EDT 3610 Oregon Trail Spreadsheet
For this activity, you will need to print out the Oregon Trail Log (.pdf) and record a complete journey using the Oregon Trail simulation game. You can view and print the Oregon Trail Log Example (.pdf) to see what a completed log would look like. Chances are you will probably end up doing several complete journeys as you learn the simulation and try different strategies. Yes, you can become an Oregon Trail addict like I am, so be careful!

Utilizing data from a completed Oregon Trail Log (if you did more than one, choose one to use), you will now create a spreadsheet using Excel. When you have finished your spreadsheet, submit it in Excel format (.xls) as an attachment to an email.

The spreadsheet must include the columns given below and data from your log sheet - Landmark, Traveled, Date, and Pace (total of 16-17 entries). The text in bold are the headings you will type in. The numbers in bold are the results of the formulas you will type in.

 
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
1
LANDMARK
TRAVELED
DATE
PACE
MILES
DAYS
MILES/DAY
MILES/HR
2
 Independence
0
1-May
8
        
3
 Kansas River
102
7-May
8
102
6
17.0
2.1
4
 Blue River
185
12-May
8
83
5
16.6
2.1
5
                
6
                
7
                
8
                
9
                
10
                
11
                
12
                
13
                
14
                
15
                
16
                
17
                
18
 TOTAL    
1939
218
19
 AVERAGE    
8.0
8.9
1.7

Column C: Format cells C2 thru C17 as category: custom, type: d-mmm
Column E: Type the formula: =B3-B2 in cell E3; then highlight E3 thru E17 and do Edit > Fill > Down from menu
Column F: Type the formula: =C3-C2 in cell F3 and format as category: number, decimal: 0; then highlight F3 thru F17 and do Edit > Fill > Down from menu
Column G: Type the formula: =E3/F3 in cell G3 and format as category: number, decimal: 1; then highlight G3 thru G17 and do Edit > Fill > Down from menu
Column H: Type the formula: =G3/D3 in cell H3 and format as category: number, decimal: 1; then highlight H3 thru H17 and do Edit > Fill > Down from menu

Cell D19: Type the formula: =AVERAGE(D2:D17); then format as category: number, decimal: 1
Cell E18: Click on the AutoSum Button (Greek Sigma - looks like E), confirm the range then press ENTER key
Cell F18: Click on the AutoSum Button (Greek Sigma - looks like E), confirm the range then press ENTER key
Cell G19: Type the formula: =AVERAGE(G3:G17); then format as category: number, decimal: 1
Cell H19: Highlight cell G19 thru H19 and do Edit > Fill > Right from menu

This spreadsheet activity is just one example of how you might integrate a spreadsheet application program into your classroom. Spreadsheets can be used not only to teach mathematical concepts, but also to depict and investigate relationships as well as explore "What if?" scenarios. "What if?" scenarios include looking at a variety of possible variables and projections. A spreadsheet can also be used in disciplines other than math and science by using it to help identify, explain, and predict factors involved in complex models, relationships, and situations. An example would be to view the historical rates of inflation in order to explore the relationship and impact on cultural factors in society.

From this activity, you have seen word processing (the Trail Log I created for you to use) and spreadsheet applications integrated around anchored instruction - the Oregon Trail software program.