PREPARING FOR THE AIMS TEST

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE AIMS TEST!

By Kathleen Bethel, Principal, Los Ranchitos Elementary

Each year, teachers all over Arizona search for ways to meet the identified Arizona State Standards before students take the AIMS test each Spring. This year, that challenge increases as the AIMS test includes an assessment of the Science Standards for the first time ever. 

In the past, assessments of student’s knowledge in the area of science merely included a recitation of facts, formulas and discoveries that could be easily memorized and tested.  But the new AIMS test promises to test the science standards as they are written, which means that knowledge of the scientific process will be key.  Students will not only have to know about scientific discoveries, they will need to know what is essential to making one.  What planning must go into deciding how to test an idea?  What makes a good hypothesis?  How should data be collected, organized and the ensuing graphs and charts be analyzed? Does the data that a student gathers support their conclusion?  Science fair projects help students use all of their acquired scientific skills as they explore their natural talents.  They make the learning “real” so that it can be accurately tested when the AIMS comes along.

But Science Projects do not only help students meet the Science Standards and prepare for the Science portion of the AIMS test.  Preparing a project also directly serves as a vehicle to meet the basic curriculum as well.

When students select a science fair topic, their first job is to find out as much as they can about their chosen topic.  Reading Standards are met as students sort out fact from fiction in the information that they read. Young investigators create drawings or narratives to summarize the main ideas and list details to support what they have discovered.  All students use the Writing Standards to tell their story and present their project in a logical manner.  This provides a great opportunity for editing and rewriting.  At the middle and high school level, students may explain and defend their findings to other teachers, parents and judges. This provides them with experience in both the Listening and Speaking related standards.

Math is the language of Science. Science projects provide ample opportunities to tie in the Math Standards. One of the hidden bonuses is that many students who are traditionally afraid of Math finally see a way and a reason to apply their skills! The collection and analysis of data requires the use of integers, fractions, and decimals, or "Number Sense". "Data Analysis" and "Probability" are the key to the proof or rejection of a hypothesis. Projects commonly use bar graphs and pie charts to show their results and support their conclusions. Good science projects need the Math Standards.

Many science projects are health related. Every year there are studies regarding which foods are healthier, whether boys are better than girls, and the effects of music on comprehension. These studies not only pave the way for future medical research; they address the state health standards while developing the scientific method.

One of the very first steps in beginning a science fair project is a review of other scientists' work. And the rest is:  history!  Students learn about nature’s time lines and the development of human thought. Many projects involve patterns of land use and its problems, which includes both geography and geology standards. Disagreements over the use of the protected or threatened land often lead to the integration of civics and government standards. Junior economists often choose to analyze the cost and efficiency of everything from bubble gum to nail polish.   Completing a science project meets many standards at any one time.

Fortunately for teachers in Arizona, completing a class science fair project or helping students to complete an individual project can help their students prepare for the AIMS as well. This web site provides details on how to get started.