Introduction
Students will search the Internet for one city from each Continent. The students will compile the data, and input the information into a spreadsheet, and create graphs to show a comparison of their weather data.

Subject: Technology
Topic: Spreadsheets
Grade Level: 6th grade

Standards Addressed

National Educational Technology Standards
8th grade
Technology
Performance Indicators:

4. Use content-specific tools, software and simulations to support learning and research.
8. Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems.
9. Demonstrate and understanding of concepts underlying hardware, software and connectivity, and of practical applications to learning and problem solving.

Standards category to which the performance is linked:

1. Basic operations and concepts.
3. Technology productivity tools.
6. Technology problem-solving and decision making skills

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Instructional Objectives

1. Students will utilize the advanced functions of a spreadsheet program.

2. Students will create graphs within the spreadsheet program

3. Students will use the graphs to compare and contrast data.`

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Student Activities
Students will use the internet to collect weather data from around the world.   Students will layout their spreadsheet, complete with borders and shaded cells.  They will then input their data into the cells within the spreadsheet.  They will then use the advanced features of the spreadsheet to create various tables and graphs in order to analyze the data.

Introductory Activity

• Students will take a pre-test.

• Arrange students into small groups, Give each group a couple of small bags of M&M's.

• Have the students count the number of each color of M&M's that they have.

• Then have the create a simple bar graph to represent each color of the M&M's.

• Then the class will discuss their result.

• Ask students if their are other types of graphs that they could have created to compare and contrast the classes data.

Enabling Activity(ies)

• Introduce students to Microsoft Excel, or other comparable spreadsheet program.  

• Explain the grid layouts, fields, records, and other features deemed necessary.

• Show the students some examples of ways they can layout their spreadsheets.

• have the students begin the project by collecting weather data. ( Use the Weather Data Form, for students to collect their weather data. And use the weather links page for weather information.) Over 5 days, students will select 5 cities, and will collect temperatures for those 5 cities for 5 days.

• Students will then input their data into Excel.

• They will layout their spreadsheets.

• They will create graphs within the Excel program.

Culminating Activity

• Students will export their graphs and spreadsheets to a multimedia presentation program.

• Students will give a presentation on the cities they studied.

• Students will be given a post-test

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Assessment
Students will be assessed  on the results of the post test.  The student's spreadsheets will also be assessed using a Rubric.

Results
After implementing your lesson (sometime between January & March), insert a chart of your pre-test, post-test, and culminating assessment data.
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Web Resources & Supplementary Materials

Introductory Activity
Graph Paper

Enabling Activity
Weather Data Sheet
Weather Links

Culminating Activity