Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Develop the curriculum. Each meeting should be one hour long, with 20 minutes dedicated to a lecture on a topic, such as tactics, and the remaining 40 minutes allotted to actual game play. Each 20-minute lecture needs to build on a previous lecture. Start with basic rules, then move to opening principles, tactical play, strategies and the endgame.
Create a poster and signup sheet. The poster should use imagery elementary school students will find interesting. This imagery can be based on icons of popular cultural. Create individual signup sheets to include a full description of the club's activities, along with places for the student's name, parent's name and telephone number.
Reserve a classroom for the club's meetings. It is important to use the same room each time the club meets for logistical reasons. Choose a room with large tables to accommodate the students and their chessboards.
Purchase the needed supplies. Use regulation tournament boards and pieces, which can be purchased cheaply online from retailers specializing in chess gear. Regulation pieces are used in chess tournaments because each piece is easily recognizable. Roll-up vinyl chess mats come with algebraic notation symbols on the board's sides, allowing students to learn this system of chess notation. Always keep 3-4 extra sets on hand.
Prepare the lectures. Lectures need to be grouped into beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons. A first lesson should be based on piece movement. Start with a blank chessboard. Introduce the king, followed by the queen, rooks, bishops, knights and pawns. Add each piece to the board as the lecture progresses until the entire board is set up. A second lecture should cover special rules, such as castling, the pawn's first move, en passant, check and checkmate. After the rules have been covered, move on to opening principles.
Practice the lectures. The easiest way to present a lecture is with the aid of a demonstration board, a wall-hanging chessboard using pockets to hold the pieces in place. The board allows a classroom full of students a clear view of the action. Use the demonstration board to show concepts being discussed during the lecture. Time the length of the lecture. Remember, kids get restless and will want to play the game, so keep lectures to 20 minutes or less.