Microsoft Excel: Your Data, Your Way!

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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Explore Microsoft Excel

Excel is a tool that helps you work with information in a smart way.

It looks like a big table made up of tiny boxes. Each box is called a cell, and the cells are lined up in rows (side to side) and columns (up and down).

Here’s how you can get started.

Entering Data

Click any cell and start typing—easy! You can type words like “Name” or “Homework” and numbers like “10” or “25.”

Press Enter or click another cell when you're done. If you need to fix something, just click on the cell again and change it.

Formatting Cells

Make your spreadsheet look nice and easy to read!

Change the font and size.

Add colors to cells or words.

Make text bold or center it.

You’ll find all these options in the Home tab at the top of your screen, on something called the Ribbon. The Ribbon is like your control center for Excel.

Using Formulas

Excel can do math for you! Type an equals sign (=) in a cell to start a formula.

Here are some examples.

• Want to add up a whole list of numbers?

Use the SUM function like this.

Sorting and Filtering Data

If you have a list of things like names or numbers, you can sort them in ABC order or by size.

You can also filter the list to only show certain things—like only the names that start with “S.”

Use the Sort & Filter button on the Home tab to try it.

Creating Charts

You can turn your data into a picture with a chart!

Click and drag to highlight the data you want to use. Then go to the Insert tab and choose a chart, like a bar chart or pie chart.

This helps you see your information in a new way.

Saving and Naming Your Work

Don't forget to save your spreadsheet!

Click File, then Save As. Pick a name and location so you can find it again later.

With just a few clicks, you can turn a blank grid into something amazing—like a chore chart, a class schedule, or a budget for your next school fundraiser.

Try it out in the Got It? section!