Introduction to Google Sheets (E.Vitale)

Introduction

Have you discovered the power of Google Sheets (GSheets) in your classroom? If not, this WebQuest is the place where teachers can learn about Google Sheets and how to implement within the classroom by themselves or with students.  Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet that is bundled with other Google tools within Google Drive like Docs, Sheets, and Slides. This spreadsheet app functions similarly to other spreadsheet tools.  You can use Google Sheets to teach students how to visualize data and workflow when creating, editing, sharing and collaborating with various spreadsheets. This WebQuest will help you navigate through Google Sheets while learning basic features of creating tables, graphs, etc. 

Task

By the end of this WebQuest, you will have learned how to navigate through Google Sheets. You will be able to create a spreadsheet to calculate the average weekly temperatures of the last month to share with others.

You will be able to:

  • Understand and identify the parts of a spreadsheet.
  • Enter data on a spreadsheet.
  • Use the spreadsheet tools to graph data.
  • Enter basic formula (e.g., average) in a spreadsheet.
Process

 

  1. In order to start this task, it is important to plan by Google searching the daily temperature readings for the last month (i.e., October). Record the daily temperature readings within your notebook. If by any chance you decide to research daily temperatures of another month from previous years, that is acceptable as well.

 

  1. Click the link to get started with the GSheets. If you are already logged into Google Classroom, then proceed into the Google Drive dashboard and select “Google Sheets.”

 

  1. Click “Blank Sheet” or select a template on the Google Sheet homepage.

 

Before starting with this spreadsheet, you need to begin using the common spreadsheet terms for this task.  Some of the spreadsheet terminology to help you understand for this task are:

 

  • Cell: A single data point in a spreadsheet.

 

  • Column: A vertical set of cells.

 

  • Row: A horizontal set of cells.

 

  • Range: A selection of cells extending across a row, column or both.

 

  • Function: A built-in operation from the Google Spreadsheet that can be used to calculate cells, rows, columns, etc.  The data can be manipulated in rows for example find the average.

 

  • Spreadsheet: The entire document containing your worksheet.

 

  1. To start your spreadsheet presentation, look around the white-and-grey grid.  There should be a blue outline around the selected cells.

 

  1. Start at cell A2, (i.e., column A and row 2) to write the title “Week #”.

 

  1. Proceed to write the numbers “1 to 4” to a range of cells from A3 to A6.

 

  1. At column B, row 2, start inputting the names of the days of the work week from “Monday to Friday”. Ensure that C2, the selected cell is labelled Tuesday, the cell D2 is labelled as Wednesday and so forth.

 

  1. At B3, input the daily temperatures for the first week (i.e., from B3 to F3). 

 

  1. Repeat step 5 for the other daily temperatures for weeks 2 to 4.

 

  1. At G2, input within the cell the title “Average Oct. Temp”.

 

  1. To find the find the average temperature for October week 1, drag the cursor to highlight a range of cells within one row (i.e., from B3 to F3). There should be a blue outline around the selected cells. Then select the Insert within the toolbar, then choose “Function” and “Average”. The average weekly temperature will be calculated and inputted within G3 cell.

 

  1. Repeat step 8 for weeks 2 to 4.

 

  1. To “Hide Multiple Columns”, click column B first and drag across column E. Click on the column header and select “Hide Column”. Kindly note, that the column is hidden from view and nothing is deleted.

 

  1. To convert the data into a graph, select the cells that you want to use in your chart. Ensure that there is a blue outline around the selected cells.

 

  1. In the top toolbar, select “Insert” and then “Chart.”  A bar graph appears over the spreadsheet. Google Sheets will automatically create placeholder labels for your graph title and axis labels on your bar graph.

 

  1. If the title on your graph requires editing, simply double-click on the text of the label and use the “Title Text” box within the “Chart Editor” to revise the existing title.

 

  1. To edit the existing x or y labels on the axes, simply double-click on the text on the label and use the “Title Text” box within the ““Chart Editor” to revise the existing title.

 

  1. To adjust the colour of our data bars, simply double click any of the bars. A “Chart editor” tool bar will open to the right side of the screen.  Next under “Format”, select the “Colour” dropdown menu. Then under the “Colour” dropdown menu, you can select the colour you would like to use to fill your bars.

 

  1. By the end of this task, you should have created one graph with different bars of colours, a title and labels on the x and y axes.

 

  1. Now to try creating another type of graph. For example, try to create another type of graph (e.g., pie chart), etc.

 

  1. Check the rubric to make you sure have included all the elements.

 

  1. Share your bar graph with one of your colleagues and draw on the conclusions based on the data that has been collected.
Evaluation

 Evaluation

Criteria

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Bar Graph Title

There is no title displayed on the bar graph.

The title somewhat matches the data on the bar graph.

The title mostly matches the data on the graph.

The title exactly matches the data on the graph.

Display of Data

There is no data displayed on  the bar graph.

There is some data displayed on the graph.

The data is mostly displayed on the graph.

The data is accurately displayed on the graph.

Calculations

There is no average formula used for this bar graph.

The average formula is somewhat correctly used for this bar graph.

The average formula is mostly used for this bar graph.

The average formula is correctly used for this bar graph.

Scaling

The scaling is not

included in the right place within the bar graph.

The scaling is included in the right place, but it is somewhat appropriate to the bar graph.

The scaling is included in the right place, but it is mostly appropriate to the bar graph.

The scaling is included in the right place, but appropriate to the bar graph

Graph Appearance

There is one colour bar on the graph/

There two colours on the bars on the graph.

There are three colours bars on the graph.

There are four colours bars on the graph.

 

Conclusion

Concluding with this task, you should have a better understanding of how to collect, analyze and determine the average of the data within the GSheet.  You have learned how to apply the data in creating a chart and bar graph.

Teacher Page

This WebQuest was created to engage teacher to learn how to use Google Sheets.