Databases and Spreadsheets

A spreadsheet is an application which can be used to sort, list and represent information. They can be used to carry out lots of calculations in quick amounts of time and store large amounts of information for a variety of purposes. There are a number of different programs which can be used to create spreadsheets including: Microsoft Excel; Numbers; Corell Quattro Pro; Google Docs and Lotus There are a number of ways in which spreadsheets can be used in the classroom. Ideas include entering simple data into a spreadsheet to create mathematics learning activities, creating timelines and designing graphs and probability charts. Other activities, which can involve the use of spreadhseets, include getting students to use a spreadsheet to solve a story problem; investigate fast food restaurants and plan a healthy meal.

Databases: A database is a location where information is stored and retrieved and is generally composed of two or more tables. The data is organised in a way in which all of the data in the different tables are linked to one another by a primary key. A primary key is a field in each of the tables that is common to all of them. The primary key is used to look up or trace data in each of the tables. Databases have two main uses: Storing information and Sorting Information There are all sorts of information, which can be stored in databases. An example of some of the things, which could be stored, includes: personal information; telephone numbers; business clients; names and addresses of people and parents contact information for children in school.

Learning Task For Students Click Here For Teachers Click Here For Students Click HereFor Teachers Click Here The Task: Class Party Scenario: The year four teacher is leaving and the children would like to organise a surprise farewell party for her. They have spoken to the Principal and they have been given $40 to spend on buying essential items for the celebration. The Task: In pairs you are to use the Website to select the food, drink and decorations along with their prices to purchase for the party. Once the products have been selected they can be placed into a spreadsheet where the amount will be added to get the total amount spent. Once the food, drink and decorations have been selected and the total is under $40, then this information will be displayed into a graph and saved. As a class the children will choose one shopping list that has the most variety to use for a real shopping list for the farewell party. The Purpose is for the year four students to search and use a database consisting of products they will consume for a party. Whilst doing this the students will enter their information into a spreadsheet, which will then be turned into a graph.

Database Search the food database for a list of foods and their accompanying prices. The food database is divided into different categories. These categories are: Bakery; Confectionary; Deli; Drinks; Frozen; Fruit; Party Needs; Snacks and Vegetables. Food Database: Bakery Confectionary Deli Drinks Frozen Food Fruit Party Needs Snacks VegetablesBakeryConfectionaryDeliDrinksFrozen FoodFruitParty NeedsSnacks Vegetables

Work Sample – Data Base CatergoryItemPrice ($) Bakery Lamingtons (10 pack) 4 Birthday Cake5 ConfectionaryJaffas3 Block of Chocolate3 DeliCabanossi3 Cheese Cubes3 DrinksApple Juice (2L)3 Frozen FoodIce Blocks3 FruitApples (6 pack)3 Cherries (1 bag)3 Party Needs Party Poppers (10 pack) 2 SnacksBurger Rings3 VegetablesCarrots (6 pack)2 Total40

Work Sample Graph in the Spreadsheet

Example of Spreadsheet

Resources Below is a list of resources which we have used in creating this webpage. There are also useful links to websites which have loads of information on spreadsheets and databases. Picture Australia. (2008). The National Library of Australia. HowStuffWorks - Learn How Everything Works! (2008). HowStuffWorks, Inc. Primary Resources: ICT: Spreadsheets & Databases. (2008). Primary Resources. blist. (2008). Blist, Inc. EditGrid. (2008). Team and Concepts Limited. Dr. Christie's Using Spreadsheets in K-12 Classrooms. (2008). Educational Websites For Kids - The KidsKnowIt Network. (2008). The KidsKnowIt Network. Spread Sheet resources – Technology9(2007) : Excel. Integrated Technology Lesson Plans( 2008) Databases and Spreadsheets -Growing with Technology(2007) : Level K – Level 5 (click to databases or spreadsheet activities) Databases and Spreadsheets( 2007)- Mathematics games for Primary online Data Analysis- Rainforestmaths( 2006) Jenny Eather