Warm-up (30 seconds): Think of one thing you've seen someone use a spreadsheet for — a budget, a class list, a sports table? Jot it down.

This lesson helps you pick the right spreadsheet for your Something Real project — the one real thing you're building your Digital Portfolio around across this module.

What's special about spreadsheets: Imagine changing one number in a budget and watching ALL the totals update automatically. That's spreadsheets — a grid where every cell can calculate based on other cells. Unlike a word processor where 2+2=4 is just text, spreadsheets do live maths: type =2+2 in a cell and it shows 4. Change it to =5+3 and it instantly shows 8.

What spreadsheets do best:

• Numbers that add up: Budgets, costs, prices, quantities, totals
• Tracking over time: Progress logs, timelines, sales records, attendance
• Comparing options: Costs vs benefits, survey results, test scores
• Lists that sort: Inventory, customer lists, class schedules

NOT for:

• Long essays or stories (use word processor)
• Pictures and designs (use presentation software)
• Email conversations (use email)

Your Something Real project needs numbers. This module teaches you to make them work for you.

Create two example spreadsheets to see how they organise and calculate numbers for budgets and tracking. Notice how formulas automatically update when numbers change — this is what makes spreadsheets powerful.

You just saw two spreadsheet patterns:

• Budget: Item × Quantity = Total (one row multiplies)
• Tracker: Many rows add up (SUM column total)

Your Something Real will use one of these patterns. Budgets answer 'How much will this cost?' Trackers answer 'How many attended/did we sell?' Both use the magic: change one number, everything updates.

Portfolio Build: Spreadsheet Use Case page

Now plan YOUR spreadsheet for Something Real. Open your word processor and create a new document called 'Spreadsheet Plan - [Your Name]'. Save it in your Digital Portfolio folder.

Write:

1. Your Something Real: [one sentence about your project]
2. Spreadsheet type: Choose ONE:
   • Budget (costs, prices, totals)
   • Tracker (attendance, progress, sales)
   • Timeline (weeks, tasks, deadlines)
   • Survey results (votes, scores, feedback)
3. 3 columns you'll need: [e.g. Item, Cost, Total]
4. LCA link: How will this help your Mathematical Applications or Practical Achievement Task?

Example:
Something Real: School charity coffee morning
Spreadsheet type: Budget
3 columns: Item, Cost (€), Quantity
LCA link: Calculate total costs for Practical Achievement Task

Success criteria:

• Clear project description (1 sentence)
• One spreadsheet type chosen
• 3 realistic column names
• Connection to LCA work explained