← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Entering data into cells

To store data, click a cell, type your value, then press Enter to save it. Tab saves it and moves right. Text lines up left and numbers line up right.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 16, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 3, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 5, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Representing Data with Numbers — Module 25, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 33, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 4, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 53

Understanding Entering data into cells in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: Words are text, and spreadsheets line text up on the left side of the cell by default. A number is lined up on the right side of its cell, which shows the spreadsheet knows it is a number. Pressing Enter saves what you typed into the cell you clicked. Numbers line up on the right by default, which makes them easy to compare. Click the cell and type over the old value, then press Enter to replace it. The Tab key stores the value just like Enter, but it moves right so you can fill in a row. Typing alone does not store data. Enter or Tab must be pressed, otherwise the cell stays empty or the typing is lost.

Common mistakes: Pressing Escape cancels what you typed, so nothing is stored. Press Enter to store the value in the cell. The goal is to store 25 in B2, so you must click cell B2 first. Clicking A1 would put the value in the wrong cell.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 11–20) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Learning
Duo
You click cell B2, type 25 and press Enter. What happens?
The value 25 disappears and the cell stays emptyThe value 25 is stored in cell B2
Matches
Click A1, type 10, then click B1 without pressing Enter
↓
The value was never saved. You must press Enter or Tab to store it before moving on.
Applying
Meanings
Term
Click a cell, type, press Enter
Meaning
To store data, click a cell, type your value, then press Enter to save it. Tab saves it and moves right. Text lines up left and numbers line up right.
Practice
Click cell A1
Testing
Gaps
3. Press to save it
Check Answer
Spots
2Type: Apples
3Press Escape

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Quick Questions

1. You click cell B2, type 25 and press Enter. What happens?
A. The value 25 is stored in cell B2 ✓
B. The value 25 disappears and the cell stays empty
Pressing Enter saves what you typed into the cell you clicked.
2. Which key saves your entry and moves to the cell on the right?
A. Caps Lock
B. Tab ✓
Tab saves the value and moves one cell to the right, which is handy when filling in a row.
3. What is the correct order to enter data in a cell?
A. Click the cell, type the value, press Enter ✓
B. Type the value, press Enter, then click the cell
You must choose the cell first, so the spreadsheet knows where to store what you type.
4. You type the name Mia into a cell and press Enter. How will it line up?
A. On the left side of the cell ✓
B. On the right side of the cell
Text lines up on the left by default.
5. You type 150 into a cell and press Enter. How will it line up?
A. On the left side of the cell
B. On the right side of the cell ✓
Numbers line up on the right by default, which makes them easy to compare.

Match the Pairs

Click B2, type 25, press Enter → Stores the number 25 in cell B2 and moves down to B3
Type Sam, press Tab → Saves Sam in the cell and moves one cell to the right
Text lines up on the left side of a cell → Apple
Numbers line up on the right side of a cell → 42
Click A1, type 10, then click B1 without pressing Enter → The value was never saved. You must press Enter or Tab to store it before moving on.
Type a new value in A1 to fix a mistake, but the old value is still there after pressing Esc → Esc cancels the typing. Press Enter or Tab to save the new value instead.

Key Term

Click a cell, type, press Enter
To store data, click a cell, type your value, then press Enter to save it. Tab saves it and moves right. Text lines up left and numbers line up right.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 1. Click a cell 2. Type your value 3. Press Enter to save it
Hint: Type the name of the key that saves the value in the cell
2. Press Tab to save and move one cell right
Hint: Type the key that saves the value and moves to the next cell on the right
3. Text lines up on the left side of a cell
Hint: Type the side of the cell where text lines up
4. Numbers line up on the right side of a cell
Hint: Type the side of the cell where numbers line up
5. To edit a cell, double-click it and retype
Hint: Type the mouse action used to start changing what is already in a cell

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Click cell A1
B Type: Apples
C Press Escape
D Cell A2 is now selected
Line C — Pressing Escape cancels what you typed, so nothing is stored. Press Enter to store the value in the cell.
Question 2
A Goal: store 25 in cell B2
B Click cell A1
C Type: 25
D Press Enter
Line B — The goal is to store 25 in B2, so you must click cell B2 first. Clicking A1 would put the value in the wrong cell.
Question 3
A Click cell A1
B Type: Name
C Press Tab to move down
D Type: Age
Line C — Tab saves the value and moves one cell to the right, not down. Enter is what moves the selection down.
Question 4
A Click cell A1
B Type: Sam, then press Enter
C Sam lines up on the right
Line C — Text lines up on the left side of a cell. Only numbers line up on the right.
Question 5
A B2 holds 30 but should be 35
B Click B3, type 35 over it
C Press Enter to save it
Line B — To edit the value in B2 you click B2 and type the new value. Clicking B3 would change a different cell.

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