Creative Discovery Clubs and Classes
Harborlight continues to enhance the After School Program options by adding more dynamic and exciting programs. Early Childhood offers such activities as dance, jewelry making, legos, eco-arts, cooking, book club, mad science, soccer, and more. The Elementary Creative Discovery Program expanded its offerings to include cooking, yoga, Project Adventure, lacrosse, sailing, bike club, to name a few, as well as standards, like the ever poplular Chess Club.
Chess Club
The Harborlight Scholars chess club meets twice a week for lessons from their coach and practice play. Players of all levels practice mating patterns, tactics, openings, and strategies. Sportsmanship is highly regarded as the team is continually challenged via chess problems and tournaments. Players are encouraged to learn end game tactics early. For example, after a mastery of the pieces and their value, students begin to explore various end game situations. It is not uncommon for students to begin practice with “walk the dog,” a closing exercise where two rooks and a king produce an ultimate checkmate. Beginner and Advanced chess problems, offered at the end of the period, provide students with the opportunity to consider various checkmate possibilities with only one solution. Students enjoy the challenge and are elated to find solutions.
During practice sessions, students are often matched with equally skilled players. Based loosely on the Elo ranking system, used by the Federal Chess Federation, students are awarded points in mutually agreed upon “ranked” games. Students also have the option to play “unranked” games where personal ratings are unaffected despite the outcome. When engaged in a tournament, the rank of a player helps determine his equal match from other schools.
Interscholastic Tournaments are held bi-monthly with the surrounding chess community. The Harborlight Scholars have competed against Brookwood, Cove Elementary, Tower, Holten-Richmond Middle School, and Glen Urquhart among others. There are also Interscholastic Team Chess Tournaments where the top four ranked players represent Harborlight. Thus far, The Harborlight Scholars are undefeated. A Team Captain is elected at the beginning of each season.
Read these articles on the benefits of teaching chess:
Checkmate – Teaching Chess to Developing Critical Thinking Skills and Idaho Turns to Chess as Education Strategy
View a sample of our Elementary and Early Childhood Creative Discovery Clubs & Classes. Creative Discovery Clubs & Classes for winter 2011/2012
