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.”
1️⃣ Short Review
Students recall:
What a range is (A1:A10)
What a function is (name + parentheses + arguments)
Basic data types: text, number, blank
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.”
3️⃣ Explanation of Each Function
Teacher shows simple examples for each one.
🔹 COUNT() – Counts only numbers
=COUNT(A1:A10)
Example:
Count how many grades (numbers) are written.
🔹 COUNTA() – Counts all non-empty cells
=COUNTA(A1:A10)
Counts:
Numbers
Text
Example:
Count how many students wrote something.
🔹 COUNTBLANK() – Counts empty cells
=COUNTBLANK(A1:A10)
Example:
Check how many assignments are missing.
Teacher demonstrates using simple datasets such as:
Homework: Completed / Blank
Attendance: Name / Empty cell
Grades list
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.
5️⃣ Activity – “Counting My Data”
Students will work with a small table (attendance, homework, preferences) and apply all three counting functions.
6️⃣ Take notes in your notebook.
📓 NOTES IN YOUR NOTEBOOK
Answer these questions:
What does the COUNT() function count, and write an example?
When is COUNTA() more useful than COUNT(), and write an example?
What does COUNTBLANK() help you identify and write an example?
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