This can also serve as a teacher's guide that helps them use their students' interests to create activities, incentives, and rewards.
4. Organizing and sharing daily lesson plans
Teachers can utilize spreadsheets to organize their lessons and resources they use. Below is an example of how one teacher used a spreadsheet to plan out her year. Included are the covers of books that she reads in her classroom. Including this image serves as a tool to help locate books when one cannot remember the title, but knows where they lost saw the cover. By organizing lesson plans using a spreadsheet, teachers are also able to share lessons much easier than loaning out their planning book. They are also able to edit and customize plans that have been sent to them over a computer.
Teachers can utilize spreadsheets to organize their lessons and resources they use. Below is an example of how one teacher used a spreadsheet to plan out her year. Included are the covers of books that she reads in her classroom. Including this image serves as a tool to help locate books when one cannot remember the title, but knows where they lost saw the cover. By organizing lesson plans using a spreadsheet, teachers are also able to share lessons much easier than loaning out their planning book. They are also able to edit and customize plans that have been sent to them over a computer.
Sample Spreadsheet Lesson
Students will create a spreadsheet to help them understand how fictional texts work. After reading various fictional stories, students will help record the title, big idea of the story, and how the story was structured. Each day the class will read a new book, discuss the story, and add to the spreadsheet. This spreadsheet will help organize the information the students generate as well as help them to compare and contrast the structures of various stories. Having students think about how stories are layed out will help them become better predictors. Discussing the "big ideas" of stories aids in developing children into critical thinkers. Below is a sample spreadsheet with five different stories. One can create a similar chart using a variety of books.
Resources:
Create a timeline using Microsoft office 2007. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/education/en-us/teachers/how-to/Pages/timeline.aspx
Heights technology blog. Retrieved from http://heightstechnology.edublogs.org/tag/graphing/
Mrs. Ricca's Kindergarten. Retrieved from http://mrsriccaskindergarten.blogspot.com/2012/09/lesson-plans.html
Create a timeline using Microsoft office 2007. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/education/en-us/teachers/how-to/Pages/timeline.aspx
Heights technology blog. Retrieved from http://heightstechnology.edublogs.org/tag/graphing/
Mrs. Ricca's Kindergarten. Retrieved from http://mrsriccaskindergarten.blogspot.com/2012/09/lesson-plans.html