Activity 4.5 Excel chart instructions
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These are instructions for creating a simple graph - or chart - in Microsoft Excel. These instructions support Activity 4.5 on page 24 of the Penny Black education pack Theme 4 - Communication & Transportation. There are screen shots to show you what to expect. You can also download these instructions (without screen shots) to print:
Penny Black Activity 4.5 - Excel chart instructions (PDF, 35KB)
We have tried to make this as simple as possible, but please contact us if these instructions are not clear!
What to do
- Open Excel on your computer.
- Click File - New for a blank worksheet.
- Type in the data from page 24 of the Penny Black education pack into columns A and B of the worksheet, as shown in the image below. You do not need to label the columns, just start typing with '1839'. When you have finished typing, make sure you are
clicked on the last cell you have filled in, as shown.
- In the drop down menus at the top of the screen, go to Insert - Chart, which will open the Chart Wizard.
- The chart type should be shown as Columns. Click Next.
- You will now have two tabs: 'Data Range' and 'Series'. Click Series.
- Click to Remove 'Series 1'.
- Place your cursor in the empty field marked Category (X) axis labels. Then highlight the data you have entered in column A. The phrase =Sheet1!$A:$A will appear, as shown below. Click Next.
- Now you can label the chart:
- In the Chart title field, give your chart a name like 'Increase in the volume of mail during reign of Queen Victoria'.
- In the Category (X) axis field, type 'Year'.
- In the Value (Y) axis field, type 'Number of letters and postcards (millions)'. Then click Next.
- In the Chart title field, give your chart a name like 'Increase in the volume of mail during reign of Queen Victoria'.
- On the last step of the Chart Wizard, all you have to do is click Finish.
- Your chart will appear. You can adjust the size of your finished chart by dragging the points at the corners and sides.
