Chess on the Loose

Explore

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players examine pieces for curves, dead ends and other pathways.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Parents can support children by encouraging them to look at all of the chess pieces on the board, not just the ones that are closest; at the openings on the board that would allow opponents pieces to move freely; and at the location of pieces that are unique to each variation (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!).

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Playing Chess on the Loose helps children develop spatial reasoning skills, planning, strategic thinking and perspective changing. Educators can support children by encouraging them to look at all of the chess pieces on the board, not just the ones that are closest; at the openings on the board that would allow opponents pieces to move freely; and at the location of pieces that are unique to each variation (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!).

Determine

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Chess requires a high level of determining, as do all the variations of Chess on the Loose, as players examine the board and arrangement of pieces in order to decide what possible moves they can make.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess involves examining the board and creating mental models of the consequences of moving different pieces. When first learning to play, players will think about consequences of the immediate move. As they become more proficient, children will think about multiple moves ahead in order to evaluate what piece would be best to move on their turn. Treasure Chessed!: Encourage children to keep track of their score and think about how many other points are potentially available. This will help them decide whether to continue going for treasure or to try to avoid negative point treasure.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess involves examining the board and creating mental models of the consequences of moving different pieces. When first learning to play, players will think about consequences of the immediate move. As they become more proficient, children will think about multiple moves ahead in order to evaluate what piece would be best to move on their turn. In addition to determining where to move a piece on a turn, children need to determine what type of strategic approach, offensive or defensive, to use during the game. Educators can encourage children to discuss their options and to declare whether they want to make an offensive (try to take another's piece, capture a Treasure or spell a word in U.F.O. Spell Check) or defensive (try to protect the King or block opponent from landing on Treasures) move prior to placing a piece on the board. Treasure Chessed!: Encourage children to keep track of their score and think about how many other points are potentially available. This will help them decide whether to continue going for treasure or to try to avoid negative point treasure.

Compare

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Like determine, chess requires a high level of comparing. Players will create mental models of the outcomes for moving different pieces. Based on those models, they will compare to determine the best move. U.F.O. Spell Check: In this variation, children will compare the letter tiles with a mental image of the word in order to obtain the correct letters.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
To help children evaluate different options, encourage them to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help them spend time considering different moves and the consequences of those moves, which is needed for making comparisons of move options. This will also help with impulsivity and planning. Using such verbal cues can give children a model for approaching future play.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Making mental models of a space and movement in Chess on the Loose is an advanced, complex cognitive skill that supports learning spatial relations, pattern recognition and creative problem solving. To help children evaluate different options, encourage them to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help them spend time considering different moves and the consequences of those moves, which is needed for making comparisons of move options. This will also help with impulsivity and planning. Using such verbal cues can give children a model for approaching future play. U.F.O. Spell Check: To help younger children match correctly, spell out the different possible words (Rook, Bishop and Knight) on paper.

Remember

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players may remember moves from prior games that were successful or not.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Adults can remind children of similar situations from prior games and what happened when a player moved a particular piece. Treasure Chessed!: Remind children that there are two ways to end the game. If they think that their opponent is getting close to checkmate, suggest that the child try to get all the treasures off the board. This will prevent the opponent from gaining 50 points for checkmate.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Adults can remind children of similar situations from prior games and what happened when a player moved a particular piece. Treasure Chessed!: Remind children that there are two ways to end the game. If they think that their opponent is getting close to checkmate, suggest that the child try to get all the treasures off the board. This will prevent the opponent from gaining 50 points for checkmate.

Predict

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Prediction is essential to chess, as players are consistently thinking about what their opponent might do in response to their move. Frankencheck: This variation introduces a new element of surprise that can alter a player's predictions. A player may reasonably think an opponent will move in a certain way. But, Frankencheck may take a piece or move into a location that makes the opponent move differently than as predicted.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess is one of the greatest strategy games. Strategies are built based on identifying numerous move options and the risk/reward for each option. Additionally, players can decide to be more offensive or defensive, and change these approaches throughout the game. To help children predict, ask them to share different moves they are considering and what they think an opponent might move in response. This requires playing non-competitively for the purpose of learning. Frankencheck: The Frankencheck Monster adds an element of surprise that requires children to react to the Monster's actions. This type of reaction helps children learn adaptive thinking skills and creative problem-solving. Also, surprise is a great motivator, propelling children to try new things and to play again.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess is one of the greatest strategy games. Strategies are built based on identifying numerous move options and the risk/reward for each option. Additionally, players can decide to be more offensive or defensive, and change these approaches throughout the game. Predicting involves skills like analysis, observation, empathy and interpretation. Also, children need to learn how to change perspective, imagining being their opponent, in order to have optimal predicting skills. Educators can prompt children to practice predicting by asking them to share what opportunities they see on the board, different moves they are considering and what they think an opponent might move in response. This requires playing non-competitively for the purpose of learning. Frankencheck: The Frankencheck Monster adds an element of surprise that requires children to react to the Monster's actions. This type of reaction helps children learn adaptive thinking skills and creative problem-solving. Also, surprise is a great motivator, propelling children to try new things and to play again.

Plan

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Like prediction, planning is essential to the game as players think about future moves and how to make choices on their current turn that help advance their strategy on future turns. The variations in Chess on the Loose introduce entirely new goals for chess, thereby, engaging players to combine the planning from traditional chess with that of the new elements from Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!

How Parents Can Assist Learning
For each of the variations, encourage the children to discuss the goal for the game and how they might play their pieces to reach the goal. This requires playing non-competitively for the purpose of learning. To help children plan their next move(s) encourage them to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help them spend time considering different moves and the consequences of those moves, which is needed for making comparisons of move options. This will also help with impulsivity and planning. Using such verbal cues can give children a model for approaching future play.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Planning is an important skill for developing strategic thinking, persistence and reaching a goal. For each of the variations, encourage the children to discuss the goal for the game and how they might play their pieces to reach the goal. This requires playing non-competitively for the purpose of learning.

Experiment

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players can experiment with different approaches to winning the game, adopting offensive strategies, defensive strategies, as well as feints, traps and other tactics.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess and all of the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) are great for experimenting with strategy and tactics. Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess and all of the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) are great for experimenting with strategy and tactics. Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages.

Practice

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players will increase proficiency the more they play Chess on the Loose.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess and all of the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) have almost unlimited levels of mastery. Therefore, the more children play the more capable they will be in developing and executing increasingly sophisticated strategies. Also, as they become proficient, they will be able to teach others. Teaching others demonstrates mastery, the final stage of learning, and is wonderful for building self-esteem, confidence and intrinsic motivation.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess and all of the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) have almost unlimited levels of mastery. Therefore, the more children play the more capable they will be in developing and executing increasingly sophisticated strategies. Also, as they become proficient, they will be able to teach others. Teaching others demonstrates mastery, the final stage of learning, and is wonderful for building self-esteem, confidence and intrinsic motivation.

Solve

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players solve the game by either checkmating an opponent (traditional chess and Frankencheck), gaining the most points (Treasure Chessed!) or spelling a word first (U.F.O Spell Check).

How Parents Can Assist Learning
Chess and all the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) are great for trying different strategies to win. Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages. Once children understand different strategies, they can shift and adapt strategies within a game.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
Chess and all the variations (Frankencheck, U.F.O. Spell Check or Treasure Chessed!) are great for trying different strategies to win. Discuss different strategies prior to starting the game and encourage the child to select one. Play the game and discuss. Then, play again with the child trying a different strategy. Discuss again and compare the advantages and disadvantages. Once children understand different strategies, they can shift and adapt strategies within a game.

Review

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players will often reflect back on choices they made.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
When a child moves a piece and an opponent responds in an unexpected way, ask the child to share how they decided to make their prior move. Help the child examine their thinking, identifying areas where they may be able to consider options and potential consequences more thoroughly on future turns.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
When a child moves a piece and an opponent responds in an unexpected way, ask the child to share how they decided to make their prior move. Help the child examine their thinking, identifying areas where they may be able to consider options and potential consequences more thoroughly on future turns.

Demonstrate

What Does Child Do To Use Skill In The Game?
Players may demonstrate if encouraged. See Implications for Learning and Adult Support.

How Parents Can Assist Learning
During or after the game, discuss moves and what worked and did not work as expected.

Learning Implications and Educator Support
During or after the game, discuss moves and what worked and did not work as expected.

Cognitive

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Frankencheck: Have the child with cognitive delays be a third player, i.e. they get to be Frankencheck. On each play of the game, this player draws a card and moves toward whichever player they want. After they capture a piece (ex: white pawn),they need to pursue the other player's pieces (ex: black). After they capture a black, they switche back to pursuing white. And so on.
Treasure Chessed: Remove the -20 token. This will make it easier for children with cognitive delays who may not be able to use the same reasoning ability as other players, who incorporate knowledge of what they have drawn in tokens and what is left on the board into their strategy. For example, if a player has drawn several tokens with many points on them, this player may avoid getting more tokens in order to avoid getting the -20. The child with cognitive delays who is in the same position may not think of the hidden -20 token and keep trying to get them. For this reason, removing the -20 token evens the playing field a little.
UFO Spell Check: To make the game easier for children with cognitive delays, start with finding just one word. Add a second, then a third.

Communication

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Frankencheck: The Frankencheck player can add an element of drama by using various spooky or silly voices, as well as announcing where they are going, what they are going to do to the piece, etc. For example, "I'm hungry. Want to eat pawn."
Treasure Chessed: Use the treasure chests as "bribes" to keep your opponent from taking one of your pieces or a treasure chest. For example, "I'll give you two treasure chests if you don't take my bishop."
UFO Spell Check: After a child successfully obtains tiles to spell a word, make up a story together inspired by the word or the piece related to the word. For example, if the word is "Knight" you might make up a story about knights, dragons and castles or a story about horses, the wild west and cowboys because the knight piece looks like a horse.

Sensorimotor

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Frankencheck: Play in teams. The child with sensorimotor issues helps think about strategy and decide on moves to make. The other teammate can move the pieces on the board.
Treasure Chessed: Play in teams. The child with sensorimotor issues helps think about strategy and decide on moves to make. The other teammate can move the pieces on the board.
UFO Spell Check: Play in teams. The child with sensorimotor issues helps think about strategy and decide on moves to make. The other teammate can move the pieces on the board.

Social Emotional/Behavioral

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Frankencheck: Play the game as a team. This allows discussion of moves and strategy. This will be helpful for players to think about future moves or the other player's potential moves. Two heads are better than one!
Treasure Chessed: Losing 20 points could potentially make some children frustrated and make the game less fun. Remove the -20 token for children with low frustration tolerance. Also, play in teams for learning the game, pairing children of different skill and temperaments.
UFO Spell Check: Play the game as a team. This allows discussion of moves and strategy. This will be helpful for players to think about future moves or the other player's potential moves. Two heads are better than one!

Vision

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
Not recommended for children with low vision.

Hearing

Suggestions for How to Modify Play Experience
No modifications needed.

*Data compiled from CCSSI ELA Standards, WA Science Standards, and Washington Social Studies Standards

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Frankencheck: An expansion for Frankencheck is to play with 3 players. One player is Frankencheck. Use a die instead of the cards. When Frankencheck throws the die they can move in any direction the number of spaces on the die. For example, if Frankencheck throws a 5, they could go 4+1, 3 + 2, etc. in any direction to capture a player. Frankencheck must alternate between going after white and black pieces.

Materials Needed
Add one die.

Developmental Benefits
This variation allows three players to play and involves some simple strategy on the part of Frankencheck.

Extra Ways to Play the Game
Treasure Chested: Experiment with placing the treasure chests in different locations on the board, as long as they are equally distributed from both sides.

Materials Needed
No additional materials are needed.

Developmental Benefits
Depending on where the treasures are located, players will use different pieces and strategies to get them.

Extra Ways to Play the Game
UFO Spell Check: Turn over the tokens so the battery side is exposed. Players now have to find the letters without seeing them. With they exception of the letter O, players can only pick up one of each type of letter tile.

Materials Needed
No additional materials are needed.

Developmental Benefits
By not seeing the letters, a random element is added to the game and players will need to try to capture as many tiles as they can without regard to location.