Using Excel in the Classroom  
Teachers have created many activities and lessons utilizing Excel, and in most cases, you do not have to know a great deal about Excel in order to use them! These activities range from games to spreadsheets, and they encompass many grade levels and subject areas.

Here are a few good Excel activities, taken from the Web:
The Planets -
This is a lesson that was used with third grade students, but it is adaptable for 2nd through 5th grade students.
1. Show the video "The Sky Above: A First Look" from United Streaming.
2. Show a live satellite image at http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/ (click on U.S. Satellite Image).
3. Students can view the earth from hundreds of satellites at http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/satellite.html
    (Click on the name of a satellite from the list and then "View Earth from Satellite". Students can also change the view to a map of the     image, from the sun, from the moon, and a night view. Older students can also note the latitude and longitude of each satellite.)
4.  Students use an Excel worksheet to calculate what their weight and age would be on another planet in our solar system.
     Download excel/planet_weight_template.xls(PC users - just click on the link and click "save", or right click - Save Target As   or   on a Mac, click and hold down the mouse and choose Download Image to Disk.)
     Using the keyboard, the student enters their weight or age in the blank cell for each planet and hits the Tab key. Excel automatically calculates their weight and age on that planet. Print the worksheet when finished.
5.  Students can also visit the NASA website to play educational games about the planets: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/games/Games_Collection_archive_1.html
Excel Science Jeopardy -
This easy-to-use game can be adapted for any subject area. It is divided into five categories with five questions each.
1.  Download excel jeopardy at: excel/jeopardy_science_tetc.xls
2.  The worksheet has many pages. Click on the "home" sheet to edit the name of the game and the five categories. This is also the sheet
     that students will use when playing the game.
3.  Enter your questions and answers:
     For example, "b1a" is the cell for the Biology 100 pts. answer. Click on that and enter your answer for 100 points in the first category (currently named biology).
     "b1q" is the cell for the Biology 100 pts. question. Click on that to enter your question for 100 points in the first category.
     Edit all 25 questions and answers in this manner. All sheets that end in "a" are answers and "q" are questions. (1 is 100, 2 is 200, and so on).
4.  Save the file.
Excel Bingo -
This is a terrific bingo game that teachers can easily create on Excel and print out to play with the class, adaptable for any subject or topic.
1. Download the bingo game: excel/bingo_master.xls
2. Open the game; if a "Security Warning" window opens, click "Enable Macros" (This allows you to print the bingo cards. If macros are not enabled, you cannot automatically print the cards). If you are not given that option, go to the top menu and select Tools - Macro - Security, and set the preference to Medium.
3. The first page gives directions as to how to edit the game. You simply go to sheet 1 and type your 25 terms and definitions, then click "Print Bingo Cards". 25 different bingo cards will print, along with the answer sheet!
Temperature Converter -
This is a nice tool for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius, and vice-versa. Students simply type in the temperature in the yellow box on the sheet and hit "Enter" to convert the temperature. excel/temp_converter.xls

Using Excel Templates
 An explanation of why and how to save excel documents as templates:

Templates
A “template” is a workbook that is used as a guide for making other, similar workbooks. It is, putting it another way, a special workbook that you can use as a pattern to replicate new workbooks accurately and consistently. It contains the basic information that will be used again, you simply add the data for the specific case at hand. The basic information contained in the template would include all the styles, formatting, text, functions, and formulas you want and need. Once saved, as described below, and reopened, this information is already in place.

Let's say, for example, that you wanted to use the grade sheet or activity for different classes or subject areas. After testing, but before entering real data, you would save this file as an Excel template. By doing so, you will have created a grade sheet or activity form that you could use for every class.
 

To create a template in Microsoft Excel:

  • create a worksheet that contains all of the styles, formatting, text, functions, and formulas you want and need
  • test it to make sure it works, then clear all test data
  • choose FileSave As
  • enter the name you want for the template in the
    • Windows: [File Name] box
    • Macintosh: it is the [Name:] box in Excel 2001, the [Save As:] box in Excel X)
  • select the folder and drive where you want to save the template
  • now select the file type [Template]
    • Windows: in the “Save As Type” (Windows)
      • Windows users, the extension .xlt will be added automatically
    • Macintosh: in the “Save File As Type” (Excel 98) or “Format” (Excel 2001 and Excel X) box
      • Macintosh users, add the extension .xlt
    • Note: regular Microsoft Excel worksheets use the extension .xls while template worksheets use .xlt
  • click thebutton

To Open the Template, Go to File - New - and select your excel template from the list.

Saving a New File from a Template

When you open a template file, it opens with all of the basic information included with the same name as you gave it when you saved the template. To ensure that you do not accidentally lose your form, follow the steps in the order given.

  • choose FileSave As
  • give it a different filename
  • in the “Save As Type”/ “Save File As Type”/“Format” box, select [Microsoft Excel Workbook]
  • click thebutton
  • add the data necessary

  • choose FileSave

Useful Sites with Excel Activities for Classrooms

ABC's To Excel - 26 Excel activities
http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/kadkins/abc.htm

Excel Math Worksheets for Ages 5 to 11:
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk./maths/excelworksheets.htm

Microsoft Excel Interactive Projects - 9 projects with explanations
http://www.teacherlink.org/content/math/interactive/interactiveexcel.html

Excel sites with many activities for students, assembled by Kim Hall:
http://www.district87.org/staff/hallk/feast2006/excelsites.htm