Step 1: Meet the Pieces · about 25 min
Setting Up the Board
Goal: Kids can set up all 32 pieces correctly without help.
You need: One board and a full set per pair
1 · Teach it (15 min)
Read these out loud, or put them in your own words. Show each board on screen or set it up on a demo board.
1.“Now let's put everybody in their starting spots. First check: light on the right! Pawns fill the second row, like a wall in front.”
2.“Rooks go in the corners. Knights go next to the rooks. Bishops go next to the knights.”
3.“Two squares are left. The queen goes on her own color. The king goes in the last spot. The two queens face each other, and so do the kings.”
- King and queen swapped.
- Board turned so a dark square is on the right.
2 · Play it: Setup Race (10 min)
Set up: All pieces off the board, in a pile beside it.
- On 'go', each partner sets up their own side.
- When done, raise a hand. Your partner checks your side.
- One point for being first, but only if everything is right.
- Best of three.
3 · Practice and pass check
On iPads, kids open Student → Step 1 → Everybody to Their Spots!. On paper, print the worksheet. A kid passes by getting 2 of 3 on the pass check. The pass code for this lesson is S1-L7-4B.
Practice (3) with answers
1.Circle the white queen.
Answer: d1
2.Circle a white knight.
Answer: b1 or g1
3.The white queen starts on a…
- ✓⬜Light square
- ⬛Dark square
Pass check (3) with answers
1.Circle the black king.
Answer: e8
2.Circle a white bishop.
Answer: c1 or f1
3.What goes in the corners?
- ♞Knights
- ✓♜Rooks
- ♚Kings
Topic order based on: Chess for Children, Part 1 (topic order). All wording is original.