Sample Lesson Plans

Using Google Spreadsheet in Grade 5 Math

In this lesson, students will use Google Spreadsheet to complete five exercises that will help them 1) be able to write an algebraic expression to represent a rule or pattern; 2) collect data from a pattern and organize it in a table of values using Input table output tables; and 3) transfer understanding of rules, patterns, to spreadsheet.

Tech It or Leave It (Grades 6-12, Language Arts, Technology)

This lesson plan uses a New York Times article that examines new technology, such as Gmail, and asks students to think about what makes something cool and learn about beta testing of software. They will then take their ideas and try and design improvements for an everyday object, and test their classmates' ideas. It does not use Gmail, but uses it as an example of change.

Life 2.0(Grades 6-12, Economics, Media Studies, Technology)

"In this lesson, students share opinions about the interactivity of Web sites they frequent. They then work in groups to investigate both Web 1.0 and 2.0 companies and comment on them using a Web 2.0 application" (Khan & Rittner). Using a New York Times article, students learn about Web 2.0 and then have hands on experience using Google Docs, a Wiki, or a blog as the Web 2.0 application.

Here Comes the . . . Bill (Grades 6-12, Economics, Mathematics, Social Studies)

After reading and discusssing a New York Times article that discusses the industry weddings has become, the students will prepare a budget for a potential event they might have, and compare their estimates against the real costs. They may use Google Spreadsheets to collaborate and help prepare the budgets.

Other Related Teaching Sites

Teach Collaborative Revision with Google Docs

Working with Writing for Teens, this site goes through the steps and provides instructor resources for teaching collaborative revision.

Ideas for Using Google Docs and Spread Sheets in the Classroom

• Elementary: Assign “Buddy Book Reports” where two students read the same book and collaborate on their final book report in an online document.
• Middle School: Partner with a class at another school, enter data from the same science experiment in a spreadsheet, and compare the results online.
• High School: In Economics, students can monitor and calculate their investment portfolio in spreadsheets when playing the “Stock Market Game.” Students can track specific stocks at different times of the day and share the data.

Using Google Docs in the classroom: Tips and Tricks

Google Docs in the Classroom (Wojcicki)

•Collaborative book reports

•Co-editing essays

•Collaborative research papers

•Group discussions about literary topics (4 students to a group)

•Vocabulary work either individual or in pairs

•Creative writing

•Poetry or writing porfolios(all saved on Docs & Spreadsheets)

•Class Blog: upload work to class blog(controlled viewers who are invited)

Assignments for English (Wojcicki)

•Collaborative book reports

•Co-editing essays

•Collaborative research papers

•Group discussions about literary topics (4 students to a group)

•Vocabulary work either individual or in pairs

•Creative writing

•Poetry or writing porfolios(all saved on Docs & Spreadsheets)

•Class Blog: upload work to class blog(controlled viewers who are invited)