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Blog Chess Experts Dr. Alexey Root CHESS ON FIELD TRIPS
Blog Chess Experts Dr. Alexey Root CHESS ON FIELD TRIPS
| CHESS ON FIELD TRIPS |
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| Written by Alexey W. Root on Fri, May 30 2008 (16:53) | |
| On Thursday, May 29th, I was one of the parent chaperones on a sixth grade field trip to a local park. I brought along two chess sets and boards, and set them up on a picnic table. The table was one of many in the pavilion, which had a roof for shade and a view of the playground. Except for lunch, when I packed up the chess equipment to make room for pizza, the chess games were in use the entire time (10:30-2:15). Four students would play, and four to six others would watch and/or wait for a turn to play. I had them play "winner sits." Many who lost went off to play kickball or throw water-soaked sponges. But then they returned, and challenged in again. We also played some bughouse. Several children tried chess for the first time. When they said they didn't know how to play, I taught them pawn moves and captures (but not en passant) then had them play a Pawn Game. Considering the popularity of the chess equipment, I am glad I brought it along! |
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Chess is the touchstone of the human intellect.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Each year I have to set up a reservation list so that students have an opportunity to play the next day. Demand exceeds capacity to serve up enough boards.
It is always interesting to observe the students who turn their nose up to the idea of chess in August and September become one of the kids asking for a board a bit later in the year. Especially when they happen to be oppositional/defiant in other areas of the campus.
Predictably, the chess table has less behavior issues and is less noisy than the tables with free style dining.
Students get drawn into the visual/tactile aspect and the socialization element of lunch time chess. Principals and Assistant Principals enjoy the effect that a table of students playing chess during lunch has on campus visitors.