Engaging and exciting spreadsheets starter. Great for observations and interviews. Excellent introduction to cell referencing in spreadsheets at KS2-4. I use the game with the whole class and up to six teams. Use the targeting grid screen to enter a target in the Aim box and shoot. The box accepts both cell references and ranges. The shoot button clears the area shot at and the scores update automatically. The positions of the battleships are fully configurable on the Map tab, enabling you to adjust the number of teams competing or adjust for use in pairs. The Team Sheets tab allows you to print sheets for each team so that they know where their own battleships are. I usually do two rounds of cell references followed by introducing the idea of ranges. I then allow a round of up to 4 cells (2x2 or 1x4), then a round of up to 8 cells. This is a macro enabled sheet and this means that you will need to click “enable content” to get the sheet to work.

These two excel workbooks enable spreadsheet practice with immediate feedback. When students get it right, the cell turns green. There is also a double check feature that changes all the inputs - catching when students put in the answer rather than a formula. Always engaging.