Chess Champions

Suggested Time: 60 minutes
Overview
Students will play a game designed to teach young students the basic moves of Chess pieces, then dress up as Chess characters and play an active life-size game.
Vocabulary
Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards
Common Core Mathematical Standards
Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
Homework from Previous Session:
The Lesson
Part 1: Learning Basic Moves (20 mins)
  1. Announce to the students that they have entered Chess Academy!
  2. Show “ The Magic of Chess.” Interact with the students, pausing the video to allow the students to practice moving each piece.
  3. Use basic geometric concepts to describe moving the pieces, such as “square” and “diagonal”.
  4. Separate the students into groups of four to play No Stress Chess. Two students will play at a time with two observers. Then they will switch places so that everyone gets a chance to try. This game is designed to teach the moves of the game without having to worry about all of the other rules of Chess.
Part 2: Chess Champions (40 mins)
  1. Read Checkmate at Chess City with the students.
  2. Move outside or to a large open indoor space. Lay out the life-size chess board or draw chalk squares on the cement floor. Make sure the grid is 8X8 with alternating white and black squares like a Chess board.
  3. Have students position themselves as pieces. If you don’t have enough students, the adults should participate, or you can substitute objects or life-size chess pieces for some of the pawns. If you have too many students, have some students stand off to the side as Referees. They will be responsible for making sure everyone moves correctly.
  4. Use Chess for Children: How to Play the World’s Most Popular Board Game for further interactive instruction. Alternatively, depending on the academic level of the students, you can continue to use the cards from No Stress Chess to dictate moves.
  5. If possible, have a local Chess Coach help with this lesson.
  6. Finally, graduate the students and ordain them as Chess Champions. If you have badges, hand them out to the graduates.