Blended Learning – STEM Class

June 2021

Mr. Spingler
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data

• There are times in science when a bar

graph is more appropriate to visually
present the data instead of an X-Y plot.
• In this case Graphical Analysis is not the
best tool to use.
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data

• Fortunately there is another free tool

that can be used to place data into a
data table and then use the data to
construct a bar graph
• This tool is Google Sheets
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• Google Sheets is a free app that can be
accessed as long as you have access to the
internet via wi-fi or a hardwire connection
• Also there is nothing to download to your
computer
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data

• In order to access Google Sheets you will

need to have a Google account – your
school email is a Google account. You
will need to use the email and password
to access Google sheets.
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
Go to the Google Home Page and find
the icon for the Google apps which the
arrow is pointing to on the left
Click on the
apps icon and
scroll down
until you find
sheets and click
on it
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data

When you click on “Sheets” you will see a screen like this. You
will want to select “Blank” to start a new spreadsheet and enter
data so you can construct a bar graph later.
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data

• Bar graphs are used to visualize

categorical data – information that
involves numbers of different objects
(usually).
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• An example would be data for the number of
different types of organisms found in Nick-A-
Jack Creek when students sample the water.
The next slide shows data from a student
collection that was made in April 2021 by
Whitefield Academy students.
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
Type of Macroinvertebrate Number Observed

Stonefly Nymphs 30

Mayfly Nymphs 23

Caddisfly Larvae 3

Dragonfly/Damselfly Nymphs 1

Clams 1

Midge Fly Larvae 17

Blackfly Larvae 3

Aquatic Worms 3

Water Mites 2

Total Number or Organisms Observed 83

Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• Notice there are several items that we have to
do to construct the data table
• First we have to title the tops of the columns
with the name of the property that is being
recorded, in this case “Type of
Macroinvertebrate” and “Number Observed”
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• You can see in the image to
the right that I have titled
the two columns and I have
adjusted the width by
moving the line between the
cells to the left when I
moved the cursor up the
letters at the top of the
column
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• Now you can enter the
names of the different
organisms that were
found in the first column
and the number of each
types of organism in the
right-hand column.
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• As you can see to the
right all of the data has
now been entered into
the table
• I used the “sum”
function to count all of
the individuals for the
B11 cell
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• To use the “sum”
function, click on the cell
that you will use to
insert the formula
• Go to the “Insert” pull
down menu and open it
• Select “Function” and
open that menu
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• Once the function menu
is open locate the “SUM”
function by scrolling
through the options and
select it
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• In the cell you will see
=SUM( )
• Now you must select the
cells you want to be
added together.
• You can use the cursor
to select cells B2:B10
and then hit the return
key
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• Once enter has been hit,
the spreadsheet will add
up the numbers in the
selected cells and show
the answer in cell B11
• Some simple formatting
can then be done to
make the data table
easier to read
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
If you go to the “B” on the
top of column B and click
once on it the whole
column will become
highlighted.
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data

• Now go to the toolbar and find the “align” button (the

arrow above is pointing to it). Click on this tool and click
on the “center” alignment icon. This will center all the
numbers in column B, which makes them easier to read
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
You can do other
formatting if you wish as
well. I might, for
instance, highlight cells
A11 and B11 and “Bold”
the information there as
well – but these types of
formatting tweaks are up
to you and your teacher
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
Now you need to give the file
a name

Go to where the words

“Untitled spreadsheet” are
and click on them

The words will be highlighted,

and you can now type in the
name of the file – i.e “Stream
Critters April 2021”
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data
• The file will now be saved to your Google Drive
file
• Useful File names are those that will help you
find and access the information when you need
to go back to find the file at a later time – dates
as part of the file name are also helpful
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data

• Once the file has been named and

automatically saved you can close it and
access it at a later time
• Try doing this for yourself using the data
in this presentation
Using Google Sheets to Enter Data

• Do you have any questions – please

reach out and contact your teacher or
bring them up in the in person classes
• You will use this data to construct a bar
graph in a future session