Science, Math, Checkmate

Book excerpt: This book helps educators and librarians prepare students to succeed in University Interscholastic League (UIL) Chess Puzzle. Students learn chess rules and strategies through activities coded to the 32 pawns and pieces on a chessboard. The 16 pawn activities require no chess knowledge, 14 of the piece activities build on students' growing familiarity with chess, and the 2 king activities challenge budding chess experts. Within the chess activities, students practice national standards of scientific inquiry and mathematical problem solving. Improved thinking in science, math, and chess are the winning results: Checkmate! The introductory chapter discusses the scientific inquiry and mathematical problem solving standards, explains the coding system for the chess activities, and details what materials should be purchased. Chapters 2 (scientific inquiry), 3 (mathematical problem solving), and 4 (inter-disciplinary) each contain 10-12 activities at different grade and chess levels. The book ends with an appendix of the rules of chess. It includes approximately 100 chess diagrams. Grading rubrics and check lists are offered with each activity to assist teachers in assessing student learning.