Lesson Plan: Introduction to Spreadsheets

Form 4
Teaching Duration: 90 minutes (2 session)
Subject: Information Technology

Learning Objective:
Students should be able to:
1. Explain the purpose of a spreadsheet.
2. Use appropriate terminologies and notions commonly associated with spreadsheets.

Introduction to Spreadsheets
Activity: Teacher-led Discussion
● Begin by asking students to share their prior knowledge of spreadsheets.
● Write down key points on the whiteboard.
● Briefly explain the purpose of a spreadsheet, emphasizing that it is a digital tool consisting of cells
organized in columns and rows used for managing data.
● Highlight how spreadsheets can capture, display, and manipulate data, making them essential for
various tasks like budgeting, data analysis, and project management.
● Connect it to real-life applications, such as personal finance and business reporting.

Terminology Exploration
Activity: Group Brainstorm and Presentations
● Divide students into small groups and assign each group a specific term related to spreadsheets (e.g.,
workbook, worksheet, column, row, cell, range, formula, function).
● Provide groups with the glossary handout and ask them to define their assigned term, create an
example, and prepare a brief presentation (2-3 minutes).
● Allow groups to present their findings to the class, and encourage a class discussion for each term to
reinforce understanding.

Excel Demonstration
Activity: Live Demonstration
● Use the projector to showcase Microsoft Excel.
● Demonstrate how to create a new workbook and the layout of a worksheet.
● Point out the different components: columns (labeled A, B, C...), rows (numbered), cells (individual
boxes).
● Show the concept of cell addresses (e.g., A1 for the first cell).
● Explain the difference between cell types (label vs. value).
● Introduce basic functions such as SUM and AVERAGE, and how to input formulas.

Hands-On Activity
Activity: Spreadsheet Creation

Instructions:
Instruct students to open Microsoft Excel and create a new workbook.

Task 1: Create a simple budget tracker as a worksheet.

In cell A1, enter "Item", in B1 "Cost", and in C1 "Quantity".
Have students fill in at least five entries (e.g., groceries, rent, utilities) with their respective costs and
quantities.

Task 2: Calculate total cost.

In cell D1, enter "Total".
Instruct them to use the formula to calculate total cost (Cost x Quantity) for each item and autofill those
formulas down the column.
Task 3: Calculate the overall total using the SUM function.
Instruct them to enter the SUM formula at the bottom of the Total column to provide an overall total
expense.

Task 4: Format the spreadsheet.

Share tips on how to format cells (e.g., changing font, color, and borders) to make the data more readable
and visually appealing.

Review and Reflection

Activity: Class Discussion
● Facilitate a discussion on what students learned about the purpose of spreadsheets and the
terminologies used.
● Ask individual students to share one key takeaway from the lesson.
● Encourage them to think of other applications for spreadsheets beyond what was covered in class.

Assessment (Ongoing)
● Monitor students during the hands-on activity, answering questions and addressing any confusion
regarding spreadsheet functions.
● Check each student’s workbook for correct formulas and usage of terms to assess their
understanding.
● Conduct a quick exit ticket: Ask students to write down one use of spreadsheets in daily life and
submit it at the end of the class.

Glossary of Terms:
● Workbook: A file containing one or more worksheets.
● Worksheet: A single spreadsheet within a workbook, made up of rows and columns.
● Column: A vertical section in a spreadsheet, identified by letters (e.g., A, B, C).
● Row: A horizontal section in a spreadsheet, identified by numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3).
● Cell: The intersection of a row and column where data is stored (identified by cell addresses like
A1).
● Cell Address: The unique identifier for a cell (e.g., A2 refers to the cell at column A, row 2).
● Range: A selection of two or more cells; for example, A1:A5 refers to all cells from A1 to A5.
● Label: Text entered into a cell that represents a category or description.
● Value: Numeric data entered into a cell that can be used for calculations.
● Formula: An expression that performs a calculation, starting with an equal sign (e.g., =A2+B2).
● Function: A predefined formula in Excel, such as SUM, AVERAGE, etc.
Lesson Plan: Advanced Excel Functions and Formula Creation
Grade Level: Form 4
Subject: Information Technology
Duration: 2 Class Periods

Learning Objective:
Students will be able to use basic predefined system functions including SUM, AVERAGE, DATE, MAX,
MIN, COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTIF, VLOOKUP, PMT, and IF. Additionally, they will be able to create
advanced arithmetic formulae using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and the use of brackets.

Introduction
Begin with a brief review of basic Excel functions learned in previous lessons.
Introduce the learning objectives for the day and outline the importance of mastering these functions in real-
world applications such as finance, data analysis, and project management.

Direct Instruction
Display on Projector: Use an Excel sheet to demonstrate each predefined function:
• SUM: =SUM(A1:A10) - Calculates the total of numbers in cells A1 to A10.
• AVERAGE: =AVERAGE(B1:B10) - Calculates the average of numbers in cells B1 to B10.
• DATE: =DATE(2023, 10, 15) - Returns a date value for October 15, 2023.
• MAX: =MAX(C1:C10) - Finds the maximum value in cells C1 to C10.
• MIN: =MIN(D1:D10) - Finds the minimum value in cells D1 to D10.
• COUNT: =COUNT(E1:E10) - Counts all cells containing numbers in E1 to E10.
• COUNTA: =COUNTA(F1:F10) - Counts all non-empty cells in F1 to F10.
• COUNTIF: =COUNTIF(G1:G10, ">50") – Counts how many cells in G1 to G10 contain values
greater than 50.
• VLOOKUP: =VLOOKUP(A1, J1:K10, 2, FALSE) – Looks up a value from the first column of a
range and returns a value from another column in the same row.
• PMT: =PMT(0.05/12, 60, -10000) – Calculates the monthly payment for a loan.
• IF: =IF(H1>50, "Pass", "Fail") – Checks if the value in H1 is greater than 50 and returns "Pass" or
"Fail".

Guided Practice
Activity: Students will work in pairs to complete a worksheet using provided data sets.
They will:
Open the provided Excel file with sample sales data.
Calculate the total sales using the SUM function.
Find the average sales figure using the AVERAGE function.
Identify the highest and lowest sales values using the MAX and MIN
functions.
Count the number of sales entries using the COUNT function.
Create a conditional count using COUNTIF.

Instructions for Activity:

● Ensure Excel is installed on your computer, and open the sample sales data file.
● In cell G1, enter the formula for SUM the total sales, dragging the fill handle down to autofill for
other rows.
● In cell G2, input the AVERAGE formula, pulling related sales data from column B.
● Repeat the process in G3 and G4 for MAX and MIN functions.
● In cell G5, use the COUNT function to count the total number of sales transactions recorded.
● Finally, apply COUNTIF in G6 to count entries where sales exceeded a specific threshold.
Independent Practice
Activity: Each student will now create a fictional loan scenario using Excel where they will:
Create a loan amount, interest rate, and number of payments.
Utilize the PMT function to calculate their monthly payment.
Create a table summarizing their loan details and payment overview.
Use IF statements to categorize the loan amount (e.g., "Low", "Medium", "High").

Instructions for Activity:

● Open a new Excel workbook.
● In cell A1, enter ‘Loan Amount’, in cell A2, enter ‘Interest Rate’, and in cell A3, enter ‘Payment
Term (Months)’.
● Fill in your values, e.g., Loan Amount ($10,000), Interest Rate (5%), and Payment Term (60).
● In cell A5, use the PMT function: =PMT(B2/12, B3, -B1) to find the monthly payment.
● Create a second table to categorize the loan amount using IF statements.

Closure
Review the functions taught during the lesson.
Ask students to summarize which functions they found most useful and any challenges they encountered.

Glossary of Terms:
1. Function: A predefined formula that performs calculations using specific values, referred to as
arguments.
2. Formula: A set of instructions for calculation in Excel, which can include functions, constants, and
arithmetic operators.
3. PMT Function: A function used to calculate the payment for a loan based on constant payments and
a constant interest rate.
4. VLOOKUP: A function that searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a value in
the same row from a specified column.
5. COUNTIF: A function that counts the number of cells within a range that meet a specific criterion.
Lesson Plan: Excel Formulae and Data Management Techniques
Form 4 Information Technology
Duration: 45 minutes

Learning Objective:
Students will be able to replicate (copy) formulae into other cells using relative and absolute addressing.
Understand the effect of various operations (move, copy, delete) on formulae.
Manipulate rows and columns (insert, delete, and modify).

Introduction
Engage students with a brief discussion on the importance of formulae in Excel for data management and
analysis.
Ask students to share any prior experience they have had with formulae.
State the learning objectives clearly to students.

Direct Instruction
● Relative vs. Absolute Addressing
Explain the difference between relative and absolute addressing using a visual demonstration on the
projector.
Use examples like =A1+B1 (relative) vs. =$A$1+$B$1 (absolute) to highlight the differences.

● Copying and Replicating Formulae

Demonstrate how to replicate a formula by dragging the fill handle in Excel.
Show how to copy and paste a formula into a different cell.

● Effects of Operations on Formulae

Explain what occurs when moving, copying, or deleting cells with formulae in them.
Provide examples of how to predict these outcomes based on the addressing type used.

Guided Practice
Activity 1: Relative and Absolute Addressing
● Distribute the sample Excel file with a basic dataset (e.g., sales data).
● Instruct students:
● Open the Excel file provided.
● In cell C2, create a formula to calculate the total price (quantity * unit price).
● Use relative addressing to replicate this formula down the column.
● Edit the formula in C2 to use absolute addressing for the unit price and replicate again to observe the
changes.
● Monitor students’ progress and offer help where necessary.

Independent Practice
Activity 2: Manipulating Rows and Columns
● Using the same Excel file, guide students to:
● Add a new row at the top for headers if it does not exist.
● Insert a new column to the right of an existing column for additional data.
● Delete a column containing non-essential information.
● Modify the width of the columns to fit the data neatly.
● Instruct students to experiment with the different operations while noting how formulas in
neighboring cells are affected.
Glossary of Relevant Terms:
1. Formula: An expression that calculates the value of a cell in Excel.
2. Relative Addressing: A cell reference that adjusts when a formula is copied to another cell (e.g., A1
changes to A2 when moved one row down).
3. Absolute Addressing: A cell reference that remains constant, regardless of where the formula is
copied (e.g., $A$1 does not change).
4. Fill Handle: A small square at the bottom-right corner of a selected cell used to copy or fill adjacent
cells with data or formulae.
5. Cell: The intersection of a row and a column where data is stored in an Excel worksheet.
6. Row: A horizontal line of cells in a spreadsheet.
7. Column: A vertical line of cells in a spreadsheet.

Lesson Plan: Manipulating Data in a Spreadsheet

Form 4
Subject: Information Technology
Duration: 90 minutes (2 session)

Learning Objective: Students will be able to manipulate data in a spreadsheet by applying numeric data
formatting, sorting and filtering data, and creating one and two-dimensional pivot tables.

Introduction
Start the lesson by engaging students with a question: “What types of data do you think are important to
manipulate in a spreadsheet?”
Discuss the versatility of spreadsheets in various fields such as business, education, and science.
Introduce the learning objectives clearly, explaining the importance of each component they will be
studying.

● Numeric Data Formatting:

Explain different types of numeric data formatting: currency, accounting, percentage, comma, and decimal
places.
Show a demonstration in Excel: Open the sample dataset, select a column with numeric values, and format
them using the 'Format Cells' option under 'Home'.

● Sorting Data:
Describe primary and secondary fields in sorting.
Demonstrate sorting a column in ascending and descending order using a sample dataset. Highlight how to
sort based on multiple criteria.

● Filtering Data:
Introduce the concept of filtering, explaining how it allows users to view specific data.
Demonstrate using multiple criteria and complex criterion filters.

● Pivot Tables:
Explain pivot tables and their uses in summarizing data.
Demonstrate how to create one and two-dimensional pivot tables using the dataset. Show how to create a
frequency distribution and pivot charts.
Guided Practice

Activity 1: Numeric Data Formatting

Instructions:
Open the provided Excel dataset.
Select the revenue column.
Apply currency formatting, ensuring $ is displayed.
Change another numeric column to percentage formatting and adjust decimal places.
Students work independently while the teacher circulates to assist and check for understanding.

Activity 2: Sorting Data (10 minutes)

Instructions:
Using the same dataset, select the data range.
Sort by ‘Date’ column in ascending order.
Then apply a secondary sorting criterion by ‘Sales’ in descending order.
After completing the activity, ask students to share their experiences and any challenges they faced.

Activity 3: Filtering Data (10 minutes)

Instructions:
With the dataset open, go to the ‘Data’ tab and select ‘Filter’.
Apply a filter on the ‘Region’ to show only ‘West’.
Further filter to display only sales greater than $5000.
Discuss the results and how filtering can aid in data analysis.

Independent Practice

Activity 4: Creating Pivot Tables

Instructions:
Import the dataset if not previously opened.
Click on the ‘Insert’ tab and select ‘Pivot Table’.
Drag the ‘Region’ field to the Rows area and ‘Sales’ field to the Values area to analyze total sales by
region.
Create a two-dimensional pivot table by adding ‘Product’ to the Columns area.
Generate a Pivot Chart based on your data.
Encourage students to explore different arrangements and summary statistics while creating their
pivot tables.

Closure

Recap the key points covered in the lesson.

Ask students to share one new thing they learned about manipulating data.

Introduce the concept of how businesses utilize these skills for analysis and decision-making.

Assessment

Conduct a short exit ticket assessment:

Provide a few questions, such as:
● What is the difference between primary and secondary sorting?
● How can filters be used to analyze a dataset?
● What is a pivot table and why is it useful?
Glossary of Terms:
1. Numeric Data Formatting: Changing the appearance of numbers in a spreadsheet to enhance
readability (e.g., currency, percentage).
2. Sorting: Organizing data in a specific order based on one or more fields in either ascending or
descending order.
3. Filtering: A method to display only the data that meets specific criteria, hiding the rest.
4. Pivot Table: A powerful tool in Excel that summarizes data for analysis, allowing users to reorganize
and group data dynamically.
5. Frequency Distribution: A summary of how often each distinct value occurs in a dataset.

Follow-up Assignment (Optional):

● Students can be tasked with analyzing data from a dataset of their choice at home, applying at least
two different methods they learned (sorting/filtering/pivot table) to create a report summarizing their
findings.

Lesson Topic: Charting Operations in Excel

Subject: Information Technology
Grade Level: Form 4
Duration: 90 minutes (2 session)

Learning Objective: Students will be able to perform charting operations in Excel, select appropriate chart
types (column charts, bar charts, line graphs, pie charts), and label charts with graph titles, axis labels, and
data labels.

Introduction
● Begin with a brief discussion on the importance of data visualization in the field of Information
Technology.
● Introduce the types of charts that will be covered in this lesson: column charts, bar charts, line
graphs, and pie charts.
● Explain the significance of labeling charts effectively, including graph titles, axis labels, and data
labels.

Direct Instruction
Using the projector, present an overview of the different chart types available in Excel:

1. Column Charts: Best for comparing data points.

2. Bar Charts: Useful for displaying data across categories.
3. Line Graphs: Ideal for showing trends over time.
4. Pie Charts: Good for illustrating proportions of a whole.

Demonstrate how to create each type of chart in Excel:

Open Excel and input a simple dataset (Example: sales data over six months).
Highlight the data and select the appropriate chart from the ‘Insert’ tab.
Modify chart elements using the “Chart Tools” to show how to add titles and labels.

Guided Practice
Distribute a sample dataset printed on paper (Example: grades for five different subjects).

In pairs, students will:

● Open Excel and input the data from the handout.
● Create a column chart to represent the data.
● Add a chart title and label both the x-axis (subjects) and y-axis (grades).
● Walk around the classroom to provide support and feedback.
Independent Practice
Each student is to create and present their own chart using another provided dataset (Example: percentage
distribution of a class into hobbies).
● Input the data into Excel.
● Choose the most appropriate chart type to represent the data visually (students should justify their
choice).
● Label the chart appropriately with a title and axis labels.
● After creating the chart, students will annotate their charts with data labels for clarity.
● Students will pair up and exchange their computers to critique each other’s charts, focusing on the
effectiveness of the chart type and the clarity of the labels.

Conclusion and Reflection

Hold a class discussion where students share their experiences and reflections on the activity.
Questions to prompt discussion:
● Which chart type did you choose and why?
● What challenges did you face while labeling your chart?
● How did the labels enhance the understanding of your data?

Assessment/Evaluation
Use a rubric to assess the charts created by the students based on the following criteria:
Chart Type Selection: Appropriateness of the chosen chart type.
Labeling: Clarity and correctness of titles, axis labels, and data labels.
Presentation: Ability to explain the chart and respond to peer critiques.

Glossary of Terms:
1. Column Chart: A graph that displays data using vertical bars, useful for comparing categories.
2. Bar Chart: Similar to column charts but with horizontal bars.
3. Line Graph: A chart that displays data points connected by straight lines, showing trends over time.
4. Pie Chart: A circular chart divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportions.
5. Graph Title: The name or subject of the chart that provides context.
6. Axis Labels: Descriptive titles for the x-axis and y-axis that specify what is being measured.
7. Data Labels: Numerical values shown on each data point in a chart for clarity.

Lesson Plan: Manipulating and Linking Worksheets in Excel

Form 4
Subject: Information Technology
Duration: 45 minutes

Learning Objective:
Students will learn to manipulate one or more worksheets and use them to solve problems involving various
functions and operations. They will also gain skills in linking two or more worksheets to effectively address
a specific problem.

Introduction
Begin the lesson by discussing the importance of Excel in managing and analyzing data through worksheets.
Introduce the learning objective and explain how manipulating and linking worksheets can simplify complex
data problems.
Highlight key terms from the glossary, including:
● Worksheet: A single page in an Excel file where data can be entered.
● Function: A predefined formula in Excel that performs calculations using specified values.
● Linking Worksheets: Connecting data from one worksheet to another to create a dynamic
relationship
Direct Instruction
1. Manipulating Worksheets:
Demonstrate how to create a new worksheet in Excel.
Show how to format a worksheet (adjusting columns/rows, using headings, applying cell color).
Explain common functions (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNTIF) and how they can be applied to analyze
data.

2. Linking Worksheets:
Illustrate how to link data between worksheets by referencing cell values from one worksheet in
another (e.g., linking total sales data from a summary worksheet to a detailed sales worksheet).
Provide a live example of using the formula bar to create a link between cells across two different
worksheets.

Guided Practice

Activity 1: Worksheet Manipulation

Instructions:
Open the prepared Excel worksheet titled "Sales Data."
Review the data provided, which contains sales records for various products.
Format the worksheet to enhance readability by adjusting column widths, applying bold type to headings,
and coloring the header row.
Calculate the total sales using the SUM function and place the result in a designated cell at the bottom of the
sales column.
Use the AVERAGE function to find the average sales per product and display it in a separate cell.
Save the worksheet with your name in the filename format "SalesData_[YourName].xlsx".

Activity 2: Linking Worksheets

Instructions:
Open a new Excel workbook and create two worksheets: "Overview" and "Details."
In the "Details" worksheet, enter sample data for products, including columns for Product Name, Quantity
Sold, and Revenue.
In the "Overview" worksheet, create a structure that summarizes the total revenue from the "Details"
worksheet.
In the cell where you want the total revenue to appear in "Overview," enter the formula:
=Details!C2+C3+C4... (change the cell references according to your table).
Save the workbook using the name "ProductAnalysis_[YourName].xlsx".
Independent Practice (15 minutes)

Assign students to work with a partner to create a new Excel workbook. They should:
Create and manipulate at least two worksheets about a topic of their choice (e.g., budgeting, personal fitness
tracking).
Use at least one function (SUM, AVERAGE) in each worksheet and link the results where applicable.
Use appropriate formatting to enhance their worksheets.
Save and prepare to present their findings to the class.

Closure
Invite a few pairs to briefly present their Excel workbooks, highlighting how they manipulated and linked
their worksheets and the relevance of their findings.
Recap key concepts covered during the lesson, such as worksheet manipulation, functions, and linking
strategies.
Glossary:
1. Function: A built-in formula that performs calculations using values in cells.
2. Worksheet: A single spreadsheet page in an Excel file.
3. Cell: The intersection of a row and a column where data can be entered.
4. Formula: A mathematical expression used to calculate values in Excel.
5. Linking: The process of connecting data from one worksheet to another to update values
automatically.