Checkmate! Second Grade Learns Strategy and More with Volunteer-Led Chess Curriculum

On Fridays through the past school year, Chris Steinmeier, a Ph.D. candidate in Education at the University of Pennsylvania, spent time with our second graders teaching them chess. Mr. Steinmeier also spent time with us during the 2007-08 school year, but this past year, he created and implemented a curriculum around chess.

There were 2 main goals to the class: knowledge of the game and knowledge of self. The first was fairly straightforward – students learned the names and moves for the chess pieces, as well as some rudimentary strategies.

Mr. Steinmeier watches as two second graders put their new chess skills to use.

The second goal, that of self-knowledge, was built on the premise that chess serves as a perfect conduit for helping students learn more about who they are and how they respond to certain situations. The very setup of the game requires patience and critical thinking, and the development of strategy allows these characteristics to flourish. Players must not only craft a plan of attack, but they must also understand that their opponent is doing the same, and in order to choose the optimal move, each player must observe and interpret new information.

To this end, class goals were shaped through references to the game. For example, one of the rules for the group was to ask questions before making a move, and another was to keep a hand on a moved piece until positive it was the move to make. From there the class talked about making moves to achieve goals, to think several moves ahead, and to act only if reasonably sure the outcome would be beneficial.

And, as a final nod to the community, every game - win or lose – ended with a handshake.

Thank you, Mr. Steinmeier, for spending so much time with us over the past two school years and we look forward to seeing you again in the fall.