4 Week session at Arlington Heights Kiddie academy

Over the past four weeks, a small but mighty group of ten young learners embarked on an exciting introduction to the game of chess. Designed for beginners and held once a week, this month-long session focused on making chess approachable, interactive, and most of all—fun. More than just a game, our program aimed to teach logic, patience, and decision-making through each move on the board

Over the past four weeks, a small but mighty group of ten young learners embarked on an exciting introduction to the game of chess. Designed for beginners and held once a week, this month-long session focused on making chess approachable, interactive, and most of all—fun. More than just a game, our program aimed to teach logic, patience, and decision-making through each move on the board.

Each class followed a structured and kid-friendly flow. We kicked things off with 10 minutes of relaxed activities, where students could warm up with chess puzzles or express creativity through coloring sheets themed around the game. This eased us into the main 40-minute learning period, during which the children split into smaller groups to receive focused instruction and practice. In the final 10 minutes, we came back together for a quick recap, shared highlights, and helped clean up our space.

Our curriculum was scaffolded to gradually build both understanding and confidence:

• Week 1: Meet the chess pieces – identifying their roles and learning how they move.

• Week 2: Exploring the chessboard – practicing piece placement and legal movements.

• Week 3: Skill-building through interactive games, focusing on captures and piece safety.

• Week 4: Learning basic checkmates and playing complete mini-games independently.

By the end of the program, every student had not only grasped the basics of chess but also learned how to approach challenges with focus and creativity. From first-time piece movers to confident young strategists, the transformation was inspiring. We’re thrilled to see such growth and can’t wait to welcome even more future chess champions in our upcoming sessions.