Teaching Coordinate Graphing with Microsoft Excel
Updated: February 12, 2004
Instructional Technology Level: Intermediate User
Grade Level: Intermediate
Subject Area: Social Studies, Mathematics
Required Software: Microsoft® Excel
Classroom Resource: Sample Coordinate Graph of Washington State (556 KB Microsoft Excel file)
Academic Standards
Social Studies: Students have an understanding of people, places, and the environment.
Mathematics: Students have an understanding of connections and representation of those connections.
ISTE NETS Standards for Students
| • | Students are proficient in the use of technology. |
| • | Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. |
Think About... introducing coordinate graphing to your students while teaching them about the major cities and geographic features of their state.
How Does This Look?
This lesson is a great way to introduce coordinate graphing to your students, along with teaching them about the major cities and geographic features of their state.
1. | Start by opening a Microsoft Excel workbook. |
2. | Then, add an outline graphic of your state as the background for the sheet. To add an outline graphic, press and click the Format menu, choose Sheet, and then select Background. The graphic will tile, or fill, the sheet. |
3. | Then, apply solid-color shading to cells around the graphic by clicking the Borders and Shading icon on the Formatting toolbar. Point to the No border option, and then click the Fill icon on the Formatting toolbar. Choose a color to fill in the cells. |
4. | Give each student a copy of your Excel file. |
Your students' jobs are to locate cities or geographic features of your state using the coordinates on an Excel grid. You can give them a list of certain required elements and then have them add some of their own. For each element, they can label it with a graphic or text or they can even insert a comment. It is helpful to have the students create a key on the sheet for each element. The key can contain the coordinates, symbol, and label for each element.
More Information
http://www.50states.com — Maps and other resources for 50 U.S. States.
