Remsenburg-Speonk

Elementary School

MS Excel for the

Science Fair

Image from www.4teachers.org

Why use Microsoft Excel for the Science Fair?

MS Excel is a spreadsheet program, which is a tool for creating tables, charts,
and graphs. Unlike handwritten versions, these can be edited, resized, and
reformatted. You can use it to calculate averages and plot your graphs.

Excel Version

This guide was created using Excel:Macs2011. If you have a different version
of Excel, the concepts will be the same, but the look may be different. Try searching
Excel Help if you have trouble.

Google Drive also offers an Excel-like spreadsheet program. It combines
many of the Excel features with the collaborative online features of Google Apps. To
access this program, log into Google Drive with your school or personal account.


Getting Started


You can set up the framework for your Excel data table during part of your
planning stage. You can then either print out your table to record your data in
pencil or type your results directly into your computer spreadsheet.

Your tables and charts will be unique to your project and contain your
variables. There is usually more than one way to do this, but most likely, your table
will contain your independent and dependent variables like in the example below.

Table Title
Independent Variable Dependent Variable
with Units
with Units
#
#
#
#
#
#


Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School
MS Excel for the Science Fair

Create a Data Table in Excel

Open Excel and create a new workbook. Click on a cell to get started. We
recommend you start in A1 to conserve paper when printing. You can read the
cell names by finding the column letter and row number and following them to the
place where they meet on the spreadsheet.

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School

MS Excel for the Science Fair

Titles and Labels

Science Fair tables should have a title and labels including the unit of
measurement. The cells containing numbers should have only numbers in order for
Excel to make mathematical calculations. For example, instead of writing 3 cm, the
cell should just have the number 3 because the units should already be written in
the column label.

If your title or label text doesnt fit into the cell, you can try to

Change the size of the cells
1. Highlight the cells you want to change
2. Click Format
3. Click Row Height or Colum Width

Insert a line break. Since you cannot type Enter/Return to move down a line,
try
Mac: Hold down Control and Alt/Option and then tap on Enter/Return
PC: Alt and Enter

Merge Cells
1. Highlight the cells you want to combine
2. Click the Merge button on the toolbar


Data tables should be organized logically. Instead of retyping your data, you
can use the sort feature

1. Highlight the data you want to sort, including all columns and rows
that would be affected by the movement
2. Click Data
3. Click Sort to automatically sort by the first column. To sort by a
different column, choose Custom Sort and then click how you want
your data sorted.


You can also change the look of your table. Just make sure it is readable!
Highlight what you want changed and then click
Gridlines > All Borders

Fill

Text Color

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School

MS Excel for the Science Fair

Average Function


An average is a mathematical formula to find what is typical in a set of data.
Report cards grades are made from the average of your test or homework scores.
Baseball has averages. Average temperatures are given on daily weather reports.

If you had multiple trials, you may want to find the average of your results.
You can do this by adding up the numbers and then dividing that number by the
total number in the list, like in the example below:

2
3
3
5
7
+ 10
6 = 5
30 /

OR
Excel will automatically calculate the average if you build a formula. Heres how:

1. Make sure your data is logically sorted so that the numbers are aligned in
the same column.
2. Click in the cell where you want the average to appear.
3. Type = (This tells the computer that it needs to do a calculation)
4. Type AVERAGE (This tells the computer that it needs to calculate an
average and the parentheses are part of building that formula)
5. Type (
6. Click on the cell where your data starts or type the cell name (i.e. B3)
7. Type : (This tells the computer you want a range of numbers)
8. Click on the cell where your data ends or type the cell name (i.e. B8)
9. Type )
10. Tap the Enter/Return key or an arrow key

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School

MS Excel for the Science Fair

Example Tables from Classroom Science Fair Experiments

4th Grade: Dropping the Ball

Ramp Height v. Distance

Ramp Height
in cm
3
3
3
6
6
6
9
9
9

Distance
Traveled in
cm
76
64
62
126
126
143
174
157
164

Average
Distance
in cm


67


132


165

5th Grade: Victory Sprouts

Seed Type v. Yield

Type of
Sprout
Alfalfa
Fenugreek
Mung Beans
Peas
Radishes

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School

MS Excel for the Science Fair

Weight in g
75
40
105
45
92

6th Grade: Javelins Away

Javelin Length v. Distance

Trial
Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

Distance
Distance
Distance
Traveled by Traveled by Traveled by
10 cm
15 cm
20 cm
Javelin
Javelin
Javelin
460
750
760
690
750
450
330
350
230
570
130
330
310
660
470
410
600
230
695
240
520
600
580
850
480
850
220
470
850
160
260
570
250
470
730
850
430
740
250
761
480
190
850
480
330
770
400
580
850
560
480
620
850
200
410
180
240

Average
Distance
Traveled in cm

549

399

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School

MS Excel for the Science Fair

566

Choosing a Chart

Sometimes it is easy to spot trends in your data from your table. However, it
is even easier to spot patterns when you transform your data table into a visual
chart or graph. Here are some suggestions about how to make the best choice:

Bar Charts, Column Charts, and Pictographs
These are for comparing different groups.
Example: In the 5th Grade Victory Sprouts Experiment, we used a column
graph to show how much the different seeds grew.

Pie Charts
These are used when comparing parts of a whole. Pie charts are often useful
for showing survey data.
Example: Out of all the people surveyed, 49% preferred the Mets, 49% the
Yankees, and 2% other teams

Line or Scatter Plot
This is used when you want to show the relationship between your
independent and dependent variables on x-y axes.
Example: In the 6th Grade Javelin Experiment, we graphed what happened to
the distance traveled when we increased the javelin length.

Line Graph
This is used for measuring change over time.
Example: You could graph how high plants grew over a 3 week period.

Still not sure which graph to choose? Visit
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/help/user_guide/graph/index.asp for a great tutorial!

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School

MS Excel for the Science Fair

How to Turn Your Data Table into a Chart

1. Highlight the data you want included in your chart

2. Click Charts
3. Click on the type of chart you want to make.

Hint: Make a pictograph by choosing a column or bar chart and then double
clicking on the bars to highlight them > Fill > Choose Picture > Stack

Customize Your Chart

All charts will need a chart title

Label both the horizontal x-axis and vertical y-axis

To change the look of the titles, lines, or bars, highlight what you want to
change and format like you would in Word

To change the legend text, right click on the chart, click Select Data,
click on the series name you want to change, and type the new name in the
name box.

There are additional options if you right click on the chart and then choose
Format Chart Area.

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School
MS Excel for the Science Fair

Example Charts and Graphs

5th Grade: Victory Sprouts Column Chart

Seed Type v. Yield

120

Weight in g

100
80
60
40
20
0
Alfalfa

Fenugreek Mung Beans

Peas

Radishes

Seed Type

6th Grade: Javelins Away Scatter Plot Graph

Javelin Length v. Distance

900

Distance Traveled in cm

800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
5

10

15

20

Javelin Length in cm

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School
MS Excel for the Science Fair

10

Dependent Variable

Drawing Conclusions from Bar, Column, and Pictographs

In these types of charts, you can visually

compare the variables and even arrange them by
size.

Independent Variable

Dependent Variable

Drawing Conclusions from Scatter Plots and Line Graphs

This is a direct relationship. As the independent

variable increases, the dependent variable increases.

Dependent Variable

Independent Variable

There is no relationship between the variables.

Dependent Variable

Independent Variable

This is an indirect relationship. As the independent

variable increases, the dependent variable decreases.

Independent Variable

Remsenburg-Speonk Elementary School

MS Excel for the Science Fair

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