Chess II

The following lesson was for 4 and 5 year-old students. I was impressed by the potential of the activities carried out by the teacher. First, the teacher puts the chess figures in the correct position of the chess board. While doing so, she used coordenates and the names of the figures, of course. 

Then, she played many "games" with the children, very useful to concentrate and focus attention. For example, she told them to close their eyes and she then changed some figures on the board. Students opened their eyes and said what was wrong, using coordenates and the names of the figures the wanted to move to the correct position on the board.

They also played that game in pairs. Another game they played was placing all the pieces in the center of the board and then compete to see who was the first to place them correctly. 

Finally, they sang and danced a song with the names of the chess figures. Children danced making the movements or gestures associated to each figure. Wonderful lesson!

I could see students working spatial relationships, movements, coordenates, using thinking skills... Superb.