LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Stocks report

Students will create graphs illustrating changes in stocks and answer questions using the graphs.

A lesson plan for grades 6–8 Computer/Technology Skills

By Susan Blackwell

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • input information into a spreadsheet and generate a line and bar graph based upon this information.
  • answer questions based upon their graphs.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

2 hours

Materials/resources

Technology resources

  • computer for each student or pair of students
  • spreadsheet program (preferably Microsoft Works). Stock Spreadsheet will open with Microsoft works
  • word processing program

Pre-activities

Students will have converted fractions to decimals. Students will have created line and bar graphs without the computer.

Activities

  1. The class is to input the stock information into the cells of the spreadsheet. (Use the sample spreadsheet as a guide). Each student should be at a computer with a handout of the stock prices of five stocks for one week. (Use the Stock report as a guide). The students can pick their own stocks or the teacher can generate a class set of stocks.
  2. The Net Change column and the Closing Price column are generated by the computer with formulas. See Stock directions for Microsoft works formulas.
  3. Students are to create a line graph which demonstrates the daily changes, and a bar graph which demonstrates the overall net change of each stock. Stock directions has step-by-step instructions for Microsoft Works.
  4. Students are to generate a report on a word processor by copying and pasting the spreadsheet and the two graphs. Attachment “Stock report.rtf” illustrates one possibility.

Assessment

The report is generated, printed, and graded.
Questions such as: “Which stock had the highest and/or lowest net change?”, “Which had the largest daily change?” and other questions relating to the graphs can be asked.

Supplemental information

The stock information and questions I used were in the Prentice Hall Pre-Algebra Book. The teacher can create questions to focus the lesson in any

Comments

  • Computers can be frustrating when converting fractions — 3/4 tends to be read as March 4th. Change the format of the cell to correct this problem. Do a trial run before you have the students do this.
  • My students loved to see that the computer could convert fractions to decimals automatically. Filling down the formulas on the spreadsheet was a big hit.
  • I print the report out in color, and it makes a wonderful bulletin board.

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 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 1.09: Demonstrate knowledge that spreadsheets are used to process information 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 2.02: 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 3.05: Modify/create spreadsheets and graphs/charts to analyze and interpret data for content assignments. Strand - Spreadsheet

Grade 8

  • 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 1.09: Recognize, discuss, and investigate how spreadsheets are used in a variety of settings (e.g., schools, government, business, industry, transportation, communications). Strand - Spreadsheet
  • Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.
    • Objective 2.03: Select and use spreadsheet formulas and functions to solve problems in content areas. Strand - Spreadsheet
    • Objective 2.04: Use spreadsheet features/functions to calculate and present findings for content area assignments. Strand - Spreadsheet