Spreadsheets and Modelling

Zoo Activity Part 2

Learning Objectives:

  • to learn keywords used with spreadsheets
  • to find out about spreadsheet basics such as data, labels and formulae
 

Task 1: Formatting the Zoo Spreadsheet

  1. Make sure that you have set up your worksheets by completing all of the tasks in Zoo Activity Part1.
  2. Start Excel by clicking its icon or using [Start] then Programs .
  3. Load a copy of your completed zoo spreadsheet.
  4. Change the label cell colours (cells A1 to D1) and change the background. 
  5. Add borders to the table.

If you need help, have a look at Spreadsheet Techniques

Task 2: What If...?

  1. Spreadsheets can be used to ask 'What if?' questions.  Make sure that you have a copy of your saved spreadsheet BEFORE you start making these changes.  If you want to save the new spreadsheets, use a different name such as 'zoo2.xls'. After each change, printout the result and write a note about what you did on the printout.
  2. You get 4 more lions.  How will things change?
  3. And the cost of keeping the snakes goes up to £10 a week. How will things change?
  4. And your eagles all leave.  (Who left that cage open?)  How will things change?
  5. What budget will you need with all of the above changes and 20 extra penguins?

Task 3: Add a graphic and more

  1. Add one or more pictures to your spreadsheet.  Either use clipart and a picture from the internet.  Use Insert, picture to add it.
  2. Why not experiment with some more formatting?
  3. Print your spreadsheet in Landscape.

 

Extension

  1. Make further changes to your spreadsheet to improve its appearance.  

For instance:

  • Can you turn off the gridlines? Hint:  Check out Tools, Options.
  • Can you rotate the headings by 45 degrees?  Hint: Check out Format, Cells, Alignment.
  • Can you sort the information about the animals into alphabetical order?  Hint:  Highlight all the information about the animals, including the numbers but not the headings and use Data, Sort.
  1. When you use a spreadsheet to investigate the effect of changing numbers, this is called 'modelling'. Write some instructions, word processed or otherwise, to tell someone how to use spreadsheets for 'whatif' type modelling.