Teaching Chess in Irish Primary Schools
Teaching Chess in Primary Schools is like no other summer course as it is extremely hands-
on and teacher-centred.
Chess is a growing pastime in Irish primary schools with over 100 schools now joined the
Ficheall.ie network of teachers promoting chess in primary schools. It is an excellent hobby
for students (and teachers) for rainy day break times and promotes a variety of social,
cognitive and mental-fitness skills such as respect, forward planning, problem solving,
decision making, accepting defeat, understanding resilience and developing a growth mind-
set when exploring a new skill.
Teachers will have the opportunity to learn the new skill of chess by playing mini chess
games against other novice teachers. The course will teach all participants how to:
• play chess (from zero prior knowledge) and the best methods of teaching primary
school children as young as first class the rules using a fun, games-based approach
• utilise chess as an additional resource in teaching both literacy and numeracy in the
mainstream and special education classroom
• organise a school chess club, school chess team and in-school chess competitions
digital teaching resources will be provided to all participants