Lesson Plan: State Lottery Numbers

State Lottery Numbers

SUBJECT:

Computer Skills

GRADE LEVEL:

7-12, College

OBJECTIVES:

1. To learn to sort and graph numerical data using a spreadsheet.


2. To practice copying and pasting skills.


3. To learn to convert text data into spreadsheet format.


4. To reinforce the usefulness of the World Wide Web.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:

• A computer for each student or group, connected to the World Wide Web. The computer should provide access to a spreadsheet package and be connected to a printer.

ACTIVITIES:

Students will search for and download a copy of state lottery results, including a frequency count for each winning number. Students will then create a spreadsheet and a graph to help them see which numbers are picked to win most often.

1. Search for lottery results from a state of your choosing on the Internet.
   (If students can't find any lottery results, give them this URL for the Texas State Lottery: http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/txgovinf/lottery/lottofreq.html)


2. Copy the lottery results from the Web and paste them into a blank spreadsheet. If necessary, convert the text that was pasted into the spreadsheet into numbers, parsed into columns.


3. Adjust the data in the spreadsheet, if necessary, so that the winning numbers are in order down column A, and the frequency counts of the winning numbers are listed in column B. Add column headings to both columns to indicate Winning Numbers in column A, and Frequency in column B.
4. Create a bar chart using column A as the X axis values and column B as the numbers plotted on the Y axis. Enter the largest value possible as the minimum value on the Y axis (to help spread out the numbers on the chart). Turn off the display of labels for the X axis tick marks, and specify the numbers in column A to be data labels displayed at the top of the bars in the chart. Specify titles, gridlines, etc. as desired. Print the resulting graph.

FOLLOW-UP:

Review the graph results with the class. Discuss the usefulness of the World Wide Web in obtaining current data. Review the procedures involved in copying numerical data from the Web into a spreadsheet, and the conversion techniques necessary. Discuss alternative graph type choices for conveying the desired information.