Title: "Batter's Up"

Other Curriculum Objectives that can be addressed by this lesson plan

English Language Arts: 2.1, 2.3, 4.1; Mathematics: (Gr 7) 1.1, 1.2, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.4; Computer Skills: (Gr. 7) 2.3

Grade: 7

Competency 2.3: Use a prepared spreadsheet to enter and edit data and explain the results of the changes.

Measure 2.3.2: Given a prepared spreadsheet for calculating batting averages, change the number of times at bat or the number of hits and describe how the batting average changed.

Materials Needed: Copies of the Batters Up Spreadsheet black line master for each student; transparency of the Batters Up Spreadsheet black line master; one computer with the baseball file loaded; two board game dice; erasable transparency marker; overhead projector.

Time: One class session.

Terms: Column, Row, Cell, Label, Value, Formula, Enter, Edit

Grade 7 Glossary

Pre-Activities:

1. Review spreadsheet concepts and terms.

Activity:

1. Prepare to play Batters Up.

a.Divide the class into two teams. This may be done before class time.

b.Enter the names of each team into the BASEBALL spreadsheet on a computer 
set up in the front of the classroom. (This may be done before class 
time.)

c.Give each student a copy of the Batters Up Spreadsheet black line master.  

2. Deliver instructions.

a.Explain to the class that they will be playing a simulated baseball game.  
Rather than using a bat and ball, they will be using two board game dice 
to determine what they do at the plate.



b.Also explain that they will be entering their performance into a computer 
spreadsheet which will be calculating their batting averages.  Each 
student will edit their Times at Bat cell and also their Hits, if they 
earn a hit.


c.Display the following information from the Batters Up Spreadsheet black 
line master:

d.Explain that as each student throws the dice, they should announce what 
their throw means -- whether they earned a hit, or flied out, etc.  They 
should also explain what they are doing as they enter/edit their data in the spreadsheet.  As an example:

Johnny is up to bat for the third time. He has earned one hit so far. Johnny throws a three. He should walk over to the computer and explain that he is changing his 2 for "Times At Bat" to a three, and that he is changing his "Hits" from a 1 to a 2. Johnny should also announce that his "Batting Average" has changed from .500 to .667.

e.Explain that when one team has three outs, the second team will take 
turns throwing the dice and editing the spreadsheet.



3. Begin play.

Measure

Given a prepared spreadsheet for calculating batting averages, students will edit the times at bat and hits and observe the resulting changes in batting average.