CHESS MONKEYS

For teachers and coaches

The team cup

20 minutes · all levels · contest in teams of two

What the children learneveryone thinks for themselves first. Then the team-mates help each other understand the solution.

What you needtwo exercises. From Level 3, one Team-cup answer sheet for each child and one board for each team. In Level 1 and 2 the workbook is enough. The teams are formed at the table (see How every exercise runs).

How it goes

  1. Say: “First everyone solves alone. Then you help each other.”2 minutes
  2. Everyone solves exercise 1 alone. Each child writes the move and the reason; in Level 1 and 2 they draw an arrow. After that nothing is changed.3 minutes
  3. In the team, compare and look for the solution together. The less confident child explains first. From Level 3 the children check on the board.3 minutes
  4. You show the solution and say the reason in a short sentence. The teams at the table swap sheets or workbooks (in turn if there are three teams). Each team ticks on the other team’s sheet what was right on the first attempt, and gives everything back.2 minutes
  5. Exercise 2 the same way. Now the other child explains first.8 minutes
  6. Add up the points.2 minutes

Points

only the first attempt counts. In Level 1 and 2 there is 1 point for the right move. From Level 3 there is 1 point for the move and 1 point for the right reason. Being faster does not earn an extra point. A tie means several winners. When a reason is right is under Checking, scoring, helping.

Without a contest

only count how many children in the whole group were right on the first attempt. The aim is about three out of four children. Do not name names.

Tip

the teams are equally strong when each table has one more confident pair and one less confident pair (see Organisation).

Odd numbers

there is one team of three. There, one child sits out each exercise and checks instead; who sits out changes. That way exactly two results always count.

In a large class

without a contest, each table counts for itself and tells you its number. You add them up at the front.