Chess Curriculum Project
Mission
The goal of this project is to provide as many high schools with the infrastructure needed (boards, pieces, clocks, etc.) to host a chess club or offer an elective course for students where they can learn the game of chess and pursue it as an extracurricular activity if they enjoy it.
Launch
Upon launching the project at the high school we will hold a school assembly and/or host an event at the school where we educate any interested students, faculty, or parents on the benefits of playing chess and why every kid should at least learn how to play. After the event all the infrastructure items listed in the mission statement will be donated to the school and they will then have the infrastructure necessary to provide chess as an extracurricular activity for students organized by the school’s chess ambassador.
Requirements
To opt into the program the school will need to provide Strategic Steps and all partnering organizations with a chess ambassador. A chess ambassador is a faculty member, parent, or any other person who can commit to facilitating at least one of the options below at the school immediately following the launch event.
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Option 1: Hosting a chess club after school on a consistent schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) so that interested students can continue exploring chess as a hobby, casual activity, or extracurricular endeavor.
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Option 2: Teaching an elective class at the school where students can learn the game of chess, learn basic openings, basic tactical concepts and learn basic chess history.
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Option 3: Coaching a “chess team” at the school where students can pursue chess as a competitive sport and compete at scholastic tournaments and earn varsity “letters” for doing so as they would with any other extracurricular sport (band, cheerleading, football, basketball, etc.)