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 Mathematics

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

2.00 hours

Materials/resources

  • Access to computers for each student or pair of students
  • Stock prices for 5 stocks for 5 business days (See attachment: Stock Report)
  • Directions (See attachment: Stock directions)

Technology resources

  • computer
  • spreadsheet program (preferably Microsoft Works)

    • StocksSS.wks 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. (See the sample spreadsheet attached “Stock SS.wks“) Each student should be at a computer with a handout of the stock prices of five stocks for one week (see attachment Stock report.rtf). 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 attachment “Stock directions.rtf” 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. Attachment “Stock directions.rtf” has step-by-step instructions for Microsoft Works.
  4. Students are to generate a report on a wordprocessor 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 direction.

Attachments:

Related websites

Stock Market Game
http://www.smg2000.org/
Educational simulation of the stock market for use in the classroom and in an annual national competition.

The NASDAQ Stock Market Home Page
http://www.nasdaq.com/

The American Stock Exchange Home Page
http://www.amex.com/

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
    • Objective 1.09: Identify, discuss and use WP/DTP terms/concepts (e.g., minimize document, resize document, toggle between two open documents on the desktop). Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
  • 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
    • Objective 2.04: Use proper keyboarding techniques to improve accuracy, speed and general efficiency in computer operation. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
  • Goal 3: The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.
    • Objective 3.01: Select and use responsibly a variety of computing devices (e.g., probeware, handhelds, digital cameras, scanners) to collect, analyze and present content area information. Strand - Societal/Ethical Issues
    • 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 3.06: Select and use chart/graph functions to analyze and display findings in content projects, citing data sources. Strand - Spreadsheet
    • Objective 3.07: Modify/create spreadsheets to calculate and graph data to incorporate into content area projects (e.g., word processing, multimedia, webpages). 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
    • Objective 1.10: Use spreadsheet and graphing terms/concepts to present and explain content area assignments. Strand - Spreadsheet
    • Objective 1.12: Demonstrate knowledge of the advantages/disadvantages of using word processing to develop, publish, and present information to a variety of audiences. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
    • Objective 1.13: Demonstrate knowledge and use of WP/DTP terms/concepts (e.g., columns, tables, using multiple files and/or applications) to create and publish assignments/projects. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
  • 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
    • Objective 2.03: Use proper keyboarding techniques to improve accuracy, speed, and general efficiency in computer operation. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
    • Objective 2.04: Demonstrate knowledge and use of WP/DTP features (e.g., columns, tables, headers/footers) to format and publish content projects/products. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
  • 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
    • Objective 3.06: Create/modify spreadsheets to test simple “what if...” statements to solve problems and make decisions in content areas. Strand - Spreadsheet
    • Objective 3.07: Demonstrate use of WP/DTP features/functions to design, format, layout, and publish assignments. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing

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
    • Objective 1.10: Use spreadsheet and graphing terms/concepts to present and explain content area assignments. Strand - Spreadsheet
    • Objective 1.12: Demonstrate knowledge of the advantages/disadvantages of using word processing to develop, publish, and present information to a variety of audiences. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
    • Objective 1.13: Review and use WP/DTP terms/concepts to describe and explain how assignments/projects were created. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
  • 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
    • Objective 2.05: Use proper keyboarding techniques to improve accuracy, speed, and general efficiency in computer operation. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
  • Goal 3: Select and use a variety of technology tools to collect, analyze, and present information. Strand - Societal/Ethical Issues
    • Objective 3.04: Create/modify spreadsheets to analyze and interpret information, test simple "what if..." statements, solve problems, and make decisions in content areas. Strand - Spreadsheet
    • Objective 3.05: Select and use WP/DTP features/functions to develop, edit/revise, and publish documents/assignments. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 3: Geometry -The learner will understand and use properties and relationships of geometric figures in the coordinate plane.
    • Objective 3.01: Identify and describe the intersection of figures in a plane.
  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and determine probabilities.
    • Objective 4.01: Develop fluency with counting strategies to determine the sample space for an event. Include lists, tree diagrams, frequency distribution tables, permutations, combinations, and the Fundamental Counting Principle.
    • Objective 4.06: Design and conduct experiments or surveys to solve problems; report and analyze results

Grade 7

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including box plots and histograms) to solve problems.

Grade 8

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including scatterplots) to solve problems.