The Minot Mighty Chess Club: A Community Chess Program for All Ages!

Everyone should have the opportunity to play chess -- that's the mission behind a new Community Chess Program at the Minot Consolidated School!

Last year, teachers and second-grade students at the schools worked together as part of the schools Gifted and Talented Program to create this new initiative, where students learn how to play chess, use chess clocks, and utilize chess notation to track their moves. And the students eagerly embraced this opportunity! Their excitement and energy were contagious. Every Thursday, the class gathered for chess and greeted me as if I were a Hall of Fame athlete, eager to help carry the chess sets.

Chess brings all kinds of benefits to student learning: according to the National Library of Medicine, one benefit of children playing games with rules is that it promotes the development of social skills, such as taking turns, learning fair play, building self-respect and respect for others, understanding different perspectives, and developing empathy.