At St. Vincent’s School chess club, beginners and intermediates notated the four-move checkmate (Scholar's Mate) as Dr. Root showed it on the demonstration board. Then they replayed it with a partner and came up with a different third move to avoid the checkmate.  The advanced group learned the King and Pawn vs. King win. Dr. Root showed it on the demonstration board (White: Ke3, Pe2; Black Ke5 and Black to move).

Dr. Root told a story to help them remember to keep the white king in front of its pawn. Then the students worked in groups of three to come up with their own script (notation) and story. They will present their versions of the ending on the demonstration board or as living chess games next week. Both these lesson plans are in Read, Write, Checkmate: Enrich Literacy with Chess Activities.