Q7 Cell Phone

1. Create a new spreadsheet using the program you have available (e.g. Excel, Sheets, Google Spreadsheets, or etc.), title it: 13.Q7 Fx Smartphone Data.

• Some outside support resources:
  • Excel Tutorials for charts
  • Google Tutorials for charts and graphs

2. Input Sean Smith’s data on two separate sheets: Sheet1 (label it Minutes) and Sheet2 (label it Texts)

3. Insert a new row below the names of the months and title it Total. Use the sum feature shown in Quest One, to get a total number of cell phone minutes, and also for the number of text messages.

4. Insert a new row below the total and title it Average. Calculate the average number for the year by putting your mouse in the cell for the average and type = (click in the total cell) and / (divided by) and enter the number of months.

5. Create a bar graph for each set of data by selecting the cells with the names of the months, and then the cells with the data for the months and Minutes or Messages. (Highlight both columns of data) 

• Select from cell A1 to B13.
• Select the insert tab. 
• Select the bar or column graph.
• Select your chart type as a Two-Dimensional chart.
• Select on the layout tab and work in the chart title and axis title buttons for horizontal and vertical titles.
• Be sure to use specific information for your titles.
• Save your spreadsheet with the charts on them for step 6.

6. Open a wordprocessing document. Paste a screenshot of each of your 13.Q7 Fx Smartphone Data sheets in the document.

7. Copy and paste the following questions into your document below the image capture and answer them based on Sean's or your own usage data.

• What is the average number of minutes used for cell phone calls?
• What is the average number of text messages?
• What is the yearly total for minutes used and the total for text messages?

8. Pick the best plan for yourself or one for Sean. He lives in Michigan (you can select your own state). Explore the different smartphone plans you could choose from for a limited budget of $30 per month (or based on your own). Use the average number of minutes per month and the average number of text messages per month for this activity.

Visit the following two sites to compare plans:

• Data plan speeds - note that some plans have different speeds, but Sean does not need a high-speed plan for streaming
• Coverage - Sean only calls within Michigan.
• Price Plans - Monthly, No Contract, and Prepaid
• Other features

A. Reviews.org Best Cell Phone Plans of 2025

B. Then go to the My Rate Plan site and use the sliders provided to set the number of average minutes and text messages per month (up to unlimited), then select the Data slider to your choice based on your own experience. Select the button for "Show my plans." You can also select your state in the map below the plans to help further. Be sure to check and uncheck the contract or pre-paid plans as you consider your recommendation. Use the Price per month sliders so that the plan does not exceed the budget of $30 per month.

9. Write a paragraph summarizing your findings.  Consider the following questions:

• Which features seem to make the most difference in the cost of plans? 
• What plan would you recommend?
• Will Sean need a two-year plan, or will a monthly or prepaid plan work?
• If Sean gets a new phone as a gift, how much data could Sean use and still be within his budget of $30 per month?

10. Compare your recommendations with others in your class.

Step 1. What do you think classroom discussion. Conduct a quick vote or record a short list of your class responses to the following:

• Who do you think spends more time on smartphones, boys or girls?
• When teens don't have their phone how do they feel? Example: Have you ever felt anxious when you didn’t have access to it? List some of the emotions that pop in your minds first.
• What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of smartphones? Agree on three of each.
• What percent of teens in the U.S. spend at least four hours per day on social media apps?

Step 2. Do some quick research by sharing this task across your class and then compare the research results with your class results.

The Pew Research Center study in 2023 found 95% of teens (13-17) had access to a smartphone and the Internet through their phone plan. 38% said they think they spend too much time on their smartphone, and 27% spend too much time on social media. 

Gallup Familial and Adolescent Health Survey (2023)

Step 3. Share the results and any questions this activity and research have raised, and any potential changes you might consider making.