Chess
Pawn to King 4.
Cognitive benefits. The benefits of chess are myriad. For novices learning the basics to experts practicing for chess competition, our program improves problem-solving, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking.
Chess skills are life skills. Chess study has many benefits away from the board. Students exercise the cognitive skills of focus, patience, and mindful decision-making, as well as interpersonal skills of respect and sportsmanship.
Grow your game with us.Our students build their skillsets from term to term. As such, we do not repeat specific lessons within the school year, instead we find fresh and exciting methods to explore the main themes of the game.
All skill levels welcome!
We encourage participants from all experience levels. Our chess courses are grouped by like-skilled players so that instructors can deliver lessons and individual feedback appropriate to each and every player—from the newbie to the experienced competitor.
Extra Ed chess levels.
Based on skill and experience we designate each of our students an Extra Ed chess level: Pawn, Knight, Rook, Bishop, Queen or King. We use these levels to group students for instruction, track their progress, and pair them in chess tournaments.
Available as a TDSB Partnership Program.
To learn about our chess program that is delivered under the TDSB Partnership Program, please visit our Chess for STEM and SEL/Échecs pour STIM et AS page.
Curriculum notes
Dependent on chess level and experience students may be instruction in:
- • Level 1, Pawn: Introduction to the game; piece-movement; and capture.
- • Level 2, Knight: Introduction to checkmate; castling; and basic endgames.
- • Level 3, Bishop: Opening, middle, and endgame theory; analysis of draws; tactics such as pins, forks and skewers.
- • Level 4, Rook: Intermediate checkmate; deeper understanding of tactics and combinations; game analysis.
- • Level 5, Queen: Game analysis; advanced opening, middle, and endgame strategies.
- • Level 6, King: Deep dive into game analysis and review; advanced gameplay; and analysis of student games.
Available as Lunch and After-School Programs
Our Clubs are run as extracurricular programming in schools across the Greater Toronto Area. With exciting subjects, engaging instructors, and hands-on activities, this program offers educational experiences beyond the school curriculum. Learn more>
Available as In-Class Enrichment
This program (delivered in-school, during class time) has been designed to supplement and extend Ontario school curriculum. Our experiential mode of instruction brings unique activities into any classroom, resulting in meaningful and memorable learning outcomes. Learn more>
Flexible program delivery
Our Lunch and Afterschool Clubs are typically run as three to eight-week programs, but we also offer one-off presentations, including half-day or full-day activities.
Our In-Class Enrichment programs are tailored to suit the particular needs of any given classroom and school budget and can be presented as half-day, full-day, multiple-day, or weekly activities.
Junior kindergarten to grade 8.
Available in English and French.
