xlsx, 11.48 KB
xlsx, 11.48 KB
mp4, 14.34 MB
mp4, 14.34 MB
xlsx, 10.75 KB
xlsx, 10.75 KB
docx, 56.57 KB
docx, 56.57 KB
pdf, 2.53 MB
pdf, 2.53 MB
pptx, 14.76 MB
pptx, 14.76 MB
xlsx, 10.42 KB
xlsx, 10.42 KB

KS3 Excel Lesson 5 – Real-World Spreadsheets: Costs, Shopping, Budgets & Practical Modelling (Dyslexia-Friendly | Life Skills | High Engagement)

Bring spreadsheets into the real world with this practical, highly relatable KS3 lesson focused on costs, budgeting and real-life decision making. Students learn how Excel is used outside the classroom — in shops, travel planning, pocket-money budgeting, and real household maths.

All materials are fully dyslexia-friendly, using accessible fonts, soft colour palettes, consistent spacing and clutter-free layouts to support every learner.

What students will learn (Lesson 5):

  • Real-world use of spreadsheets — Why businesses, families and shops rely on Excel for costs, totals and comparisons.
  • Building a cost model — Students create a working spreadsheet to calculate totals, quantities, running costs and savings.
  • Using formulas in context — Applying =, +, -, * and /
    to real scenarios such as shopping lists, budgeting challenges and cost comparisons.
  • Modelling different outcomes — Students change quantities or prices to see how their budget updates automatically.
  • Understanding value for money — Calculate cheapest options, total spend, leftover money, and simple financial decisions.

Why this resource sells well on TES:

  • Fully dyslexia-friendly – OpenDyslexic (or similar) font, pastel backgrounds, clear spacing, colour-coded steps and simplified worksheets for SEND learners.
  • Real-life relevance – Students instantly understand the purpose of spreadsheets when linked to money, shopping and budgeting.
  • Perfect for mixed-ability classes – Chunked instructions, worked examples, differentiated challenges and real-world problems.
  • Highly engaging scenarios – Includes task options such as planning a birthday party, managing a weekly shop, or budgeting for a day out.
  • Ready to teach – Teacher slides, step-by-step worksheet, and editable Excel template included.

By the end of this lesson, students can:

  • Build a cost spreadsheet using real-life data
  • Use formulas to calculate totals, reductions, quantities and comparisons
  • Understand how spreadsheets model real situations quickly and accurately
  • Apply spreadsheet skills to genuine everyday tasks
  • Feel confident that Excel has a real purpose beyond the classroom

This lesson is the perfect transition from logic and functions to meaningful, real-world modelling — giving KS3 students financial skills and spreadsheet confidence they will use for life.

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 20%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Bundle

KS3 Excel Mega-Bundle – 6 Fully-Dyslexia-Friendly Lessons (Battleships, Maths Modelling, Functions, Logic, Budgeting & Profit!)

*KS3 Excel Mega-Bundle – 6 Fully-Dyslexia-Friendly Lessons (Battleships, Maths Modelling, Functions, Logic, Budgeting & Profit!)* Transform the way your KS3 students learn spreadsheets with this **complete 6-lesson Excel unit**, fully resourced, highly engaging, and designed with **dyslexia-friendly fonts, colours and layout** throughout. Every lesson includes teacher slides, worksheets, editable Excel files and step-by-step tasks that ensure success for all learners, including SEND and lower-ability students. This bundle takes students from absolute beginners to confident spreadsheet users through fun, practical and real-world modelling activities. *What’s included in the 6-lesson sequence:* *Lesson 1 – Battleships & Cell Referencing* *Introduce spreadsheets through a fun Battleships activity.* Students learn rows, columns, cells, formatting and basic referencing using a fully accessible grid-based model. *Lesson 2 – “Cheating at Maths!” Using = Calculations* Show pupils how simple **=** formulas can calculate answers automatically. They learn to use cell referencing to solve maths problems and see how modelling updates instantly. *Lesson 3 – Fun Into Functions!* Students discover Excel’s most popular beginner functions: **SUM, AVERAGE, MIN and MAX**. Step-by-step, dyslexia-friendly instructions build confidence with real-world examples. *Lesson 4 – IF & ELSE Logic: Build a Self-Marking Quiz* Introduce spreadsheet logic with IF statements. Students create a mini quiz where Excel marks their answers automatically — a brilliant link to computing and coding concepts. *Lesson 5 – Real-World Cost Modelling* Learners build a practical budgeting spreadsheet for shopping, everyday spending and simple cost analysis. A perfect real-world application of formulas and modelling. *Lesson 6 – Party Planner: Costs, Pricing & Profit!* Students design a party, add their own items, calculate costs, set ticket prices and work out profit or loss. This creative challenge consolidates the whole unit. *Why this bundle sells exceptionally well on TES:* * ✔ **Fully dyslexia-friendly design** – OpenDyslexic font (or similar), pastel backgrounds, spacious layouts, clean formatting and colour-coded examples in every lesson. * ✔ **Extremely high engagement** – Battleships, self-marking quizzes, party planning and budgeting keep behaviour low and motivation high. * ✔ **Perfect for mixed-ability KS3 groups** – Step-by-step tasks, scaffolded worksheets, clear modelling, and optional extension challenges. * ✔ **Ready-to-teach** – All six lessons include PowerPoints, worksheets and editable Excel templates. No preparation needed. * ✔ **Real-world relevance** – Students quickly see how spreadsheets matter in life, business, money, events and computing. *Skills students will master across the bundle:* * Cell referencing * Formatting & layout * Basic operations using = * Functions (SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX) * IF/ELSE logic * Budgeting, costs & profit * Spreadsheet modelling & decision-making This 6-lesson Excel bundle gives you **everything you need for a full half-term of KS3 Computing** — fully accessible, fun to teach, and proven to keep students engaged from start to finish.

£9.99

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