Spreadsheet Basics – Learning to Analyze with Databases

Spreadsheets are perhaps the simplest form of a database and are excellent tools for introducing students to using technology for analysis. 

This lesson plan provides an introduction to using databases with a very simple spreadsheet that provides data about homes sold in a given area.

Students will learn about filtering, sorting, and other spreadsheet commands.

• Subject Areas: Any
• Materials Required: Virtual classroom or other screen sharing tool, or a large screen display with a computer.
• Time Needed: Typically an entire class period.

We’ve included everything you’ll need in a single zip archive. The zip archive contains the lesson plan in PDF format and a simple database regarding homes that is provided in multiple formats - Libre Office, Microsoft Excel, Apple's Numbers, and simple CSV, so that no matter which spreadsheet program you have access to, you can make use of this lesson plan.