Learning About Area and Microsoft Excel

Technology Standards:

3.3.1. Students will use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.

Discuss the reasons computers are best suited for task requiring speed, accuracy, and repeated
operations.

Use the computer and technology resources as a learning tool.

3.3.2. Students will use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology enhanced models,
prepare publications, and produce other creative works.

Use the computer and technology resources to practice learning skills in relation to other subject
areas such as math, science, English, etc.

Math Standards:

3.MD.7 Relate area to the operations of multiplication and addition.

Find the area of a rectangle with whole-number side lengths
by tiling it, and show that the area is the same as would be found by multiplying the side lengths.

Multiply side lengths to find areas of rectangles with whole
number side lengths in the context of solving real world and mathematical problems, and represent whole-number products as rectangular areas in mathematical reasoning.

Objective: Students will find the area of their homes. They will measure each room in their homes and draw them to scale using Microsoft Excel.

Materials: Measuring Tape, Paper, Pencil, and Excel

Procedure:

Students will measure each room in their home using a measuring tape. They should draw a floor plan of their home on a piece of paper and write down the measurements of each room.
Use the following directions to guide students through the Excel program.
Open up Excel on your computer.
Click on the box to the left of Column A and select all cells.
Click on all vertical lines that separate two columns and drag left or right.
A tool tip will display on the screen. Use only the number of pixels and not inches.
Set the pixels to the same width. All columns will be set to the width you choose when you stop dragging.
Click on the horizontal lines and set the pixels to the same number you used for setting the width.
Each cell of the spreadsheet will be used to represent 2 feet.
You will shade the individual rooms by using the paint bucket drop down tool.
Remember to include the measurements of each room and figure the total square footage of your home.