I am teaching in a small rural school located in a town that was once home to many hardworking coal miners. The coal industry has all but left the community but the town and it's people survive and carry on. Many families struggle with the basics and don't have money to spend on 'extras'.
I teach Art and Science and try to use a variety of lessons to engage all students and all types of learners.
I enjoy using different and unique materials and lessons to allow students to explore, create and learn as much as possible.
My Project
When teaching my seventh grade students about maps in Science class I explain that the lines of latitude and longitude form a grid --like the grid of 'ranks' and 'files' on a chessboard. Every place on the globe can be located by using where the latitude and longitude lines cross over.
I teach all the 7th graders to play chess and then I have them stop in the middle of a game and write down the location of each of the pieces that are still in play (using the grid of ranks and files), the next day they must set up the game where they left off .
Not only is this a great activity to tie in with latitude and longitude lesson but learning chess helps students develop critical thinking skills. It also helps students practice strategic thinking and planning and patience and of course sportsmanship.
Learning chess has become one of the highlights of my class, this is something that may not help students on a test but they will definitely take this skill with them--and USE it!
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