School Day Timetable

Appropriate for Grades 4 – 7.

Overview:

The teachers have put you in charge of the school for a day. Write a timetable showing the activities that you wish to do and when they will be held.

Activity:

1.    Start MS Excel.
2.    Click in cell A1 and type the heading Fun Day.
3.    Click in cell A3 and type Time.
4.    Copy the rest of this table into your spreadsheet and complete as you want.
5.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
6.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
7.    Type a name and click the Save button
8.    Choose Print from the File menu.
9.    Click the OK button

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Spreadsheet
•    Printer, Paper

Further ideas and comments

Train Timetable

Appropriate for Grades 5 – 10

Overview:

Have students bring a copy of a bus or train timetable to school. Using a spreadsheet, have them copy the timetable neatly laying it out so that all the information is displayed in neat columns. Students could also make up their own timetable in pairs.

Activity:

1.    Start MS Excel.
2.    Click in cell A1 and type the heading Timetable.
3.    Click in cell A3 and type Train ID.
4.    Click in cell B3 and type Stations.
5.    Copy the rest of this table into your spreadsheet.
6.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
7.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
8.    Type a name and click the Save button
9.    Choose Print from the File menu.
10.    Click the OK button

Train ID     Stations                
                   Marry St     Lokomotion     Fairy Land         Sendolot
001               0730              0741                  0757         0810
003               0745              0756                  0804         0817
005               0800              0811                  0826         0834
007              Fill these in yourself to complete the timetable.   
009        
011        

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Spreadsheet
•    Printer, Paper

Further ideas and comments

Perimeter of clipart

Appropriate for Grades 3 – 7.

Overview:

Insert a series of different sized clipart pictures onto a page. Print the page out and using a piece of string, work out the perimeter of each picture. Do this by laying the string along the outside edge of the picture then measuring against a ruler to see how much string it took.

Activity:

1.    Start MS Publisher.
2.    Choose the Blank Publication tab from the Catalog window.
3.    Click on the Full Page picture then click the Create button
4.    Choose Picture – Clipart from the Insert menu.
5.    Click on a category.
6.    Click on a picture to use then click on the top choice in the menu that appears. (Insert clip)
7.    Click on the picture and drag it into position on the page.
8.    Click and hold on one of the black “handles”.
9.    Adjust the size of the picture by dragging the handle in or out.
10.    Repeat this process to add more pictures.
11.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
12.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
13.    Type a name and click the Save button
14.    Choose Print from the File menu.
15.    Click the OK button
16.    Take a piece of string and place it so that it follows the perimeter of one of the shapes on the page.
17.    Measure the amount of string it takes against a ruler.

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Desktop Publishing, Drawing
•    Printer, Paper
 
Activity Illustration:

Further ideas and comments

Work out the Area of a piece of Clipart

Appropriate for Grades 4 – 7.

Overview:

Insert a series of different sized clipart pictures onto a page. Print the page out and using an overlay grid, work out the area of each picture.

Activity:

1.    Start MS Publisher.
2.    Choose the Blank Publication tab from the Catalog window.
3.    Click on the Full Page picture then click the Create button
4.    Choose Picture – Clipart from the Insert menu.
5.    Click on a category.
6.    Click on a picture to use then click on the top choice in the menu that appears. (Insert clip)
7.    Click on the picture and drag it into position on the page.
8.    Click and hold on one of the black “handles”.
9.    Adjust the size of the picture by dragging the handle in or out.
10.    Repeat this process to add more pictures.
11.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
12.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
13.    Type a name and click the Save button
14.    Choose Print from the File menu.
15.    Click the OK button
16.    Use a transparent overlay grid to work out the area of each picture or draw a square grid onto the print by using a ruler and pencil.
17.    An overlay can be made quickly by photocopying a grid onto overhead transparencies.

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Desktop Publishing
•    Printer, Paper
 
Activity Illustration:

Further ideas and comments

Picture graph

Grade: 2 – 7

Overview:

Using a drawing program, draw the axes of a graph. Label the graph and add numbers and names based upon the information you already have. Drag clipart onto the graph to complete it.

Activity:

1.    Start MS Publisher.
2.    Choose the Blank Publication tab from the Catalog window.
3.    Click on the Full Page picture then click the Create button
4.    Choose the line tool from the Tool box to left of the page.
5.    Move the crosshairs out onto the corner of the page.
6.    Hold the Shift key down, click and drag a vertical line to halfway down the page.
7.    Hold the Shift key down, click and drag a vertical line halfway across the page.
8.    Choose the text tool from the Tool box.
9.    Drag out a text box across the bottom of the horizontal axis.
10.    Type the number 1.
11.    Press the Tab key once.
12.    Type the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and leave a tab between each.
13.    Drag out a text box next to the vertical axis.
14.    Type the name of the object you are graphing.
15.    Repeat the previous 2 steps for each object you graph.
16.    Choose Picture – Clipart from the Insert menu.
17.    Click on a category.
18.    Click on a picture to use then click on the top choice in the menu that appears. (Insert clip)
19.    Click on the picture and drag it into position on the page.
20.    Click and hold on one of the black “handles”.
21.    Adjust the size of the picture by dragging the handle in or out.
22.    Complete the graph by adding different pictures.
23.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
24.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
25.    Type a name and click the Save button
26.    Choose Print from the File menu.
27.    Click the OK button

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Desktop Publishing, Drawing
•    Printer, Paper
 
Activity Illustration:

Further ideas and comments

Addition and Subtraction Dominos

Appropriate for Grade 4 – 7.

Overview:

Draw a series of rectangles of the same size. Then draw a line across the middle of the card. In one end type a sum and in the other type the answer to a different sum. Do this until you have 30 cards that contain 30 questions and 30 answers.

Activity:

1.    Write a list of sums and answers on a sheet of paper.
2.    Start MS Publisher.
3.    Choose the Blank Publication tab from the Catalog window.
4.    Click on the Full Page picture then click the Create button
5.    Choose the rectangle tool from the Tool box to the left of the page.
6.    Draw a rectangular box that is 10 cm by 5 cm (about 3 ½ inches by 2 inches).
7.    Choose the line tool from the Tool box.
8.    Click in the centre of the long side of the rectangle and draw a line across the centre of the box dividing it into two halves.
9.    Choose Select All: from the Edit menu.
10.    Choose Copy from the Edit menu.
11.    Select Paste from the Edit menu.
12.    Click on the pasted copy and drag it neatly under the original to start a column.
13.    Paste a series of copies onto the page until you have around 30 in a series of columns.
14.    Choose the text tool from the Tool bar.
15.    Drag out a text box in one half of one of the shapes.
16.    Type a sum from your list into the text box. Don’t include the answer.
17.    Draw another text box in the other half of the shape.
18.    Type the answer to one of the other sums.
19.    Repeat these steps until all of the dominos are filled.
20.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
21.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
22.    Type a name and click the Save button
23.    Choose Print from the File menu.
24.    Click the OK button.
25.    Glue the print onto a sheet of cardboard.
26.    Cut out the dominos and play away.

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Desktop Publishing
•    Printer, Paper
 
Activity Illustration:

Further ideas and comments

Design a Game Board

Appropriate for Grades 5 – 10.

Overview:

Using a drawing program, have students design a basic game board for math’s game.  This could be game like snakes and letters with different rules and special cards.

Activity:

1.    Start MS Publisher.
2.    Choose the Blank Publication tab from the Catalog window.
3.    Click on the Full Page picture then click the Create button
4.    Select the rectangle tool from the Toolbox to the left of the page.
5.    Draw a box that goes out to the edge of the page.
6.    Click 2 cm (1 inch) inside the first box and draw a second box inside. The space between these lines will form the playing area.
7.    Choose the line tool.
8.    Click and drag a line from the outer box’s edge to the edge of the inner box.
9.    Repeat this process to draw lines to divide playing area into smaller squares like a Monopoly board.
10.    Choose the rectangle tool.
11.    Draw rectangular areas for cards or other playing pieces.
12.    Choose Picture – Clipart from the Insert menu.
13.    Click on a category.
14.    Click on a picture to use then click on the top choice in the menu that appears. (Insert clip)
15.    Click on the picture and drag it into position on the page.
16.    Click and hold on one of the black “handles”.
17.    Adjust the site of the picture by dragging the handle in or out.
18.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
19.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
20.    Type a name and click the Save button
21.    Choose Print from the File menu.
22.    Click the OK button.
23.    Extend this activity by typing the rules using the word processor then print them out.

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Desktop Publishing
•    Printer, Paper

Activity Illustration:
 
Further ideas and comments

Draw Money for Class Math’s Activities

Appropriate for Grades 3 – 7.

Overview:

In a drawing program allow the students to design their own notes and coins to be used in money lessons in your classroom. Make sure that the notes have the same value as those found in true life. Allow them to add clipart. If you using a black-and-white printer, give the students time after printing out to colour in.

Activity:

1.    Start MS Publisher.
2.    Choose the Blank Publication tab from the Catalog window.
3.    Click on the Full Page picture then click the Create button
4.    Select the rectangle tool from the Tool Box to the left of the page.
5.    Draw a rectangle the size of a $ note. (Measure one to get the size.)
6.    Choose the text tool from the Tool box.
7.    Click and drag out a text box inside the top left corner of the rectangle.
8.    Type the dollar value of the note into the text box.
9.    Repeat this in the right corner of the rectangle.
10.    Choose Picture – Clipart from the Insert menu.
11.    Click on a category.
12.    Click on a picture to use then click on the top choice in the menu that appears. (Insert clip)
13.    Click on the picture and drag it into position on the note.
14.    Click and hold on one of the black “handles”.
15.    Adjust the size of the picture by dragging the handle in or out.
16.    Go to the Edit menu and choose Select All.
17.    Choose Copy from the Edit menu.
18.    Choose Paste from the Edit menu to put a copy onto the page.
19.    Click on the copy and drag it so that it lines up neatly under the other note.
20.    Paste the note until you have enough for classroom exercises.
21.    Repeat the previous steps to produce different value notes.
22.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
23.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
24.    Type a name and click the Save button
25.    Choose Print from the File menu.
26.    Click the OK button.
27.    Print out the notes and colour them.
28.    Cut them out and store them for classroom use.

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Desktop Publishing
•    Printer, Paper
•    Coloured pens and pencils

Activity Illustration:

Further ideas and comments

Work out Percentages on a Spreadsheet

Appropriate for Grades 5 – 10.

Overview:

Have students come up with a formula they can be entered into a spreadsheet to automatically work out percentages from marks or use the one below. Work in small groups and encourage the students to make the spreadsheet as user-friendly as possible.

Activity:

Start MS Excel.
1.    Click in cell B2 and type: My Score.
2.    Click in cell D2 and type: Total Marks in Test.
3.    Click in cell B3 and enter a score. Use 12 for this example.
4.    Click in cell D3 and enter the total marks. Use 20 for this example.
5.    Click in cell B5 and type: Percentage.
6.    Click in cell B6 and enter the formula: = B3/D3*100
7.    Go back and change the result in B3 or D3 to view the different percentages.
8.    Choose Save As: from the File menu.
9.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
10.    Type a name and click the Save button

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Spreadsheet
•    Printer, Paper

 
Activity Illustration:

Further ideas and comments

Draw clocks

Appropriate for Grades 2 – 7.

Overview:

Using a drawing program, the students draw a set of clocks displaying the times that you have written on the board. They can draw both analogue and digital clocks for each time.

Activity:

1.    Start MS Publisher
2.    Choose the Blank Publication tab from the Catalog window.
3.    Click on the Full Page picture then click the Create button
4.    Choose the circle tool from the Tool Box to the left of the page.
5.    Press the Shift key down and drag out a circle that covers about a quarter of the page.
6.    Choose the text tool from the Tool Box.
7.    Click on the page and drag out a text box above the circle where the number 12 would be.
8.    Type the number 12 into the text box.
9.    Repeat the last 2 steps for the numbers 3, 6 and 9.
10.    Drag the text boxes into place if necessary.
11.    Choose the line tool from the Tool Box.
12.    Draw hands on the clock face to indicate the time.
13.    Repeat steps 4 – 12 for each of the times set by the teacher.
14.    When all of the clocks are completed, choose Save As: from the File menu.
15.    Navigate to your floppy disk or folder.
16.    Type a name and click the Save button
17.    Choose Print from the File menu.
18.    Click the OK button.

Make a sheet of blank clock faces and print them out.

Resources/Materials Needed:

•    Software: Desktop Publishing
•    Printer, Paper

 
Activity Illustration:
 

Further ideas and comments