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Similes-MetaphorsDatabase

Credits:Sandy BennettMountain View Elementary SchoolBroomfield, ColoradoSandy.Bennett@adams12.org

Steve GandyMountain View Elementary SchoolBroomfield, Coloradosteve@stevegandy.com

Janet WalterAdams 12 Five Star Schools Technology Integration SpecialistJanet.walter@adams12.org

VITAL INFORMATIONSubject Matter:Elementary, Language Arts (English), Reading, Technology

Grades:5

Software Application:StarOffice, Appleworks, MS Office

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LESSON DESCRIPTIONSummary:This is the students' introduction to using databases. This lesson uses a spreadsheetas a database to collect similes and metaphors. The database will be searchable tofind entries based on keywords. Students will learn the following terms: field, record,sort, and query. (See resources)

State & National Standards:CO- Colorado Academic Standards• Subject : Reading and Writing• Standard 2: Students write and speak for a variety of purposes and audiencesWriting and speaking are essential tools for learning, for success in the workplace,and for responsible citizenship. Developing a range of writing and speaking abilitiesrequires extensive study, practice, and thinking. Students need frequentopportunities to write and speak for different audiences and purposes, and they needto be able to communicate expressively, informatively, and analytically. Growth inwriting and speaking abilities occurs by applying skills to increasingly challengingcommunication tasks• Grade/Level : Grades 5-8 Performance Indicator : choosing vocabulary and figures of speech thatcommunicate clearly Performance Indicator : recognizing stylistic elements such as voice, tone, andstyle• Standard 6: Students read and recognize literature as a record of humanexperienceLiterature records human expression in such forms as speeches, poems, novels,stories, nonfiction, essays, plays, films, biographies, and autobiographies by maleand female speakers and writers. The study of literary traditions offers a perspectiveon enduring questions, a glimpse into human motives and conflicts, and a sense ofthe beauty and power of spoken and written language. In addition, literaturetransmits and transforms culture; it also enables students to think, communicate,and participate in society. The study of literature and writers of the United Stateshonors the heritage and cultures of all people who live or have lived in America, andit thus helps students develop an understanding of our national experience. Acomprehensive literature program fosters habits of reading that carry over into adultlife.• Grade/Level : Grades 5-8 Performance Indicator : using literary terminology accurately, including setting,character, conflict, plot, resolution, theme, foreshadowing, and figurative language Performance Indicator : using new vocabulary from literature in other context

Local Standards:INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SKILLS CONTINUUMStandard #2 Productivity Applications: Students use technology tools to enhancelearning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.

2C Databases

2C.1 Identifies and defines parts of a database (i.e. record, field, query, sort)

2C.2 Enters and edits information in a simple database (i.e. add and delete records)

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2C.3 Identifies and uses electronic databases to locate, collect, sort and display data

Lesson Outcomes:Students will be able to enter and search information stored in a database. Theyshould be capable of transferring these skills to future database applications toorganize other kinds of data.

Assessment:Teachers will make performance observations of students showing a record, field,using find, and sorting data in a field.

Assessment Attachments: 1. Database Quiz8 question fill-in-the-blank student quiz.

CLASSROOM & TIME MANAGEMENTStudent Prerequisites:Students will need to have a list of similes and metaphors to enter into theirdatabase.

Lesson Preparation:Class instruction in identifying and writing similes and metaphors will be necessaryprior to this activity.

Time Frame:2 class periods. 45 Min. per class.

Implementation Steps:Day 1:Explain the task to the students: They will be taking similes and metaphors theyhave either written or found in literary works to construct a database using aspreadsheet. The similes and metaphors will be entered into the database asseparate records using these field headers: date, saying, simile or metaphor, andkeywords. The entries will be formatted to make a pleasant reading experience.

Day 2:If necessary use the resource "Introduction to Spreadsheets Overview" to build thestudents’ skills in using spreadsheets to format data. This will add a day to thelength of the lesson.

Day 3:Have students begin creating the database by typing the field headers in row one.Then, under the field headers have them enter each simile or metaphor as a record.They should use their spreadsheet formatting skills to enhance the readability of thefinal product with color, font, and alignment choices (i.e. make each record adifferent color).

Printing is optional but probably desirable for evaluation and sharing.

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RESOURCESLesson Resources:Attachments: 1. Database Information - A resource sheet for teachers and students explaining

database concepts and terminology. 2. Database Quiz Answers - Quiz answer key. 3. Sample Database - Sample database for student project. 4. Introduction to Spreadsheets Overview - Introduces students to columns,

rows, cells, formulas, and basic formatting.Links: 1. Abiator's Word Play Interactive Game - Students identify examples of

onomatopoeia, alliteration, rhyme, simile, and metaphors in an interactivegame. - http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lang/lmc/wpp6c.htm

STUDENT PRODUCT(S)Product(s) Description:A database of similes and metaphors with evidence of formatted enhancements thatmake use of a spreadsheet's grid to organize data and allow for searching andsorting records.

REFLECTIONComments:If you have not done it already, a good follow-up to this lesson is the "US HistoryTimelines" lesson.

Spreadsheets Basics Overview

Online Tutorial• There is a wonderful online tutorial for spreadsheets basics at:

http://www.learning.com/newcorp/easytechtour/TechnologyLessons.html• Click on the button that says Spreadsheets Basics: Columns, Rows and Cells• The lesson is interactive and covers everything listed below

Lesson1. Open the spreadsheet program you are working in (i.e. StarOffice,

AppleWorks, or Excel)2. Give a tour of the window showing students the following parts of a

spreadsheet:

• Columns – verticalgroup of cells

• In the example,Column B wouldhave informationabout Mercury

• Row – horizontalgroup of cells

• In the example,Row 5 would havethe length or orbitsfor each planet

• Cells – a box thatholds a single pieceof information

• Point out the name ofa cell is the columnheading and rowheading. In theexample, B5 wouldbe the cell telling youMercury’s length of orbit

• Click on the cell and enter the information you want, press enter/returnor click on a new cell with your mouse to enter more information

3. Create the following spreadsheet to practice these new skills. (You couldsurvey your class or use the numbers provided.)

Favorite Ice CreamFlavor Boys Girls

Chocolate 12 23Vanilla 18 9Strawberry 9 5

4. Make it look good using some of these formatting tips. (Note: StarOffice,Appleworks and Excel all have different methods for formatting. Most have buttons on thetoolbar to perform these functions. Refer to the Help Menu for additional needs.)

• Cell Width – click and drag between the column heading to readjustthe width of a cell

• Font and Font Size – in the above example I changed the font toComic Sans

• Bold, Italic, Underline – headings look good in bold so they stand outagainst the data

• Alignmentß Left – flavor titles are aligned leftß Center – headings (Flavor, Boys, Girls) are centeredß Right – would align text on right side of cellß Merge and Center – the title (Favorite Ice Cream) is merged

across three cells and centered in the middle• Borders – the black lines between the cells are made with the borders• Cell Color – fills in color in the background of the cell like the burgundy

behind the main title• Font Color – color of the text like the mint green of the main title

5. Formulas – used to perform calculations on the data

A B C

Favorite Ice Cream1 Flavor Boys Girls2 Chocolate 12 233 Vanilla 18 94 Strawberry 9 55 Totals: =B2+B3+B4

• Formulas always begin with the = sign• Operation Symbols:

Addition +Subtraction -Multiplication *Division /

• Use cell name (i.e. B2) to indicate value in that cell• For example, to find the total number of boys that voted you would add the

values of cells B2, B3 and B4. The formula would be =B2+B3+B4.• Press enter when you finish the formula to see the result in the cell• There are many formulas available beyond these simple tasks. See the

Help Menu for additional suggestions.

Vocabulary

Spreadsheet – organizes information or data

Table – an organized group of data, sometimes tables are called worksheets

Cells – a box that holds a single piece of information

Row – horizontal group of cells

Columns – vertical group of cells

Formulas – used to perform calculations on the data

DATABASE INFORMATION

General ConceptA database is a collection of data. Databases come in many forms. Common databases

include mailing lists, encyclopedias, and card files. These examples may not seem to have muchin common, but they all share one common feature--they contain information which is sorted orindexed so that it can be retrieved quickly.

A card file containing customer addresses and telephone numbers is an example of adatabase. Usually, the cards are sorted alphabetically and are separated by tabs so you can findbasic information (such as a customer's address) quickly. If the cards were simply scattered in ashoebox, this process would take much longer.

In the card file, the alphabetized tabs act as an index that can direct you to the neededinformation. However, finding related information (such as all the customers on file who live inColorado) is much more difficult because the cards are not cross-referenced. Updating the cardfile is also difficult because it must be performed manually, and the file space often is limited.

A computerized database lets you sort records in many different ways. Because of this, adoctor's office could have one record for each patient, but be able to look up that record by name,insurance company, last date visited, and so forth, making record storage and access moreefficient.

DatabaseA software program that maintains records.

DataInformation that makes up a database.

FieldA term used in a database for a piece of information in a record. For example, a person's first,middle, and last names could be three separate fields.

RecordA group of fields that contain related information usually shown in a single row. For example, acustomer's name and address could be considered a record.

SortOrganize information in a field. For example, order by last name in alphabetical (A-Z) or reversealphabetical (Z-A) order.

QuerySearch the database to find a piece of information. For example, find all customers who live inColorado.

ColumnA column contains data of one and the same kind. For example, the column namedState.

RowA row is a group of related data. For example, the information about one customer.

Similes and Metaphors Database

Date Saying S or M Keywords12/6/02 the rugby ball was like a giant egg Simile rugby, ball, egg12/6/02 the cat leapt onto my shoulder and her claws, like thistle spines, pricked my skin painfully Simile cat, claws, skin12/7/02 the rugby player cradled the giant egg ball Metaphor rugby, egg, ball12/7/02 thistle spines pierced my skin when the cat leapt up Metaphor spines, skin, cat12/8/02 Life is like a flat tire Simile life, flat, tire12/8/02 Fill yourself up with happy thoughts Metaphor happy, thoughts

EXAMPLE DATABASE

DATABASE QUIZ

Name: _________________________________________________

Use the following terms to fill in the blanks.

database data record

field sort column

row query

1. A ___________________ is a collection of data.

2. ____________________ is information that makes up a database.

3. A piece of information in a record is the ___________________.

4. A group of fields that contain related information usually shown in

a single row is a ____________________.

5. When you ____________________, you organize information

based on a field.

6. When you search the database to find a piece of information you

____________________ it.

7. What is shown in this picture? ____________________

8. What is shown in this picture? ____________________

DATABASE QUIZ

Name: _________________________________________________

Use the following terms to fill in the blanks.

database data record

field sort column

row query

1. A DATABASE is a collection of data.

2. DATA is information that makes up a database.

3. A piece of information in a record is the FIELD.

4. A group of fields that contain related information usually shown in

a single row is a RECORD.

5. When you SORT you organize information based on a field.

6. When you search the database to find a piece of information you

QUERY it.

7. What is shown in this picture? ROW

8. What is shown in this picture? COLUMN