Science, Math, Checkmate: 32 Chess Activities for Inquiry and Problem Solving by Alexey W. Root

by Alexey W. Root

Chess captivates children. Connect their interest to education with Science, Math, Checkmate, an activity book and teacher resource for grades 3-8. Students learn chess rules and strategies through activities coded to the 32 pawns and pieces on a chessboard. The 16 pawn activities require no chess knowledge, 14 of the piece activities build on students' growing familiarity with chess, and the two king activities challenge budding chess experts. Within the chess activities, students practice national standards of scientific inquiry and mathematical problem solving. Improved thinking in science, math, and chess are the winning Checkmate! The introductory chapter discusses the scientific inquiry and mathematical problem solving standards, explains the coding system for the chess activities, and details what materials should be purchased. Chapters 2 (scientific inquiry), 3 (mathematical problem solving), and 4 (inter-disciplinary) each contain 10-12 activities at different grade and chess levels. The book ends with an appendix of the rules of chess. It includes approximately 100 chess diagrams. Grading rubrics and check lists are offered with each activity to assist teachers in assessing student learning.

Paperback

First published January 30, 2008

About the author

Dr. Alexey W. Root was the 1989 U.S. Women's Chess Champion. Her Ph.D. in education is from UCLA. Alexey is a lecturer at The University of Texas at Dallas, teaching online courses about chess in education. She is also the Chessable Research Awards Coordinator.

Reviews

[Roland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has great resources for elementary age students to play chess with a cross-curricular focus. The activities, however, are not general enough to reach an older audience.