Using Excel and other spreadsheets in elementary schools

The purpose of this blog is to be a place where teachers can share ideas, lessons and thoughts on the use of spreadsheets with elementary school students. Many high schools expect their incoming freshmen to be able to use Excel or similar programs. Most of the graduatinig eighth grade students in my school have had only limited instruction with this program and are not at the skill level that these schools expect.

I think that one of the reasons for this is elementary school teachers do not know how to use spreadsheets themselves, and have not tried to integrate spreadsheets into lessons. Another reason is a lack of lessons that can be used by teachers with students. I google searched "excel elementary school" and the vast majority of hits involves schools that excel, not use Excel.

I have used spreadsheets with students in fourth through eighth grade. I am looking for lessons that have been used by teachers that have integrated spreadsheets. I am also more than willing to share lessons that I have used. I will be posting these lessons on my school's web site in the near future and hope to develop a library of lessons for grades 4 through 8.

Feel free to add your comments or post a lesson that will help teachers bring the use of spreadsheets to their students.