BUS:Skittles Candy Count (Excel)

Summary

The Skittles Candy Count is an introductory lesson on how to work in Excel. Students will learn how to use formulas, edit the spreadsheet, and create and edit charts.

Materials

Excel software program. A package of Skittles per student (the small packages work great). Instructions (attached). The Candy Count sheet (attached).

Background for Teachers

This is an on-you-own assignment. This works great for classes that are working in rotations. The students will need the instruction book, a package of Skittles, and the Candy Count Sheet. The students will count the number of each color of Skittles. Then they will record it onto their Candy Count sheet. Then they will talk with the rest of their group and record their answers. Next, they will input this information into the computer. After they add the data, they will format the Spreadsheet, and create and format a chart.

Student Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge in this software is needed.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to add data to a Spreadsheet, format it, add a chart and format it.

Instructional Procedures

The students will count the number of each color of Skittles. Then they will record it onto their Candy Count sheet. Then they will talk with the rest of their group and record their answers. Next, they will input this information into the computer. After they add the data, they will format the Spreadsheet, and create and format a chart.

Strategies for Diverse Learners

This is a great activity to pair students together to work together. If a student is more advanced, pair them with a struggling student.

Assessment Plan

Bibliography

This is a modified version of the Smarties Candy Count that used a software other than Excel.