LEARN NC

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

Favorite restaurant database

Students will be able to show their ability to independently create a database.

A lesson plan for grades 6–7 Computer/Technology Skills and Information Skills

By Elizabeth Everitt

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Learning outcomes

The students will learn how to independently create a database.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

55 minutes

Materials/resources

  • Photocopy of the list of favorite restaurants.
  • Steps for creating a database.

Technology resources

  • Each student needs access to a computer with Database software (examples: MS works, Access, or any other database program.)
  • A T.V. monitor and an Aver-Key (optional)
  • A data or overhead projector

Pre-activities

  • The students will need to know the importance of a database and why we use them. They will need to know the purpose of a database which is to organize information for easy search and retrieval. The students will need to know how to create a new database file.
  • As a class they will have created some sort of database that is teacher directed. For example: A list of their friends and demographics or a list of T.V. shows and various fields, such as channel, time, day, category, length, and etc. At least two databases should be done as a class before students proceed with this assignment. Included in this, they should know how to adjust a field width and other formatting techniques , such as bold, italics, underline, alignment, etc.

Activities

Depending on the software, the instructions may vary. The software we are using is MS Works 4.5.

  1. The students will open the database program and click to create a new database file.
  2. Once they have chosen to create a new database they will then proceed to enter their fields.
  3. They will then begin entering the fields into the database. They are Name, Type of Food, Favorite Meal, Favorite Appetizer, Favorite Dessert, Nearest City.
  4. The students can then proceed to enter in the entries for each field. The entries are located on the attached file called restaurants. As the students begin entering the data they will need to adjust the specific field widths for each field as needed. The format menu will give them the option to adjust each field’s width. An easy way to adjust each field is to simply double click the field name AFTER the entry has been typed in and it will format automatically.

Assessment

You can grade them based on the information that they have entered on their computer, and you can grade them based on their printout. As long as they have all of the fields and entries typed in they will have met the goals. It is up to the individual teacher to grade them on spelling, formatting, and printing specifics.

Supplemental information

I have attached a list of the restaurants I created (wps | rtf). You may use this list or you may come up with your own.

North Carolina curriculum alignment

Computer Technology Skills (2005)

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 1.06: Demonstrate knowledge of why databases are used to collect, organize, and report information in a variety of settings. Strand - Database
  • Goal 3: The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.
    • Objective 3.02: Select and use two or more criteria to organize, interpret, and display content data and explain strategies used. Strand - Database
    • Objective 3.03: Modify/edit databases to organize, analyze, interpret data, and create reports (e.g., documents, multimedia project, webpages). Strand - Database

  • North Carolina Essential Standards

    • Information and Technology Skills (2010)

      • Grade 6

        • 6.TT.1 Use technology and other resources for the purpose of accessing, organizing, and sharing information. 6.TT.1.1 Select appropriate technology tools to gather data and information (e.g., Web-based resources, e-books, online communication tools, etc.)....

      • Grade 7

        • 7.TT.1 Use technology and other resources for assigned tasks. 7.TT.1.1 Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to access information. 7.TT.1.2 Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to organize information (e.g. graphic organizers,...