CHESS MONKEYS

For teachers and coaches

The advice relay

20 minutes · all levels · teamwork at the table, no contest

What the children learnthe solution comes from three roles: suggesting a move (“proposal”), looking for the opponent’s best reply (“resistance”), explaining what happens then (“explanation”). In a team of three, each child has each role once.

What you needthree short exercises. The Advice-relay role cards for each team. From Level 3, one board per team and small positions.

How it goes

  1. Explain the roles: “First everyone thinks alone. Then the proposal speaks, then the resistance, and the explanation last.”2 minutes
  2. Round 1: one minute thinking alone. Then three minutes of talking, always in this order: move – opponent’s best reply – explanation. In a team of four, last comes: write it down and ask whether something is missing. In the last minute you show the solution. After that each child passes their role card one place on.5 minutes
  3. Round 2 the same way, with a new exercise.5 minutes
  4. Round 3 the same way.5 minutes
  5. Each team says what it wants to do better next time.3 minutes

Level 1 and 2

the children work in the workbook; the opponent’s reply is only spoken.

From Level 3

each round starts with one minute of setting up. The child with the “explanation” role sets up. Step 5 is left out for that, and each round takes 6 minutes.

Teams

each table is one team. Usually that is four children. Then there is a fourth role: “write it down and ask about gaps” (in Level 1 and 2 as an arrow). In a team of four, each child has three of the four roles. If three children sit at a table, they are a team of three; if six sit there, they form two teams of three. If five children sit there, four children pass the cards on. The fifth child is skipped and always helps the child with card 4. Next time a different child takes that role.

Tip

if a child skips their role, point to their card and give them the word. If time is short, take easier exercises.

In a large class

the tables stay where they are. Go from table to table and see that each child speaks in their role.