See how Cindy uses Google Sheets to teach spreadsheet and data analysis skills whilst engaging Grade 6s and 7s in solving real-world problems in her EMS lessons.
Following the Grade 7 Entrepreneur's Week, we discussed other ways of making a profit and then we watched a video explaining how the Stock Exchange works. The boys were each given "R1000," and were told they had two terms to buy and sell mock shares. At the end of the second term we saw who had made the most profit.
The aim was for each student to develop spreadsheet and data analysis skills while applying these in a way that is relevant and can be used in the real world. Each student was given a copy of the following Google Sheet. Grab your own copy below.
I engaged in a discussion to revise the learners' prior spreadsheet knowledge. We discussed terminology (cells, columns, rows) and shortcuts (ctrl a, ctrl shift arrow keys etc) and we revised how to insert rows and columns and how to filter and sort.
The following instructions were given to the students:
The following instructions were given to the students:
Facilitate a discussion around the conditional formatting, data summary and charts created. Ask students to predict which shares are going to increase and which are going to decrease in value based on the charts. Ask students whether they think it is better to buy and sell shares with a high risk but high possibility of reward, or to buy and sell shares with low risk but consistent, slow, steady growth. Ask students whether they think it is better to buy a few expensive shares or lots of cheaper shares.
The following instructions were given to the students:
You have R1000 to start with. Using the form, buy and sell shares over the next term. Base decisions of which shares to buy and sell on the data that has been analysed and trends that have been identified. Check the emails in your inbox to see what your bank balance is after each transaction. Keep track of the shares bought and sold using Google Sheets.
At the end of the second term we announced which learner had made the most profit. We discussed which shares were the most successful shares to buy and how this could have been predicted by looking at the chart. Students were encouraged to reflect on what they would have done differently if they were given a second chance.
I use this series of lessons to encourage the learners to use these skills to further explore real life challenges themselves, such as analyse data regarding unemployment, the literacy rate or climate change. In the following year the learners are expected to use these skills to draw up their own budget.
Using Google Apps Scripts is an extremely powerful tool and I would recommend that teachers start exploring this so that they can start tapping into this potential. This lesson would have been a logistical nightmare had I not made use of Google Apps Scripts and I am thankful that Google's tools allowed me to make this more manageable so that I had more time to focus on my key responsibilities - that of teaching and learning.
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