Chess for Grade 1

Our Grade 1 chess activities on Kids Academy Classroom build on Kindergarten foundations and help learners develop stronger planning, observation, and problem-solving skills. Students practise piece movements, recognise threats, and explore basic tactics while starting to develop simple strategies to achieve checkmate.

Core areas covered:

Game basics

• Chess basics

  • What is chess?

  • Chess pieces: Part 1 & Part 2

  • Chessboard and symbols

  • Names of squares and the center

  • Initial positions on the board

• Pieces: How they move and capture

  • Rook, Bishop, Queen, Knight, Pawn, King

  • Power and value of pieces

  • Special moves: Promotion, En Passant, Castling

  • Abbreviated chess notation

• Purpose of the game

  • What is check?

  • Attacking the king: Direct check

  • Getting out of check (capture, protect, run away)

  • What is checkmate?

  • Identifying check vs. checkmate positions

  • What is stalemate?

  • Checkmating patterns: Two Rook Mate, King and Queen Mate

  • Practice checkmates

Strategies

• Basic tactics

  • Double attack or fork

  • Attacking the king: Double check

  • Pin, Skewer, Discovery

  • Attacking the king: Discovered check

  • Finding mates in 2

• Putting it all together

  • Opening principles: How to begin a game

  • Scholar’s Mate (Four-Move Mate)

  • Basic strategy: Trading down when ahead

  • Game analysis: The Opera House Game

Learning formats

• Worksheets to practice piece movements, checkmates, and simple tactics

• Lessons for guided explanations of rules, moves, and strategies

• Videos for demonstrations and visual learning

• Games for interactive practice and reinforcement of moves and tactics

• Quizzes to test understanding of rules, check, checkmate, and basic patterns

This prepares Grade 1 learners to play complete games with guidance, recognize threats, apply basic tactics, and begin thinking strategically about winning moves.