Beginners

Taught the K and Q vs. K mate (knight’s-move-away method) on the demonstration board and then gave the students time to practice it.

Scholar’s Mate for Experienced and Advanced (two separate classes)

Continued the lesson plan from Read, Write, Checkmate: Enrich Literacy with Chess Activities (Chapter 3), which is to have students nominate alternative third moves for Black. Dr. Root wrote the recommended third moves and the recommending students’ names on a pad of paper. Then Dr. Root had students, in pairs, test and debate which move was the BEST defending move. Then had a whole class discussion about it with a recommendation for one overall best move.