Lesson 4

Title: Making a Spreadsheet

Objective: Students will be able to create a spreadsheet and chart or graph on the computer and understand what a budget is.

Materials:

• spreadsheet software, such as in Excel, ClarisWorks, AppleWorks, or Microsoft Word
• example of a spreadsheet and graphs on the overhead
• Internet access to book marked Web sites

Activities:

• Have a discussion on vacations and trips. 
• Start with the places students choose to visits; write list on the board
• Have students hypothesize on how much money it would cost to go there.
• Begin breaking it down into different categories: hotel, food, transportation, entrance fees, etc.
• Explain to students that there are a lot of things that you need to pay for when you are on a trip.
• Make a model of a  Vacation Spreadsheet Budget on the overhead projector with the students input.
• Demonstrate the spreadsheet format on the computer.
• Have students create a budget for their trip.
• Using appropriate spreadsheet software, students will create the budget spreadsheet on the computer with appropriate categories.
• Create a graph or chart of the budget, visit Graphs and Charts and Graphing    
• This unit teaches you how to chart and graph: Graphs and Charts Unit
• After student has entered data on spreadsheet, highlight spreadsheet and click on chart/graphs. Student can choose the type of chart/graph to represent data.

Evaluation: Completed spreadsheet and graph or chart with appropriate information.

Extension Activity: Comparing Vacation Spots

• Survey the students to determine where they vacationed last summer
• Complete a comparison graph
• Enter data into the spreadsheet, see below
• Create a correlating graph
• Visit AAA and post a story about your favorite vacation.

Comparing Vacation Spots

Homework: Have students create a budget for a family day trip to a local attraction (costs for transportation, food, entrance fees, souvenirs, misc.)