Chess is a fun way to engage young minds. If the traditional method of chess seems too complicated, try a variant of the game which will still teach basic strategy. Here are some ideas for a chess Cub Scout theme.
Chess Terminology
I always go over terminology first when introducing something new to Cub Scouts. This is a good practice for Scouts BSA and Venturers to learn also whenever they are doing skill instruction. So if you are having a chess themed meeting or activity, make sure you are all speaking the same language first. These are some very basic definitions to get you started.
Chess Terminology Scramble Puzzle
Earlier this month, I wrote about basic chess terms. So today I am presenting a word scramble puzzle to reinforce the meanings of some of those terms.
Using Chess Notation
Both the Chess pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program and the Chess merit badge for Scouts BSA have requirements related to using chess notation and recording chess games. If you are not familiar with chess notation, this might seem a little daunting, but it really is pretty easy to learn.
Antichess Game
Do you feel like you always lose when you play chess? If you are better at getting your own pieces captured than capturing your opponents pieces, then Antichess is the game for you. In Antichess (sometimes called Suicide Chess or Giveaway Chess) the object is to lose all of your pieces.
Bughouse Chess Game
Bughouse (or Bunk House) is a game which helps even the playing field. Basically, there are two teams which simultaneously play chess together. Each player has a direct opponent, but when he captures a piece, he passes it to one of his teammates to play on the board. The key is to have the direct opponents as evenly matched as possible and then to have the teams fairly well balanced in skill level.
Checkerboard Cake
Since I am featuring a chess theme this month, I thought I'd suggest making a checkerboard cake which will look similar to a chess board when sliced as a snack to go along with this theme. One easy way to make a checkerboard cake is with a special checkerboard cake pan.
Ideas for June Pack Meeting – Perseverance
The core value for Cub Scouts for the month of June is Perseverance. According to the program helps perseverance is: Sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult.
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