Computer Science
Grade 3
20 min
Entering Data: Typing in Numbers and Words
Students will practice entering different types of data (numbers, text) into spreadsheet cells.
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify a cell, row, and column in a spreadsheet.
Click on a specific cell to select it for data entry.
Type a word (text data) into a selected cell.
Type a number (numeric data) into a selected cell.
Use the 'Enter' key to move to the cell below.
Use the 'Tab' key to move to the cell to the right.
Create a simple two-column data table.
Have you ever made a list of your favorite toys or snacks? 🧸 A spreadsheet is like a super-organized list on the computer that we can use for all sorts of cool projects!
Today, we will learn the very first step of being a spreadsheet superhero: how to put information into the little boxes. We'll learn how to type in words and numbers to make our own organized lists, which is the first step to...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SpreadsheetA computer program that helps us organize information in rows and columns.We can use a spreadsheet to make a list of students and their favorite colors.
CellOne single box in a spreadsheet where you can type information.The cell named A1 is the very first box in the top-left corner.
RowA line of cells that goes from left to right across the spreadsheet. Rows are numbered (1, 2, 3...).Row 3 contains all the boxes in the third line from the top.
ColumnA line of cells that goes from top to bottom. Columns have letters (A, B, C...).Column B contains all the boxes in the second line from the left.
DataThe information, like words or numbers, that you type into a cell.If you type your name, 'Maria', into a cell, 'Maria' is the data.
Text DataD...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
Click and Type
Click a cell once to select it, then start typing.
This is the main way to tell the computer which box you want to put data into. The selected cell will have a border around it.
Enter Key to Go Down
Press the 'Enter' key after typing.
When you finish typing in a cell, pressing 'Enter' saves your data and automatically moves you to the cell directly below it. It's great for making lists.
Tab Key to Go Right
Press the 'Tab' key after typing.
When you finish typing in a cell, pressing 'Tab' saves your data and automatically moves you to the cell directly to its right. This is useful for filling out rows.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
You are collecting data on favorite seasons. You type 'Winter' for one student. For the next, you type 'winter' (with a small 'w'). A program is set to count only entries that are an exact match for 'Winter'. What will the count be?
A.2, because the computer knows they are the same word
B.0, because the computer gets confused by the different capitalization
C.1, because 'winter' is not an exact match for 'Winter' due to the different case
D.It will count all the seasons you have entered, regardless of what they are
Challenging
A spreadsheet has a rule: 'If data is a number, make the cell blue. If it is text, make it yellow.' You type your birth date as 'March 5' into a cell. What color will the cell most likely turn, and why?
A.Blue, because the entry contains the number 5
B.Yellow, because the word 'March' makes the entire entry be treated as text
C.It will be half blue and half yellow
D.It will stay white because the rule is broken by mixed data
Challenging
You are making a table of class pets. Column A is 'Pet Type' and Column B is 'Pet Name'. You enter 'Dog' in A1 and 'Fido' in B1. Then you enter 'Buddy' in A2 and 'Cat' in B2. What is the main problem with how the data was entered in the second row (row 2)?
A.The data is in the wrong columns; 'Buddy' is a name and 'Cat' is a type
B.The name Buddy is spelled wrong
C.You cannot have a cat named Buddy
D.The spreadsheet row is broken and cannot hold data
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