Let the Fun Begin!

Review

Let’s start out slow and easy with a short True/False database and spreadsheet quiz.

Plan

Before you jump into creating a database from scratch, let’s stop and think about the information you would like to see in your file. What would you like to know about your friends, classmates and family? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Mrs. Iva Greatclass wants a database like this because she likes to send postcards to her students’ parents about behavior and grades.
• Remember A.G. and his crazy friends database?
• Allison likes to cook for her friends on their birthdays. Look at the fields she created.
• Be creative! In addition to the normal fields (name, address, phone number, birthday), try fields that interest you, like: NICKNAME, FAVORITE TOOTHPASTE, FAVORITE TV SHOW, FAVORITE VIDEO GAME, HOW YOU’RE GROUNDED . . .
• Print and use this page to jot down your own ideas!

• It is important that all information is entered in a consistent way. In other words, if you create a field called "Favorite Sport" and two of your friends like basketball, don’t enter BBall for one friend and basketball for another. If you do, you’ll have trouble sorting your records later on. Instead, choose one way to type it every time.
• You can change and add fields any time after the database has been created and saved.
• You can add and change the data for your fields any time after the database has been created and saved. Wow! You can make your database as large as you like!
• You can change the way your database looks! Use different fonts, colors and sizes, add borders, shading, and graphics. (Worried about copyright problems? Use Pics4Learning.com copyright-friendly images. They link to other copyright-friendly image collections, too! Don’t forget to check those!)
• Get in the habit of saving after every new record you add. You never know when the power will go out!

• Open your favorite database program and create a new file.
• Add the fields you planned for earlier. Remember, you can change them later on if necessary.
• SAVE your work, using your name in the file name. You don’t want your file confused with another student’s file, do you?
• Collect the data from your friends, family and classmates.
• Add this data to your database and remember to save often!
• You will continue adding to your database next week. Collect as much data as possible this week. Here’s a timesaver: Print and make copies of this form for your classmates and family. Ask friends and family to complete the form. Use the forms to enter their data in your database.