Most Wanted Toys

A Spreadsheet Activity

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion |

Introduction

You've entered a contest at the mall to win a $1000.00 shopping spree at a toy store of your choice. Last night you were called to the phone and told that you had won! But the smile on your face quickly goes away when they tell you that there is a catch! You are told that the total cost of all the toys you select must not exceed $1000.00, tax included (5%). And if that's not enough, the total cost of all your toys (tax included) must fall between $995.00 and $1000.00 or you lose everything! Your smile quickly returns when you realize that you have a secret weapon called a SPREADSHEET that will do the math for you.

Task

Using one computer to go shopping on the Internet and one computer to create your spreadsheet, you and a partner will create a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel showing:

the name of the toy or game you purchased
how many toys or games you are purchasing (quantity)
the cost of each toy or game
the total cost of the toys or games (cost times the quantity)
the cost of the toys or games with tax
a balance of your money (starting with $1000.00)

Create a graph of your expenditures

Process

Open up Microsoft Excel and choose a Blank Document

Label cell F1 "Balance"

Leave cells A1, B1, C1, D1 and E1 blank

Label cell A2 "Name of Toy"

Label cell B2 "Quantity"

Label cell C2 "Cost"

Label cell D2 "Total"

Label cell E2 "Total with Tax"

In cell F2 put 1000 (Go to Format, Cells and change it to currency or click on the $)

Start putting your information (data) into the cells

When you get to cell D3, you'll have to put in a FORMULA to find the cost of the toy or game by how many you have purchased.
When you get to cell E3, you'll have to put in a FORMULA to find the cost of the toy(s) or game(s) with the tax (5% or .05)

When you get to cell F3, you'll have to put in a FORMULA so that you can keep subtracting your total from the balance of money you have left.

Remember, once you have put in your formula you can let the spreadsheet do the math for you by using the Edit, Fill Down tool.

Once you have finished and your total is greater than or equal to $995.00 and less than or equal to $1000.00, it's time to chart your results.

Making a Chart

Hold your Control key (mac - key with the apple on it) down.

Highlight A2 through the cell that has your last toy or game in it AND E2 through the cell that has your last total with tax in it.

Let your Control key go.

Click on Chart Wizard and select Pie Graph (choose the type of graph you think would be easiest to read)

Click on Next.

If your data range is correct (it should be), click on Next.

Under Titles, name your chart "Most Wanted Toys".

Under Legend, Choose your location.

Under Data Labels, click "Show Label and Percent" or "Show Label and Value".

Click Finish

If you make an error, go up to Chart on the menu bar and correct it.

Draw a text box and type your name(s) and Homeroom number.

After a teacher checks it, you may SAVE and print your chart.

Resources

Here are some websites where you can do your shopping:

Evaluation

	0	1	2
Layout	Layout is unorganized. correctly. Cells are not formatted. Spelling mistakes	Layout organization is unclear. No more than one error in labeling or cell formatting is present	Layout is organized in a clear manner. Data is clearly labeled in columns and rows. Cells are formatted correctly. No spelling mistakes.
Data Input	Data is not labeled. Data is incorrect	No more than two errors in data input.	No errors in data input. All labels are correct.
Formula	No Formulas are present	No more than one error in formulas	Formulas used correctly
Chart	No chart is present.	Chart has a few labeling errors and may be inappropiriate for the type of information being presented	Chart is clearly labeled (Title, legend, x and y axis) and is eas to interpret. The chart is appropriate for the type of data being presented.

0 - 2 Needs improvement and practice

3 - 6 Acceptable

7 - 8 Proficient