Foundation Lesson V
Microsoft® Excel
Using Excel in the Science Classroom
OBJECTIVE
Students will take data and use an Excel spreadsheet to manipulate the information. This will include
creating graphs, manipulating data, finding averages and calculating standard deviation.
LEVEL
All
T E A C H E R
P A G E S
NATIONAL STANDARDS
UCP.1, UCP.2, A.1, A.2, E.1, E.2, G.2
TEKS
6.2 (E), 6.4(A)
7.2(E), 7.4(A)
8.2 (E), 8.4(A), 8.4(B)
IPC: 2(C)
Biology: 2(C)
Chemistry: 2(D)
Physics: 2(C), 2(E)
CONNECTIONS TO AP
Graphing skills, data management, using technology
TIME FRAME
30 minutes (for each lesson)
MATERIALS
Computers with Microsoft® Excel software
TEACHER NOTES
This foundation lesson contains four sub-lessons: bar graphs, line graphs, scatter plots with linear
regressions, and data management. You may want to teach each lesson as a stand-alone lesson, or as
they become relevant to a current lab. The graphing and data lessons can be completely independent of
one another.
Sample data has been provided for you to use if you would like to teach these as a stand-alone lesson.
It is probably best used as a follow up to a data collection lab so that students can use real data.
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Microsoft® Excel
Using Excel in the Science Classroom
Part I: How to Make a Bar Graph
PURPOSE
To use the software program Microsoft® Excel to generate a bar graph.
MATERIALS
data from this handout
computer
Microsoft® Excel software
PROCEDURE
In science class you have collected data to see how much the density of water changes as you add grams
of salt. Your teacher wants you to take the data and produce a bar graph using Excel. The data is as
follows:
Grams of Salt
Density
(g/mL)
0
1.00
5
1.03
10
1.07
15
1.11
20
1.14
1. Open the Excel program on your computer. A blank workbook will appear. Notice that the columns
are identified with letters and the rows are identified by numbers.
2. In the box “A1”, type Grams of Salt.
3. In the box “B1”, type Density. If you need to make a box larger, take your cursor to the top of the
column and place it between two boxes until a double arrow appears. Now you can stretch the
column to the size you need.
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4. Enter the data in the boxes below each heading. Be careful to enter the coordinating data in the
correct row.
Figure 1
5. On your toolbar there is a very small, colorful bar graph icon. This is called the Chart Wizard. Click
on the Chart Wizard icon.
Chart Wizard
icon
Figure 2
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6. After clicking the Chart Wizard icon, the first window that opens identifies the chart type. Choose
“Column” on the left-hand side, and under the chart sub-type on the right side click on the first
choice available. Click Next.
Figure 3
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7. The next window that appears has two tabs: Data Range and Series. Click on Series and delete all
existing data sets from the series box.
Make sure to remove
any series that might
appear in this window
and then click Add to
put in your axes values.
Figure 4
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8. Now click Add to add your data series. On the bottom of the window is “Category (X) Axis
Labels”. In the right corner of the Category (X) axis labels is a small button with a tiny graph
containing a red arrow. Click on this button.
Click on this
button to set
x-axis values.
Figure 5
9. Clicking on the button takes you back to your spreadsheet of data. With your mouse, highlight the
data you want on the x-axis, the grams of salt, boxes A2–A6. Press Enter after highlighting.
The dotted line shows
you what will be graphed
on your x-axis.
Figure 6
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10. The chart wizard screen should now reappear. Click on the small graph button next to the spot
labeled Values. This is your y-axis data.
This is the
Values button to
set your y-axis.
Figure 7
11. Clicking on this button takes you back to your spreadsheet. Highlight your y-axis values, in this case
density, B2–B6. Press Enter after highlighting.
The dotted line
shows you what
values will be
graphed on your
y-axis.
Figure 8
12. The Chart Wizard screen will reappear. Click Next on the bottom of the screen.
13. The new screen allows you to title your graph and label your axes. Fill in the blanks with the
appropriate information and click Finish.
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14. You now have finished your bar graph and Excel will ask you if you want the graph to appear on
your spreadsheet, or on a separate page. Choose whichever you need. Below is a copy of the graph
inserted into the spreadsheet page.
Density of Salt Water
Figure 9
15. You may now print your completed graph by selecting Print from the File menu on the task bar.
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Foundation Lesson V
Microsoft® Excel
Using Excel in the Science Classroom
Part II: How to Make a Line Graph
PURPOSE
To use the software program Microsoft® Excel to create a line graph.
MATERIALS
data from this handout
computer
Microsoft® Excel software
PROCEDURE
In science class you have collected data to see how much the density of water changes as you add grams
of salt. Your teacher wants you to take the data and produce a line graph using Excel. The data is as
follows:
Grams of Salt
Density
(g/mL)
0
1.00
5
1.03
10
1.07
15
1.11
20
1.14
1. Open an Excel Workbook. Notice that the columns are identified with letters and the rows are
identified by numbers.
2. In the box “A1”, type Grams of Salt.
3. In the box “B1”, type Density. If you need to make a box larger, take your cursor to the top of the
column and place it between two boxes until a double arrow appears. Now stretch the column to the
size you need.
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4. Enter the data in the boxes below each section. Be careful to enter the coordinating data in the
correct row.
Figure 1
5. On your toolbar there is a very small, colorful bar graph icon. This is called the Chart Wizard.
Click on the Chart Wizard icon.
Chart Wizard
Figure 2
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6. The first window to open identifies the chart type. Choose “Line” on the left hand side, and under
the chart sub-type on the right side click on the first choice on the second line. (See Figure 2)
7. Click Next.
8. The next window that appears has two tabs: Data Range and Series. Click on Series and delete all
existing data sets from the series box.
Make sure to delete any
series that might appear in
this window and then click
Add to put in your axes
values.
Figure 3
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9. Now click Add to add your data series. On the bottom of the window is “Category (X) Axis
Labels”. In the right corner of the Category (X) axis labels is a small button with a tiny graph
containing a red arrow. Click on this button.
Click on this
button to set
x-axis values.
Figure 4
10. Clicking on the button takes you back to your spreadsheet of data. With your mouse, highlight the
data you want on the x-axis, in this case the grams of salt, or boxes A2–A6. Press Enter after
highlighting.
The dotted line shows
you what will be
graphed on the x-axis.
Figure 5
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11. The Chart Wizard screen should now reappear. Click on the small graph button next to the spot
labeled Values. This is your y-axis data.
This is the Values
button to set the y-axis.
Figure 6
12. Clicking on the button takes you back to your spreadsheet to highlight your y-axis values, in this
case density, B2–B6. Press Enter after highlighting.
Figure 7
13. The Chart Wizard screen should reappear. Click Next on the bottom of the screen.
14. The new screen allows you to title your graph and label your axes. Fill in the blanks with the
appropriate information and click Finish.
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15. You now have finished your line graph and Excel will ask you if you want the graph to appear on
your spreadsheet, or on a separate page. Choose whichever you need. Below is a copy of the graph
inserted into the spreadsheet page.
Grams of Salt
Figure 8
16. You may now print your completed graph by selecting Print from the File menu on the task bar.
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Microsoft® Excel
Using Excel in the Science Classroom
Part III: How to Create a Scatter Plot and
Linear Regression Equation
PURPOSE
To use the software program Microsoft® Excel to create a line graph.
MATERIALS
data from this handout
computer
Microsoft® Excel software
PROCEDURE
In science class you have collected data to see how much the density of water changes as you add grams
of salt. Your teacher wants you to take the data and produce a scatter plat using Excel. The data is as
follows:
Grams of Salt
Density
(g/mL)
0
1.00
5
1.03
10
1.07
15
1.11
20
1.14
1. Open an Excel Workbook. Notice that the columns are identified with letters and the rows are
identified by numbers.
2. In the box “A1”, type Grams of Salt.
3. In the box “B1”, type Density. If you need to make a box larger, take your cursor to the top of the
column and place it between two boxes until a double arrow appears. Now stretch the column to the
size you need.
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4. Enter the data in the boxes below each heading. Be careful to enter the coordinating data in the
correct row.
Figure 1
5. On your toolbar there is a very small, colorful bar graph icon. This is called the Chart Wizard.
Click on the Chart Wizard icon.
Chart Wizard icon
Figure 2
6. The first window to open identifies the chart type. Choose “XY Scatter” on the left-hand side and
under the chart sub-type on the right side click on the first choice. Do not choose a subtype with any
lines connecting the dots.
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Figure 3
7. Click Next.
8. At the next dialogue box you will see a preview of your graph. Click the Series tab at the top of the
box.
9. On the bottom left of this box it lists the series of data being plotted. To the right there is a blank cell
where you can name this series. Use this box to title your graph.
Density vs. Salt
Figure 4
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10. Under the Name cell there are two cells that are labeled X values and Y values. The letters in these
boxes correspond to the columns in the worksheet. Make sure the data is plotted on the correct axis.
If they are not where you want them, click on the small button next to the X values button and it will
take you back to your data table. Highlight the column you want to be plotted on your x-axis and
press Enter to return to the wizard. Do the same for the y-axis.
11. When you are satisfied that the correct columns are being plotted and you have named your series,
click Next. The next dialogue box, Chart Options, gives you the opportunity to label your axes
(include units!). Click Next when you are finished.
Figure 5
12. The final dialogue box will ask you if you want the graph to appear on your spreadsheet, or on a
separate page. Click Finish when you are done.
13. To add a mathematically calculated regression line or best fit curve, choose Add Trendline from
the Chart pull-down menu on your toolbar. [If you do not see Chart as one of your pull-down
menus, click once on the graph to make it the active object.]
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Figure 6
14. The next dialogue box allows you to choose the type of regression to apply. In this case, linear.
15. The Options tab allows you to see the mathematical equation and correlation constant (R2) if the
boxes are checked for these options.
Figure 7
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16. If you need to extrapolate data beyond the range of data you have plotted, increase the numbers in
the forecast box.
17. Note that the regression equation is displayed. If the preset y-intercept of 0 causes your graph axis
and area to shift too much, set your y-intercept more within your data range.
18. You can title this regression line if you wish.
Figure 8
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Foundation Lesson V
Microsoft® Excel
Using Excel in the Science Classroom
Part IV: How Excel Can Manage Data
PURPOSE
To use the software program Microsoft® Excel for manipulating data and determining statistical
information.
MATERIALS
data from this handout
computer
Microsoft® Excel software
PROCEDURE
The table below contains data collected to see how the circumference of the human head relates to the
length of the face. For 5 students the data is as follows:
Circumference of Head
(cm)
Length of Face
(cm)
50
11
54
13
45
10
58
14
46
9
1. Open an Excel Workbook. Notice that the columns are identified with letters and the rows are
identified by numbers.
2. In the box “A1”, type Circumference of Head (cm).
3. In the box “B1”, type Length of Face (cm). If you need to make a box larger, take your cursor to
the top of the column and place it between two boxes until the double arrows appear. Click and
stretch the column to the size you need.
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4. Enter the data in the boxes below each heading. Be careful to enter the coordinating data in the same
row.
Figure 1
5. You are now going to have the computer calculate an index value for each person by dividing the
length of the face by the circumference of the head. Label the new column in C1, Skull Index.
6. Click in box C2. Notice on the lower tool bar there is an empty box next to a small fx. Put your
cursor in the box and type an equal sign (=).
7. Following the equal sign enter B2/A2. Press Enter.
8. Your spreadsheet will now reappear and you will see a calculated index number in box C2. Right
click your mouse on C2 and choose copy. Then drag your mouse down column C for as far as there
is data. This will apply the same formula to all of these cells.
Figure 2
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9. Press Enter. Excel will calculate and fill in all the indices.
Figure 3
10. To round the numbers to two decimal places, right click on the number in cell C3 and select Format
cell. Click on Number from the category list and then choose 2 decimal places.
Figure 4
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11. Click OK to exit this dialogue box and notice that one cell has changed to two decimal points. Right
click on cell C3, select copy, and drag down the rest of your column. Press Enter and all numbers
should change to two decimals.
Figure 5
12. To calculate the average of the Skull Index, click in box C7, below your last index value.
13. Click on fx and choose AVERAGE from the select a function box.
Click on fx and
then choose
AVERAGE in
the function box.
Figure 6
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14. The next dialogue box asks you to identify the values to average. Highlight the five index values
and then press Enter. The average value will appear in cell C7.
This is the
average of the
Skull Indexes.
Figure 7
15. To calculate the SUM, STANDARD DEVIATION, MAXIMUM or MINIMUM you would follow
the same procedure except in step #13 choose the appropriate function.
16. To graph your data follow the procedure outlined in Microsoft® Excel Part I or II.
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