Chess

Fifth-Graders LOVE

CHESS!

While surfing the web looking for ways to improve critical thinking, I came across many research-based articles that site playing chess and adding it to the curriculum improves thinking skills for a majority of students. Also, it is a game. Chess is fun. Students learn strategies, patience, and endurance. I have purchased a variety of chess sets and chess teaching sets (see below) to implement this new teaching tool. More on the outcomes later this year

. . . Chess proved to be a great success. I introduced 3-4 lessons at the beginning of the school year. With the demands of the daily class curriculum, I ended up coming back to the chess lessons toward the end of the the school year. The students loved playing and learning about chess. Our tournament was officially a success. I will continue to include chess in my 5th Grade lessons for 2008-2009.

Chess...

demands both inductive and deductive reasoning.

requires students to look at a problem.

requires students to break a problem down.

requires students solve the problem.

involves recall.

involves analysis.

involves judgment.

involves abstract reasoning.

improves decision-making skills.

increases students' self-confidence.

improves organizational habits.

Click on the Education World Logo to read Chess, Anyone? -- Chess As an Essential Teaching Tool

Teach your kids how to play chess with this free online chess course!

Lesson Plan Ideas:

Make a life-size chess board with poster board and tape. Students become the playing playing pieces.

Make a chess board using felt or on a pocket chart. Make and laminate your playing pieces. Secure them with velcro on the felt playing board. Simply place them in the pockets on the pocket chart. This creates a great tool for the visual learner.

As an end-of-year activity, have a class chess tournament complete with playing brackets and medals for the winners. To make quick brackets, go to Tournament Brackets . Find chess medals at Crown Awards .