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New
New
Year 7

Formatting data in a spreadsheet

I can identify the components of a spreadsheet and apply formatting to improve the presentation of data.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 7

Formatting data in a spreadsheet

I can identify the components of a spreadsheet and apply formatting to improve the presentation of data.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A spreadsheet is a tool used to store and analyse data.
  2. In a spreadsheet, data is stored in cells, which are arranged in rows and columns.
  3. Formatting can be applied to data in a spreadsheet to make the data easier to read and understand.

Keywords

  • Cell - a rectangular box that holds data in a spreadsheet

  • Column - a vertical group of cells that runs from the top to the bottom

  • Row - a horizontal line of cells that runs from left to right

  • Formatting - modifying the appearance of data in a spreadsheet

Common misconception

The order of column and row in a cell reference are unimportant as columns are labelled with letters and rows are labelled as numbers.

Spreadsheet cell references are presented as the combination of the column letter followed by the row number, (eg. A1, B2). If the order is interchanged any other part of the spreadsheet that references them will not be able to locate them.


To help you plan your year 7 computing lesson on: Formatting data in a spreadsheet, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils could extend the flag creation exercise by providing instructions to a partner and then testing out each others instructions to create the flag.
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equipment-required

Equipment

Pupils will require access to a device with software that provides spreadsheet capabilities.

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which one of these statements make sense?
There is a column of houses and vertical rows outside the town hall
Correct answer: There is a row of houses and vertical columns outside the town hall
There is a row of houses and vertical rows outside the town hall
There is a column of houses and vertical column outside the town hall
Q2.
If you are writing a list of things you need to do, so you don’t forget them. What is the best way to keep the list organised?
write everything in random places on the page
write everything in big circles and colour them in
write in tiny letters all over the page
Correct answer: write everything in a list with the most important thing to do at the top
Q3.
In the data: 34, 87, 21, 39, 34, 73 and 20, which is the highest value?
Correct Answer: 87
Q4.
If you want to make a list of your favourite books, but also want to show which one is your absolute favourite, what could you do?
Correct answer: use a highlighter to colour the background of your favourite
write the title of your favourite book twice
write your favourite book in very small letters
draw a picture of the book next to each title
Q5.
You are designing a poster for a school event. How could you make the title stand out?
write it in pencil
write it using the same style as the rest of the text
Correct answer: use a bright font colour for the title
write it at the bottom of the poster
Q6.
A is a software tool used to store and analyse data.
Correct Answer: spreadsheet

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword to the description.
Correct Answer:cell,a rectangular box that holds data in a spreadsheet
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a rectangular box that holds data in a spreadsheet

Correct Answer:column,a vertical group of cells that runs from the top to the bottom
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a vertical group of cells that runs from the top to the bottom

Correct Answer:row,a horizontal group of cells that runs from left to right
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a horizontal group of cells that runs from left to right

Correct Answer:formatting,modifying the appearance of data in a spreadsheet
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modifying the appearance of data in a spreadsheet

Q2.
A tells you the location of a cell.
Correct Answer: cell reference
Q3.
What is the cell range of these highlighted cells?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: A5:C7
C7:A5
A5:C5
5:5
Q4.
What is the cell range of these highlighted cells?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: A2:A6
A2:D2
A1:A6
2:6