Have you ever wished you could wave a magic wand over all those math homework problems and watch the answers appear on the page? Well, today you will learn about a tool that is almost as wonderful as a magic wand–the spreadsheet! With a spreadsheet and some knowledge of how to use it, you can sit back and watch it add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers for you! Like a detective, you can use spreadsheet formulas to uncover information about groups of numbers. Then, you can make really fancy graphs to see your numbers as pictures. Are you ready to "freefall" into the rows and columns of spreadsheets?
Get the scoop on spreadsheets! Visit Spreadsheet Safari, a Thinkquest Junior Web site created by kids just like you. Go on a Scavenger Hunt, play with puzzles, and have a great time while you’re there.
Study and print this spreadsheet diagram, then grab a partner and test your memory with "Name the Spreadsheet Parts." Give yourself 3 points for every correct part you can name. You can file your color spreadsheet diagram in a special computer/technology skills notebook for future reference or post it in your classroom or computer lab. Over the next 5 weeks you will have the chance to print more color mini-posters!
Let’s have a little fun with simple online spreadsheets that do instant calculations for you. In a quick click of a button, you can see how spreadsheets take the work out of math homework.
- How many kilograms do you weigh? How many centimeters tall are you? Find out here!
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How much would you weigh on Mars? Use this mini-Mars calculator on Cornell’s Mission to Mars Web site to find out. Here’s a challenge for you: What formula would you enter on a spreadsheet to calculate the weight of objects on Mars? For more clues, use this interactive Flash exhibit.
- Believe it or not: an online calculator for how much meat you eat!
Which calculator did you like best or find the most useful for your life as a fifth grade student? Think of 3 questions that are important to you and that can be answered using this calculator. Link to your favorite calculator again and find the answers.
Today
marks a very important day for you. Stretch your right arm straight up like
you’re reaching for the sky. Bend it at the elbow and pat yourself
on the back! After completing the first 12 weeks in TechKnow
Park, you can:
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use advanced keyword searches!use several different Internet research tools!use a word processor!
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evaluate Web sites!
Congratulations!
Now it’s time to put those skills into practice as you begin gathering information about your favorite topic. By the time you reach the end of the winding path in TechKnow Park, you will be an expert on your special topic. You will have opportunities to share this knowledge with others (at school and in the community) through multimedia presentations and products.
Let’s look at how Kyle is getting started with his project. He turned his word processed list of favorite things into keyword searches and gave them a whirl on NC WiseOwl. Next week you will turn your list of favorites into keyword searches like Kyle did. You will be amazed at all the new and interesting information about your special topic.
 DreamBuilder |
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 Trouble Terminator |
