Holiday Shopper
This activity uses a prepared spreadsheet and the grocery sales paper from the newspaper to figure the cost of a holiday meal for a certain number of people.
A lesson plan for grades 6–7
Learning outcomes
Students will:
- learn to solve a real life situation using a spreadsheet.
- edit a spreadsheet to answer “what if” questions.
- use comparison shopping to find the best buys.
Teacher planning
Time required for lesson
90 minutes
Materials/resources
- prepared spreadsheet Microsoft Works | Microsoft Excel
- newspaper sales advertisements
- teacher-prepared Holiday Shopper scenario
Technology resources
Computer with Microsoft Works or Excel
Pre-activities
Students need to know spreadsheet vocabulary for ease in following directions in the assignment.
Students also need knowledge of retrieving, editing, and printing spreadsheets.
Activities
- Discuss and list on the board or overhead projector what foods would you serve to your guests on a holiday (such as Thanksgiving or Christmas). Accept all reasonable answers.
- Distribute the Holiday Shopper handout and discuss the scenario which describes an amount of people to feed, a menu, and information about wise shopping.
- Assist students in opening the prepared spreadsheet (Microsoft Works or Microsoft Excel format) that resembles an invoice with places to fill in the food item, amount of items, cost/lb., subtotal, tax, and total. The spreadsheet can also contain a space for a budgeted amount if you choose.
- While students work on the problems posed by the scenario, discuss ways to solve some of the problems (e.g. working backward, estimating, etc.). Discourage students from attempting any of the problems using “pencil-and-paper” math.
- The completed spreadsheet can also be used to generate a number of graphs.
Assessment
Students print out their completed spreadsheet with their edited information, and it is then assessed by the teacher. Look for appropriate amounts of food for the number of people invited and the wise choices made. Also check to see if they stayed within the budget, if that is part of the assignment’s requirement. The printed graph can also be part of the assessment.
Supplemental information
See attachments. The worksheet with instructions is provided and a spreadsheet is provided.
Related websites
Spreadsheet ideas from Education World.
Resources for Using Excel in the Classroom.
Comments
This can be used with any sales advertisements. When the various sales occur, collect all of the sales sections out of the newspapers you can find. Create a spreadsheet and a scenario that works with the papers and have fun. Catalogs work as well.
This would even be a great activity for some of your skilled students to do to create a spreadsheet of their own.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Computer Technology Skills (2005)
Grade 6
- Goal 1: The learner will understand important issues of a technology-based society and will exhibit ethical behavior in the use of computer and other technologies.
- Objective 1.08: Recognize and discuss use of spreadsheets to calculate, graph, and present data in a variety of settings (e.g., schools, government, business, industry, mathematics, science). Strand - Spreadsheet
- Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.
- Objective 2.03: Use spreadsheet terms/concepts and functions to calculate, represent, and explain content area findings. Strand - Spreadsheet
- Goal 3: The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.
- Objective 3.05: Enter/edit data and use spreadsheet features and functions to project outcomes and test simple "what if..." statements in content assignments. Strand - Spreadsheet
- Objective 3.08: Modify/create and use spreadsheets to solve problems, make decisions, support, and display findings in content areas projects. Strand - Spreadsheet
Grade 7
- Goal 1: The learner will understand important issues of a technology-based society and will exhibit ethical behavior in the use of computer and other technologies.
- Objective 1.10: Use spreadsheet and graphing terms/concepts to present and explain content area assignments. Strand - Spreadsheet
- Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.
- Objective 2.02: Enter/edit data and use spreadsheet features and functions to project outcomes and test simple "what if..." statements in content assignments. Strand - Spreadsheet
- Goal 3: The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.
- Objective 3.06: Create/modify spreadsheets to test simple “what if...” statements to solve problems and make decisions in content areas. Strand - Spreadsheet
