Rachel Alberg
EDMT 380-001: Spreadsheets
Fall 2005

Spreadsheets can be integrated into a wide variety of content areas. They are a valuable tool for students to collect, analyze and display their findings in a professional way. It also allows students to create 'what if' scenarios and try and make predictions of what will happen in the future.

Lesson Plan

Issue: Language
Subject: Math or Social Studies
Grade Level: 8th

Objectives:

• The student will compute percentages comparing a sample population to the whole population.
• The student will demonstrate knowledge of a pie graph by completing one with the percentages found.
• The student will demonstrate knowledge of technology by completing tables and graphs of the data in an Excel spreadsheet format.

Summary:

The goal of this lesson is to look at the presence of different languages in the current state we reside in (Wisconsin). Students will be given a list of languages spoken in Wisconsin with the number of residents that consider this as their first language. Students will then look at the ten languages that are most frequently spoken. Using these numbers they will calculate the percentage of each language in relation to the total population of Wisconsin. A pie chart will also be required using the percentages found in order for students to see the breakdown of language in our state and realize that English is not the only language spoken. At this point it might also be beneficial to look at the total population for each language from a national view and complete the same exercise that was done with the state, and then compare these figures and see if some of the main languages spoken in Wisconsin are the same major languages spoken nationally. All numbers, percentages, and graphs will be completed in an Excel spreadsheet. This helps students keep information organized, and also gives them a chance to use technology. All numbers used in this lesson will be taken from the 2000 Census.

Student Assignment: As a PDF
Student Assignment: As a Pub
Example Spreadsheet

Sources:

U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000

www.mla.org – A great site, that maps language concentration by state or country, and also compares different states.

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Last updated December 16, 2005
Any questions? Please contact albergrl@uwec.edu