Social Bookmarking Project

The following are five ideas of how to incorporate Microsoft Excel into K-6 curriculum:

1. Have the students bring in a grocery store receipt and teach them how to input the data into an Excel spreadsheet. Teach them how to set up formulas using the software features. Have them figure out how much they would spend in one year at this grocery store.

2. Take the students to the computer lab and have them create an Excel spreadsheet for an upcoming class party. Write out a plan as a class of the items you will need such as paper plates, condiments, etc. The budget for the class will be $7 per person. Plug the information into the spreadsheet to show the students where they stand as a class as far as the budget is concerned. Explain the SUM FUNCTION to the class.

3. Have the students create a graph on Microsoft Excel of everyone's birthday. Write down everyone's birthdate and have the students type in their classmate's names and birthdates and create a graph for them to learn how to read. This activity will also help them to get to know their classmates.

4. While doing a lesson on health or nutrition, teach the students how to create a poster using Excel. They can create a poster of the food pyramid to hang on the wall by the activity center. As a class, you can discuss the daily recommendations at snack time or before lunch.

5. Take the students to the computer lab and teach them how to create a timeline while studying space travel. The students can use pictures to enhance the timeline and add words if they are able. The timeline shows the students how things change over time.