The start of a new school year is the perfect time to set the tone for your chess classroom. It can be tempting to lay out a list of “dos and don’ts,” but research and practice suggest that children are more likely to follow rules they’ve helped create themselves. By co-creating these rules in the first lessons, you’ll set a foundation for how children behave and treat each other in the classroom.
So, how do we do this in a primary school chess classroom, and why is it important?
Teach Values First, So Rules Make Sense
Values are the big ideas we believe are important. Rules are the specific actions we agree to follow so that those values are protected. When children understand values, they can live by the rules. Values are like the heart of our chess classroom; they tell us what matters most. Rules are like the moves of the pieces; they show us how to live out those values every day.
- Value: Patience
- Rule: Wait quietly while your opponent thinks and take time before making your move.
Why Values Matter in Education
Values are the foundation of how children learn to interact with the world, with others, and with themselves. In education, especially in subjects like chess, which is both competitive and collaborative, values guide behaviour.
The reason values are important to teach and talk about with children, that they shape character. They make children better friends, teammates and responsible and thoughtful members in their communities. Shared values build a positive classroom culture when the classroom becomes a safe space where everyone feels included. They also improve learning outcomes and prepare children for life beyond school. A child who learns respect, patience, focus and responsibility is more likely to persevere through challenges, whether in chess or beyond.
Talking about values invites children to reflect on what matters to them, helping them feel ownership of their learning and behaviour. It gives children a voice and a choice to do good.
Many people say that chess develops 21st-century skills and that Chess in Education prepares children for life, but they often miss the most important part: how?
I believe the real power of Chess in Education is in the questions you ask and the conversations you have with children in the classroom. Communication and putting life’s bigger issues into perspective through chess are key to getting the most out of Chess in Education.
So don’t be afraid to spend some time discussing values and rules, and make them memorable through art and discussion. Here are some practical activities and suggestions you can use in your first lessons to co-create a chess classroom agreement that will guide your students all year long.
Start With a “Values Brainstorm”
Activity: Write the word VALUES on the board and ask:
- “What is important to us when we are together?”
- “What makes a good friend, a good teammate or a good player?”
- “What do we need to create a safe classroom where everyone feels included?
Add concrete behaviours to these values
Activity: Discuss with children what a value looks like or doesn’t look like in action.
- “What does respect look like during chess?”
- e.g. = saying “good game” even if you lose
- “What does it not look like?”
- e.g. = hit the table after losing a game
Create a “Chess Classroom Contract” and a “Six-piece Agreement” Together
Activity: Turn commitments into a visible, shared agreement and create a poster with the children. Ask them to assign a value to each piece. Children can work in groups or pairs; each group or pair could work on one piece. Children can decorate the poster with chess-themed drawings.
What value does each piece represent, and why?
- The king represents respect (everyone protects him).
- The rook represents fair play and honesty (straightforward moves).
Ask children to sign the “Chess Classroom Contract” and display the poster in the classroom as a visual reminder. Refer back to the pieces whenever children need to remember their commitments.
Reflection & Ownership
Activity: At the end of the lesson, do a quick check-in to build accountability:
- “Which values did we use today?”
- “Did we keep our commitments?”
- “What do we need to improve next time?”
Revisit it after a few weeks and add new values if needed. Children can suggest adjustments to add to the poster.
You can download the posters below and generate discussion in the classroom, or even better, create your own poster with your students.