Snacks during CSAP are important, because testing requires students to stay focused for a much longer time than they're used to. While students, especially those in older grades, can complete a school day without supplementary snacks, they might have trouble maintaining that stamina in a testing environment. By providing snacks throughout the day, teachers help their students focus and perform their best. With standardized testing, the teachers' responsibility is to enable students to complete the test as best as possible.
Everyone knows that kids love a sweet treat. When it comes to CSAP, though, healthy snacks will best provide the energy and stamina that students need. Instead of sweet snacks, give them granola bars or fruit. Try to vary the snacks throughout the day. In the morning provide bananas or apples, and in the afternoon, dole out some bags of healthy yet tasty trail mix. A sweet treat like fruit snacks or mini candy bars would be a great incentive for finishing testing at the end of the day.
When planning your snacks, make sure that the students have enough water throughout the day. Snacks won't do much good if the kids are dehydrated while trying to focus on math and reading. Encourage students to bring their own water bottles from home, and also provide bottled water in the classroom. Water and snacks work in tandem to energize students.
Extra snacks may not be in your school's budget. Appeal to the community for help in procuring snacks for your students. Grocery stores and other businesses would probably donate snacks or money to support the students participating in CSAP. Also ask your students' parents if they'd be willing and able to provide snacks for the class. Chances are parents will be eager to support their children and their community in this way.