• Create exciting activities that will get your students pumped for the TAKS test.Lisa Stirling/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, also known as TAKS, is a standardized test that students in Texas primary and secondary schools must take each year before entering the next grade level. The test is a multiple-choice exam, and teachers can plan exciting activities for their students to get them prepared and ready for it.
  
  

Cookie Bag

• Encourage your children to do well on the TAKS test by making a cookie bag. Give each student a sandwich baggie and a cookie. Let each student have a small piece of paper. Each student will write the word "smart" on one side of the paper and color it. On the other side, students will write, "S is for stay focused," "M is for mark the right answer," "A is for always do your best," "R is for recheck your work" and "T is for taking your time." Let the students eat their cookie after they take their TAKS test.
  
  

Candy Encouragement

• Before students arrive in the classroom, make small notes and give them each a piece of candy. Attach a note to a small bag of Cheerios that says, "CHEERing you on to success on your TAKS test" or a note that says, "Good LUCK on your TAKS test" attached to a bag of Lucky Charms. Give each student a water bottle with a note attached that says, "Wash out the TAKS test." Or take a piece of gum and attach a note that says, "Blow the top off this TAKS test."
  
  

Wiser Visors

• Let each student make a visor for the TAKS test. Purchase several visors at your local craft store and allow each child to decorate their own. Tell the students to write, "Wiser Visor" somewhere on the visor. Each student can decorate his or her visor with markers, paint, colors and any other crafts items. Before the test starts, let the students chant, "I will wear my visor, because it makes me wiser." Allow the students to wear the visors while taking their test.
  
  

Fun Activity Days

• Select a day for students to wear sunglasses and designate it "Shine on the TAKS test" Day. Let the students have a pajama day, which encourages them to get plenty of rest for the TAKS test. Crazy Sock Day can represent "Socks off to you for rocking the TAKS test." When taking the math portion of the test, allow students to wear clothing with numbers, such as jerseys. For the science portion, let students wear clothing that has animals or anything weather related. For the arts portion of the TAKS test, students can wear clothes with bright words or artistic pictures.