Data handling software, such as spreadsheets and databases, help pupils to access complicated data in a methodical way, and demonstrate patterns and trends.

Spreadsheet work is not limited to basic numeracy tasks. There are clear opportunities for data handling exercises, encouraging pupils to produce graphs and analysis of historical data.

How Britain has changed since 1948
Here is an opportunity for pupils to carry out an enquiry conducting research on the internet, using video clips and real data. The lesson plan guides the teacher through the whole process of the enquiry and enables pupils to carry out an exciting project finishing with a presentation of what has been discovered.
www.ict.oxon-lea.gov.uk

Rationing
From the Direct2U archive - scroll to the Year 4 lesson.
In this lesson children will learn about the need for and impact of rationing during WWII. They will use a ready prepared spreadsheet and a text file of scenarios to explore the food rations available to different households.
http://forum.ngfl.gov.uk

Tudors
Children could search the Internet to find out about the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times. They record what they find out in a table or spreadsheet organised in two columns Rich and Poor with sections for different headings e.g. food, health, clothes, houses, belongings, leisure etc.