KS4 – Spreadsheets Unit overview

KS4 – Spreadsheets
Unit introduction
In this unit, learners will gain an understanding and knowledge of how to use spreadsheets to store and manipulate data, how to use
common functions, and how to extract data to create visual representations using charts. Learners will use spreadsheets to track and
calculate income, make predictions, and answer “what if…?” questions. It is assumed that learners have had some experience of
spreadsheets at KS3 level and therefore know how to use cell references, fill colours, and borders, and are familiar with the basic
functions, e.g. SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, and MIN.

Overview of lessons

Lesson Brief overview Learning objectives

Lesson 1: Spreadsheet The purpose of this lesson is to revisit spreadsheet skills learners may
warm-up ● Create a spreadsheet model
have developed in KS3, check their understanding of spreadsheet
for a given scenario
layout, and refamiliarise them with formulae. The topic will be a
● Demonstrate how to use
television talent show Rock Star Challenge. Viewers will be invited to
formulae to perform
phone in and vote for their favourite bands. The phone votes generate
calculations
income and a percentage of this income will be donated to charity.
● Apply cell formatting
Learners will implement a spreadsheet solution to track voting for the
talent show, and to calculate income from mobile and landline votes
and how much will be donated to charity.

Lesson 2: The RSC Live The aim of this lesson is to implement a spreadsheet which represents
event ● Implement formatting to
seating for the live event of Rock Star Challenge. There are different
make the spreadsheet

Page 1 Last updated: 30/09/2021

KS4 – Spreadsheets Unit overview

seat prices for adults, students, and over 60s. Learners will use a drop-
readable and to highlight
down list to select seats, and formulae will be used to calculate the
different specific information
price. Learners will recognise the value of streamlining a spreadsheet
● Use data validation when
by entering data in just one place and using formulae to calculate
entering data in order to
prices. Formulae will be implemented to count the sold seats and
reduce user error
calculate the remaining available seats. The spreadsheet can be used
as a financial model to reflect income from seat sales, and the use of
formatting will indicate seat availability at a glance.

Lesson 3: RSC This lesson aims to begin the process of demonstrating to learners how
merchandise ● Implement conditional
databases are used to manage sales and stock levels; it links to
formatting techniques
Lesson 5. Learners will be given a partly completed spreadsheet
● Format cells correctly, e.g.
showing items of merchandise to be sold at the RSC Live event.
cells representing money
Learners will also research the types and prices of merchandise
should be currency, etc.
available at events and use this information to populate a financial
model. They will complete the spreadsheet with target sales figures and
implement formulae to calculate income from sales. Conditional
formatting will be used to visualise whether sales targets are reached.

Lesson 4: RSC data The purpose of this lesson is to demonstrate to learners how to create
visualisation ● Select the most suitable chart
accurate and useful charts based on data generated in previous
to visualise the selected data
lessons. Charts are often used to quickly give information and to help
● Recognise the importance of
visualise sometimes quite complex data, but it is important to select the
clear titles and labels
right chart for the data and to implement the chart accurately. Learners
● Implement and test a macro
will examine some charts which give inaccurate information due to
to carry out a repetitive task
incorrect or erroneous use of charts. Learners will also investigate
adding a macro to carry out a repetitive task.

Page 2 Last updated: 30/09/2021

KS4 – Spreadsheets Unit overview

Lesson 5: RSC stock The aim of this lesson is to link with the sales activity of Lesson 3 and go
control behind the scenes to examine the database of RSC merchandise. ● Implement a LOOKUP function
to retrieve data
Learners will discuss the use of barcodes and QR codes (2D codes) and
● Implement an IF function to
the different kinds of data they can hold. The spreadsheet will be used
give the user feedback
to track stock and flag up to users when items need to be reordered,
demonstrating the process that happens when items are sold in a shop.
Each sale at the till creates a transaction in the database and an
automated reordering process takes care of replenishing the stock
levels once a predetermined low-stock level is reached.

Lesson 6: Spreadsheet Finally, in this lesson learners will complete a written assessment which
assessment ● Demonstrate that skills
incorporates questions and skills from all lessons. They will demonstrate
developed in the lessons can
that they can apply their knowledge and skills to a previously unseen
be applied to a different
spreadsheet. There is also a practical task which, once completed, will scenario
allow learners to answer questions based on modelling various ● Solve problems using
scenarios. transferable skills
● Think widely about the uses
for and purposes of
spreadsheets

Progression
Please see the learning graph for this unit for information about progression.

Curriculum links
National curriculum links

Page 3 Last updated: 30/09/2021

KS4 – Spreadsheets Unit overview

● Develop their capability, creativity, and knowledge in computer science, digital media, and information technology
● Develop and apply their analytic, problem-solving, design, and computational thinking skills

Assessment
Summative assessment

● Please see the assessment question and answer documents for this unit.

Subject knowledge
This unit focuses on the following key areas of spreadsheets:
● Formatting
● Conditional formatting
● Data validation
● Formulae
● Modelling
● Cell referencing
● Charts

Enhance your subject knowledge to teach this unit through the following training opportunities:

Face-to-face and remote courses

● Maths in computer science (face to face)
● Maths in computer science (remote)

Page 4 Last updated: 30/09/2021

KS4 – Spreadsheets Unit overview

Resources are updated regularly — please check that you are using the latest version.
This resource is licensed under the Open Government Licence, version 3. For more information on this licence, see ncce.io/ogl.

Page 5 Last updated: 30/09/2021