Week 19: Counting Functions – COUNT(), COUNTA(), COUNTBLANK()

CLASS OBJECTIVE

Learn how to use basic counting functions in a spreadsheet — COUNT(), COUNTA(), and COUNTBLANK() — in order to identify how many cells contain numbers, text, or are empty.

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🗓  CLASS AGENDA

💬 Introduction

“Imagine you have a list of assignments and you want to know how many you finished and how many are missing.

Instead of counting by hand, a spreadsheet can count for you.”

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1️⃣ Short Review

Students recall:

• What a range is (A1:A10)

• What a function is (name + parentheses + arguments)

• Basic data types: text, number, blank

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2️⃣ Explanation: What Are Counting Functions?

Teacher explains:

Counting functions count cells automatically depending on what is inside them.

💡 Simple definition for students:

“Counting functions help the spreadsheet tell you how many things you have.”

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3️⃣ Explanation of Each Function

Teacher shows simple examples for each one.

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🔹 COUNT() – Counts only numbers

=COUNT(A1:A10)

Example:

Count how many grades (numbers) are written.

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🔹 COUNTA() – Counts all non-empty cells

=COUNTA(A1:A10)

Counts:

• Numbers

• Text

Example:

Count how many students wrote something.

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🔹 COUNTBLANK() – Counts empty cells

=COUNTBLANK(A1:A10)

Example:

Check how many assignments are missing.

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Teacher demonstrates using simple datasets such as:

• Homework: Completed / Blank

• Attendance: Name / Empty cell

• Grades list

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4️⃣ Demonstration

Teacher opens a spreadsheet and shows step by step:

• How to write each function

• How to select ranges correctly

• How changing data updates the result instantly

Students observe how each function works with real examples.

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5️⃣ Activity – “Counting My Data”

Students will work with a small table (attendance, homework, preferences) and apply all three counting functions.

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6️⃣ Take notes in your notebook.

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📓  NOTES IN YOUR NOTEBOOK

Answer these questions:

1. What does the COUNT() function count, and write an example?

2. When is COUNTA() more useful than COUNT(), and write an example?

3. What does COUNTBLANK() help you identify and write an example?

4. Why are counting functions useful for students?

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📌 KEYWORDS

• COUNT(): Counts only numbers

• COUNTA(): Counts non-empty cells

• COUNTBLANK(): Counts empty cells

• Range: A group of cells (A1:A10)

• Data type: Text, number, or blank

Week 15,16,17,18 - Introduction to Functions (SUM, MIN, MAX, AVERAGE)

CLASS OBJECTIVE

Learn what a function is, understand its structure (name + parentheses + arguments), and use basic spreadsheet functions such as SUM(), MIN(), MAX(), and AVERAGE() to analyze simple data.

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CLASS AGENDA

💬 Introduction

“Have you ever wished your calculator could find the largest number or the average of your grades automatically?

Spreadsheets can do that with just one function.”

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1️⃣ Short Review

Students recall:

• What is a cell, row, and column

• What is a formula (=)

• Basic arithmetic operators

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2️⃣ Explanation: What Is a Function?

Teacher explains:

A function is a built-in operation in the spreadsheet that performs a calculation automatically.

📌 Structure of a function

=FUNCTION_NAME(argument1, argument2, …)

Examples of arguments:

• A single cell → A1

• A range → A1:A5

• Several ranges → A1:A3, C1:C3

💡 Simple definition for students:

“A function is like a smart formula that does the work for you.”

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3️⃣ Explanation of Basic Functions

🔹 SUM() – Add many numbers quickly

=SUM(A1:A5)

🔹 MIN() – Find the smallest number

=MIN(B1:B10)

🔹 MAX() – Find the largest number

=MAX(B1:B10)

🔹 AVERAGE() – Find the average

=AVERAGE(C1:C5)

The teacher uses a small example table such as grades or prices.

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4️⃣ Demonstration

Teacher opens a spreadsheet and shows step by step:

• How to select a range

• How to insert functions using the fx bar

• How the function updates when numbers change

• How to read the result correctly

Students observe how SUM, MIN, MAX, AVERAGE work in real time.

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5️⃣ Activity – “My First Functions Table”

 

(Mention only)

Students will create a small data table (e.g., 5 grades, 5 prices, 5 scores) and apply each function.

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6️⃣ Homework

 

(Mention only)

Students will complete a spreadsheet requiring the use of all four functions.

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7️⃣ Take notes in notebook.

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NOTES IN YOUR NOTEBOOK

Answer these questions:

1. What is a function in a spreadsheet?

2. What is an “argument” in a function?

3. Write an example of a range of cells.

4. What does the SUM() function do?

5. How is AVERAGE() useful for students?

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KEYWORDS

• Function: A built-in calculation that uses arguments.

• Argument: The data the function uses (cells or ranges).

• Range: A group of cells (example: A1:A5).

• SUM(): Adds many numbers.

• MIN(): Finds the smallest value.

• MAX(): Finds the largest value.

• AVERAGE(): Calculates an average.

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HOMEWORK

No homework this week.

Week 14: Sorting & Filtering Data

 CLASS OBJECTIVE

Learn how to organize information in a spreadsheet by using basic sorting (A–Z, Z–A) and filtering tools in order to quickly find and understand data.

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🗓 CLASS AGENDA

💬 Introduction

“Imagine you have a long list of students, scores, or expenses. Would you look line by line to find what you need?
Sorting and filtering make this MUCH easier.”

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1️⃣ Short Review

Students recall:

• What types of data exist (text, number, date, formula).
  

• What a table looks like (rows + columns).
  

• Why organized information is easier to understand.
  
  

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2️⃣ Explanation: Sorting vs Filtering

🔠 Sorting (Ordenar)

Changes the order of data.
Examples:

• A → Z (ABC order)
  
  

• Z → A
  
  

• Smallest → Largest
  
  

• Largest → Smallest
  
  

📌 Sorting rearranges the whole list.

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🔍 Filtering (Filtrar)

Shows only the information you want to see.
Examples:

• Show only students with grade above 80
  

• Show only “Completed” tasks
  

• Show only the month of February
  
  

📌 Filtering does NOT delete anything — it just hides what you don’t need for the moment.

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3️⃣ Demonstration

Teacher shows:

• How to select the header row
  

• How to click the filter icon (funnel symbol)
  

• How to sort A→Z and Z→A
  

• How to filter by:
  
  

• Text
  

• Number
  

• Conditions (greater than, equals…)
  

• Checkboxes
  
  

Students observe how the table changes instantly.

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4️⃣ Activity – “Order My List!” (Mention only)

Students will practice sorting lists (names, scores, favorites).
Then they will apply filters to hide and show specific information.

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5️⃣ Take notes in your notebook.

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📓 NOTES IN YOUR NOTEBOOK

Answer these questions:

1. What is the difference between sorting and filtering?
   

2. When would you use sorting?
   

3. When would you use filtering instead?
   

4. How does filtering help when you have a lot of information?
   
   

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📌 KEYWORDS

• Sort: Change the order (A–Z, Z–A).
  

• Filter: Show specific information only.
  

• Header: The title row at the top of the table.
  

• Condition: A rule used for filtering (greater than, equals…).
  

• Visible data: Information shown after filterig.
  

• Hidden data: Data that is temporarily not shown.
  

Week 13: Types of Data in a Spreadsheet

 CLASS OBJECTIVE

Identify the different types of data used in spreadsheets (text, numbers, dates, and formulas) in order to understand how each type behaves and how spreadsheets interpret information.

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🗓 CLASS AGENDA

💬 Introduction

“Have you ever typed something into a spreadsheet and it didn’t behave the way you expected?
That's because spreadsheets read data in different ways.”

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1️⃣ Short Review

Students recall:

• What a cell is
  

• What rows and columns are
  

• The difference between data and a formula
  
  

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2️⃣ Explanation: Types of Data

🔤 Text (Labels)

Words, names, titles, categories.
Examples: “Name”, “Math”, “Apple”, “Monday”

📌 Important: Text cannot be added or calculated.

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🔢 Numbers (Values)

Used for calculations: prices, quantities, scores.
Examples: 24, 98.5, 1500

📌 Important: Numbers must NOT have letters.

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📅 Dates

Represent days, months, years.
Examples: 01/03/2025, 3/15/25

📌 Sheets treat dates as numbers to calculate days, months, etc.

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➕ Formulas

Start with =
Examples:

• =5+2
  

• =A1+A2
  

• =SUM(A1:A5)
  
  

📌 Used to calculate or process information automatically.

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3️⃣ Demonstration

Teacher shows:

• How Sheets reacts differently to text vs. numbers
  

• How entering a date automatically formats itself
  

• How Sheets shows a formula result
  

• Common mistakes students make
  
  

• Mixing letters and numbers (wrong)
  

• Writing formulas without =
  

• Using commas instead of dots (depending on regional settings)
  
  

Students identify each type with simple examples.

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4️⃣ Activity – “Sort My Data!” (Mention only)

Students will classify different small examples into:
✔ Text
✔ Number
✔ Date
✔ Formula

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5️⃣ Homework (Mention only)

A short classification exercise will be posted in Classroom.

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6️⃣ Take notes in your notebook.

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📓 NOTES IN YOUR NOTEBOOK

Answer these questions:

1. What is a data type in a spreadsheet?
   

2. How can you know if something is a number or text?
   

3. Why do formulas always start with “=”?
   

4. Why do spreadsheets need different types of data?
   
   

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📌 KEYWORDS

• Text: Words used as labels
  

• Number: Values you can calculate
  

• Date: A numerical value that represents a day
  

• Formula: An instruction that starts with “=”
  

• Cell: Where data is written
  

• Value: Any number used in calculations
  
  

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🖋 HOMEWORK

• Will be published in Classroom.
• Please write it in your agenda.