Chess & Literature: Classic Thinking Skills Being Taught!
My students need a class set of the novel The Queen's Gambit: A Novel, two chess boards, and a chess strategy book for an engaging unit integrating chess and literature!
There is not a single true chess-player in the world whose heart does not beat faster at the mere sound of such long beloved and familiar words as 'gambit games'. - David Bronstein
My students have a true passion- these books and two chess board sets will turn their dreams into reality.
My students include a diverse group of 5th grade students, consisting of my students I had the previous year in 4th grade!
Our school is in a rural area and has a continually growing population, soaring now to over 800 students! A significant percentage of my students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and many lack the critical background knowledge and experiences that many of us take for granted. Yet, they thrive when immersed in engaging activities and figuring out how their world works. Several of them exhibit a passion for chess and are quickly advancing in their level of play. Further, many are eager to begin learning and are fascinated by the strategies utilized in the game; yet, have not had the opportunity to play.
My Project
I envision my students immersed in an unforgettable unit, reading the engaging novel, The Queen's Gambit, and playing chess, in the classroom. With a copy of a strategy book and student copies of this novel, the students will be able to compare the fiction to non-fiction text, describe and sequence events, and actively participate in literature circle discussions. They will play chess games daily! As a group, we will read and evaluate strategy books. Then, as a culminating activity, our class will have a chess tournament!
I envision my students growing as learners and readers. I expect them to think hard, analyze, plan, and execute. I have read many studies conducted on students who play chess which demonstrate an increase in student IQ's, after less than a year of systematic chess study. I feel a fully integrated unit utilizing literature, problem-solving, and analyzing chess strategies will facilitate my students in developing their critical thinking skills.
Chess is unique, like no other "game", due to its intellectual and critical thinking attributes.
Chess is known to be an intelligent person's game, and kids who play chess believe they are smart. I believe the child's perception of themselves will be self-fulfilling. Having a strategy book, two extra sets, and copies of this novel will draw my students into the enchanting world of chess! Your donation has the power to forever change a student's life and image of themselves!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Vallance and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
