SOFTWARE

Kindergarten Math

Chess and Geometry – Teaching Kindergarten Chess

Chess and Geometry – Teaching Kindergarten Chess

 

Frank Ho

 

Teacher and founder at Ho Math and Chess Learning Center

 

www.mathandchess.com

 

 

After researching the relationship between chess and math for over 10 years, I conjecture that chess is a geometry-based game, which particularly is related to the concept of symmetry. So the way to teach a very young child is perhaps to point out the meaning of symmetry in a practical way, not in a conceptual way. How young can a child learn chess? Often I was asked this question but only found out it is difficult to answer without actually having a conversation with the child or even trying to teach a few simple chess moves then playing a pawn only game. This has to do with a child’s cognitive development. Is the child able to follow a set of rules, which to a child is very abstract and perhaps presents no particular meaning to them? For example, a child as young as 5 can play some toys which required to be moved in linear fashion but to the same young child, the moves of a pawn to forward one or 2 squares at the first move and can only capture opponent’s piece in diagonal way is not very comprehensible to them.

 

Why a pawn can only capture in a diagonal way while other pieces can capture in their “regular” way of moves? Why knight jumps but not others? These reasons behind these moves can not be understood by most kindergarteners. This presents a challenge for those who want to teach chess to children as young as 4 or 5 years old.

 

Often, I was asked by parents why their children could play some puzzle type hands-on activities on their own, but not chess? The reason is that the way of playing chess is very different from some puzzle games. Chess is a game with rules to follow and there is no chance for exploring in hands-on approach like other puzzle-type games. If the rule of making chess pieces moves are not followed then there is no game, there is no compromise. A wrong or illegal move will draw complaints from the opponent. In contrast, most puzzle activities have no serious cause-result effects and there is no competition involved, young child is able to carry out the puzzle task with great margin of errors. This is at least part of the reasons that a child can perhaps play some puzzle type of games, but not chess. Chess requires the rules to be strictly followed with no errors.

 

The dynamics of chess positions and the thrill of being able to capture opponent’s pieces as their “rewards” has fascinated many young children asking for more games.

 

Is the child able to follow chess rules? If the answer is yes then the child is capable to learn as far as its mental ability development is concerned. The child is ready to accept the concept that a pawn can only take other pieces in a diagonal way however it seems to be abstract to them. This cognitive development is a very important milestone for a young child, it also means that the child is ready to do some work in abstraction that is they might be able to tackle the work of using symbols to do some reasoning or logic work.

 

At Ho Math and Chess, we have created a Symbolic Chess Language (SCL) which is to serve as a command language to link chess and math so a child as young as 4 or 5 can work on some math and chess integrated problems to help them further develop their high order thinking ability.

 

The set of workbooks created by Ho Math and Chess is not only to help child develop proficiency in basic math skills, but also intellectually to develop their cognitive ability in critical thinking skill. More information on math and chess research topic can be found by visiting www.mathandchess.com

About the Author

Frank Ho, a Canadian certified math teacher, coined the learning centre term Math and Chess and he also founded the world's first math and chess learning centre by creating the world's first math and chess integrated workbooks for elementary students in Vancouver, Canada. He invented Frankho Symbolic Chess Language, intriguing Frankho Chess Maze, and also an unique new chess teaching set. He published math and chess teaching theoretic basis in a Canadian math journal. The USA Illinois research data has shown statistically significant that Ho Math and Chess teaching method increases children's math marks and also improves children's critical thinking skills. The Ho Math and Chess Teaching Set can improve children's memory by playing half-blind chess. More details, please visit www.mathandchess.com.

What math skills (courses) are required to be certified as a kindergarten teacher?

I am a high school student interested in teaching kindergarten and was wondering what types of math classes are required to get a teaching degree.

You will need at least a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education to be able to teach Kindergarten. In some states you will need a Master's. What math courses you will need depends on the education program you are in.

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