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How to start an Elementary School Chess Club

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Start an Elementary School Chess Club

This lens is devoted to information and resources for anyone interested in starting an elementary school chess club.

My son (3rd grade) loves to play chess and has been playing with his Dad for several years.  One day I said "Do you think we should have a chess club at your school?"  His answer was an enthusiastic YES. 

I had no clue what I was doing, but muddled my way through to start a chess club at his elementary school. (I'm not even a good chess player!)  I was pleased and surprised at the enthusiastic response the chess club received.

This lens is (as all lenses are) a work in progress and will grow as I find more relevant information. If you like the information you've found here, please rate this lens by clicking on one of the 5 stars beneath the lens title. Thank you! 

Good Kid's Chess Resources on the Internet

These are sites that I found useful when planning how to run the chess club and how to teach chess to beginners. There are also several organizations that (for a fee)come to your school and run a chess "learning" club.
AAA Chess Club
We are a non-profit educational organization, highly instrumental in training and mastery of Chess game to the youth. Our goal is to promote the Chess among our youngsters and teenagers. The idea is not only to develop the skills and power of thinking and planing, but to bring these kids into a professional level and boost their moral for self-confidence, challenge and healthy competition.
SchoolChess.com's Think Like a King School Chess Software System
The Think Like A King School Chess Software System has what you need for your chess club: Chess Club Manager%uFFFD and the Chess Workouts%uFFFD books-on-disk. Used in hundreds of schools worldwide!
Media Division's flashChess
The only chess game ever created in flash - a great resource for those who want to learn to play chess.
Academic Chess 2006
Academic Chess is a not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to bringing chess and all of its scholastic and intellectual benfits to children.
Dean of Chess - Learn how to play chess with chess lessons and videos teaching chess strategy from Dean Ippolito.
Learn about chess and the benefits of chess for children as well as buy unique chess products ranging from chess bags to keychains to chess sets. International Master of Chess, Dean Ippolito, has been playing chess for over 20 years and has won numerous titles and awards. Chess lessons are available.
www.chesscircle.net
A place for chess on the net. Articles, games, etc. Looks like fun...

Links to Chess Rules

Chess Rules for Kids
Chess Rules for Kids
Rules of Chess: The 50 moves rule
The question of what happens when one player only has a king came up pretty often. We had some games that would have gone on until summer if we hadn't found this 50 move rule!

Benefits of Chess in Education

AmChess-Research
Benefits of Chess in Education
NEUROSCIENCE FOR KIDS NEWSLETTER
Chess - A Brainy Game
Edutech Chess: Why Chess?
More info on the benefits of chess in education.

Starting the Sandy Hook School Chess Club

What I learned....

We started by asking the school if we could use a classroom after school hours so that the kids could just stay after school to play and have a parent pick them up.

We opened the club to 3rd and 4th graders. There was a very enthuiastic response and several 1st and 2nd graders asked to join. Next year we'll open it up to all grades!

We asked the PTA to buy the chess boards (and also asked families to donate some if they could.) We negotiated a good price with a local toy store.

Basically, I gave the kids "play sheets" with the names of the other students in the club and let them choose their own partners--marking off for each game whether it was a win/lose/draw.

Most of the children knew how to play, but I had some handouts of how the pieces move to give anyone who needed it.

The more experienced players taught the less experienced players some tips and tricks about the game.

Our goals were to:
Have Fun playing chess
Learn to play a better game of chess
Practice good sportsmanship

Chess Stuff for Young Children and Beginning Players

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Reader Feedback

  • LewesDE Feb 19, 2012 @ 3:36 pm | delete
    This lens is very ineresting. Please make more lenses!
  • The_Philologist Aug 10, 2011 @ 11:59 am | delete
    Congrats to you for starting a chess club. I loved chess as a kid, still do, but I didn't get to play in a club till middle school :(
  • Wbisbill Mar 3, 2011 @ 10:33 am | delete
    Thumbs up. I have coached several clubs (when I taught school), mostly middle schoolers. I took them to some scholastic tourneys. My son still has his trophy (He is 27 and an assistant manager of a Food City Grocery). Lots of fun and character building!
  • EssayWritingService Mar 3, 2010 @ 1:41 am | delete
    Hi,
    I agree with you that chess is a great activity for kids. It will open their mind and help them to enhance their thinking. Thanks for the post.

    Essay Writing Service
  • FueltheBrain Jun 17, 2009 @ 2:59 pm | delete
    It is so ironic that I found your page. I was just telling my husband that I should start a club of some sorts-chess, math , etc. because our schools are cutting gifted programs. Maybe I'll be able to put your great resources to use next year with my gifted students!
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I am Joanne Marcinek of Ask Joanne, LLC, a woman with a mission.  My passion is helping people get the information they need on the Internet. ... more »

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