Tag: spreadsheet basics

Rows and Columns

We use the hundreds table to introduce rows and columns and focus students on seeing the patterns in these tables. Again and again we go back to making rules and using rules to ask and answer questions. For example, what rule would you make to fill in a column on the hundreds table. NOTE: we use color to connect a numbered task to a picture. You can remind students that they can change these colors if they want and copy and paste without changing a color by choosing Paste Formulas in the Paste Menu.

Number Lines

Number Lines introduce students to functional thinking and the use of formulas in spreadsheets. For younger students we call these formulas “rules” and ask students to build a variety of number lines using rules. For example they can build a whole number line by creating a rule that adds 1 to the number in the previous cell (=J9+1) and then copy that rule across the numberline cells. They build numberlines with only odd numbers, even numbers, and starting with different numbers. We encourage them to explore a variety of rules to make different numberlines.