1. Educate
and reeducate
through the
game of chess
The handbook/scientific project "At school with the Kings. Educate and reeducate through the game of chess"
has been acknowledged by all above-listed national and international scientific and sports authorities.
C.O.N.I.

2. Chess is a game, a universal language and a sport that everybody can practice
and enjoy themselves with. This is demonstrated by research, as well as the
growing interest and enthusiasm of young people playing in schools and Italian
chess associations.
The goal of "At school with the Kings" project is to use chess and its context as
educational tools without aiming for teaching the game itself, since we are less
interested in its didactics and in chess theory, but althemore in its metacognitive,
cognitive, affective, relational, ethical and social aspects associated with
game situations, which improve attentional and concentration capacities and
implement metacognitive and mentalistic skills (Theory of Mind) with quite a good
impact also on emotional, ethical and social development, especially with respect
to peer relationships.
To achieve these aims, the different project modules use educational elements
of the chess context (such as re-educative, clinical-rehabilitative elements for
interventions at UONPI - Child Neuropsychiatry Operative Unit of Local National
Health Service and in prisons) through experiences of sports-games, narration
and psychomotion on giant chessboards, in addition to regular ones, about
interdisciplinarity with school subjects as well as mediation and cognitive
enrichment (Feuerstein Method).
We therefore suggest, to involve children in pre-school and primary and
secondary school children (junior and senior) by introducing the game of chess
at school, and local chess associations, based on an educational purpose,
because chess, with sufficient continuity and active involvement of teachers, is
a valuable educational tool and cognitive enrichment (Feuerstein Method) for
"located" skills development and to convey fundamental concepts such as
limits, responsibility and respect, especially on a non-verbal level, essential
for expression and modulation of aggressiveness already during childhood.
That is reason why the project applies not only to children with attention deficit
disorder, learning difficulties, aggressiveness, and in general, with SEN-Special
Educational Needs, but also for all those with typical development in view of
prevention.
It's a novelty for teachers, educators and specialits of the development age in
favour of a healthy development and the prevention mental and social problems
using what education and motor science offering through the game and sport.
The suggested modules, achievable in curricular/extracurricular time by our
qualified educators (as an alternative, a training course for teaching staff can be
offered), develop educational and re-educational cutting-edge projects described
in the scientific manual "At school with the Kings. Educate and re-educate
through the game of chess" (Sgro, 2012) acknowledged by 15 national and
international scientific and sports authorities.
"At school with
the Kings"
project and
goals
The project is in line with MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and
Research) Guidelines for the curriculum in pre-school and the primary
grades 2012 and with the Declaration 0050/2011 "Chess Projects in
Schools", approved by the European Parliament in March 2012, to encourage
healthy development in schools by promoting educational chess-related
projects.
EU legislation
and MIUR
Regulation
References.
Giuseppe Sgrò: clinical psychologist and expert in Sport
Psychology, teacher/expert of the School of Sport CONI – Italian
National Olympic Committee, member of Medical-Scientific
Committee FSI - Italian Chess Federation, Registered
psychologist at AIPS - Italian Sport Psychology Association and
SPOPSAM – Italian Society for Sport Psychology and Motor Skills Activities
Professionals, consultant for PSICOSPORT Srl and head of the scientific-
educational department "Playing with the Kings" by ADSAC, proposing the
project "At school with the Kings”.
Project Manager

3. Introduction In accordance with the ministry objectives for pre-school and through activities of different
areas of experience, the game of chess, for children aged 5 to 6 years, is conceived in a
playful context, in which the ultimate goal is not to teach how to play chess, but to introduce
new numerical, spatial and temporal concepts and implement movement, narrative and
graphic-pictorial abilities.
In addition, the methods of this itinerary not only promote socialization among children, but
also act as preventive intervention against aggressive behavior, because the game/sport
of chess, on an ethical and social level, encourages the important acquisition of ethical
conceptson a non-verbal level, and therefore in a more effective and lasting manner.
Target Classes of 20-25 children attending last grade of preschool.
Aims The project aims at enhancing the unity of a person, through play activities and
storytelling integrated into psychomotion, putting into effect the socializing, cognitive
and ethical functions of the game of chess through a shared experience.
• The Me and the others: to reinforce autonomy, self-esteem and the sense of identity, to
sublimate conflict, socializing with peers, encourage fiction play among peers.
• Body and movement: orientation in space, refining gross motor skills, performing a simple
itinerary from verbal directions.
• Languages, creativity, expression: development of graphic-pictorial skills, inventing stories.
• Speeches and words: following the telling of stories, capturing the global meaning, either
orally or through books, enriching the vocabulary, understanding and giving game
instructions.
• Knowledge of the world: locating ones position within the space of a giant chessboard
(top/bottom, front/back, left/right, inside/outside), discussing various possibilities of movement
on the giant chessboard.
Activities 10 “lessons” for classes of 20-25 children, of 1 hour a week (or timing according to
requirements). They will move within/around the big space of a giant chessboard (generally
4x4 m made of non-slip material) individually and in groups. This space will not be limited
exclusivley to the representation of chess movements, but the structure of the chessboard
with its network of 64 squares, the black and white color contrast, and alphanumeric
coordinates (indicating rows and columns) and its millennial symbolism and semantics to carry
out psychomotric activities aimed at developping body movement-cognitive-affective-
relational as well as non-verbal and verbal skills. It is also possible to create art workshops
to nurture new mental, physical, emotional and creative itineraries, and encourage linguistic,
manual and bodily expressiveness.
Materials The materials needed for the project will be provided free of charge.
Staff Groups will be conducted by a qualified educator (or teaching staff adequately forming).
Cost Estimates customized according to requirements.
Preschool:
psychomotricity on a giant chessboard (extendable up to the first two grades of primary school)

4. Introduction Reassessing Reuven Feuerstein’s motto "One moment ... I'm thinking!", we, through chess,
can promote awareness of our way of learning, concentration and attention in order "to learn
how to learn", to recognize difficulties, errors and strategies to overcome them: all skills
needed to foster the student’s learner autonomy. Moreover teaching chess by
interdisciplinary didactics in a school environment, can also significantly increase the
learning capacities of different curriculum subjects, as demonstrated by researches over the
past 30 years.
Target Groups/classes of 20-25 children attending grades III, IV and V of primary school classes.
Aims • To develop a sense of reflection and critical sense with regard to learning and teaching
experiences.
• Create links between different disciplines.
• Learn that the solution of an issue may request different strategies.
• Implement listening and comprehension skills by telling chess-related stories.
• Transposing topological references from the chessboard space to maps.
• Learning mathematical concepts (perimeter, area, diagonal fractions) using the
chessboard.
• Examine the story of the man who plays inding connections with important historical
events.
• Being able to represent the chessboard and its pieces graphically.
• Strengthen IT/computer skills through interaction by chess software.
Activities 10 “lessons” for classes of 20-25 children, of 1 hour a week (or timing according to
requirements).
The children will be offered activities based on a chess-related context but also linked to
different school subjects, and focuse on the use of different forms of intelligence. The
project includes the use of narrative excerpts, analysis of literature , learning about the history
and places of chess, with the aim of creating links with school subjects. While the child
learns to play, it also experiments the use of different languages and enhances metacognitive
skills. Finally, to extend technical and computer skills, chess software can be used for
learning the basic rules of the game, involving children on an interactive itinerary.
Materials Chess materials necessary to the project will be provided free of charge.
Staff Groups will be conducted by a qualified educator (or teaching staff adequately forming).
Cost Estimates customized according to requirements. Chess software requires a small fee for
the use of an online platform for the entire school year at school and at home, while it will be
provided free of charge for the teacher.
Primary School:
psychomotion on giant chessboard and interdisciplinary teaching

5. Introduction As outlined in the Guidelines for the curriculum in preschool and the primary grades
2012 of MIUR, "[....] In the First Grade of Secondary School access to disciplines is gained in
terms of points of view on reality and as a mode of knowledge, interpretation and
representation of the world [....] greater in - depth skills of disciplines and an articulated
knowledge organization are emphasized, in view of elaborating better integrated and
mastered know how . The skills developed in individual disciplines in turn contribute to the
promotion of wider and cross-referring skills, which form the key condition for full personal
awareness and an active participation in social life." Thus through a chess-related context
where each move requires a planned and responsible decision, it is important, in addition to
interdisciplinary learning, to strengthen problem solving processes, planning (Study
Method) and active and responsible decision-making skills.
Target Class groups of 20-25 children attending First Grade of Secondary School classes.
Aims • Acquisition of interdisciplinary skills and knowledge.
• Strengthen the capacity for complex problem solving.
• Strengthen the capacity of taking efficient decisions based on the availability of more
plausible options.
• Building work plans aimed to achieving goals, using flexible thinking and effective
strategies.
Activities 10 “lessons” for classes of 20-25 children, of 1 hour a week (or timing according to
requirements).
The children will be given chessboard activities in a chess-related context, linked to different
disciplines which accent an active use of complex mental processes (attention, memory,
language, thought). In this regard, the project makes use of more complex and appropriate
age-related educational materials, with particular attention to enhancing planning skills
involving processes of problem solving and decision making. Finally, to expand
technical and computer capabilities we can use chess software to learn the basic rules
of the game, involving young people in an interactive itinerary.
Materials Chess materials necessary to the project will be provided free of charge.
Staff Groups will be conducted by a qualified educator (or teaching staff adequately forming).
Cost Estimates customized according to requirements. Chess software requires a small fee for
the use of an online platform for the entire school year at school and at home, while it will be
provided free of charge for teachers.
First and Second grade of Secondary School:
problem solving, decision making and planning

6. Chess courses for
children/young
people
Prerequisites None
Target Preferably for Primary School children; in case of Secondary School First and Second year
students it is advisable, appropriately synthesized, as an introduction to II Module.
Aims Basics technical knowledge of rules of game. Ability to play the gameautonomously.
Materials Wall Chessboard with magnetic chess pieces. Chessboards and chess pieces (1 game every 2
students).
Check
learning
progress
Simultaneously matches against the teacher (where each student plays against the teacher
at same time as the others, but on separate chessboards). Collective TEAM Matches (Two
teams of students will compete in a game of chess under guidance of the teacher). Chess-
related quiz games.
MODULE I
Prerequisites Participation in the Module I or simple knowledge of rules of game.
Target Primary School children and Secondary School of First and Second years.
Aims Technical knowledge of strategic and tactical fundamental principles. Ability to play the
game applying principles learnt in strategic and tactical course.
Materials Wall chessboard with magnetic chess pieces. Chessboards and chess pieces (1 game every 2
students).
Check
learning
progress
Class Tournament at the end of the course. Collective TEAM matches. Playing chess-relates
quizzes.
MODULE II
Prerequisites Participation at Module II, or basic knowledge of rules, strategic and tactical principles
of the game.
Target Primary School children and Secondary School of First and Second year students.
Aims Deepening technical and strategic fundamentals and their application during the match.
Deepening main tactical models and their application during the match. Ability to play in school
tournaments (play Student Sports tournaments).
Materials Wall Chessboard with magnetic chess pieces. Chessboards and chess pieces (1 game every 2
students).
Check
learning
progress
Class Tournament at the end of the course. Collective TEAM matches. Playing chess-related-
quizzes. Positions analysis of different complexity and chess problems.
MODULE III
The educational sports project provides a simultaneous form of 10 lessons of 1
hour (integrated and contemporary to modular educational projects without extra
time). The proposal is flexible, customizable and based on the age of
participants and on the requirements of coordination with educational/didactical
programs. The summary tables indicate targets and activities that characterize
three achievable modules that can be created during school year, depending
on the initial chess level of the class, and beyond of educational proposals
presented for three types of schools. All necessary materials to complete the
course (chess, wall chessboard, tournament clocks, will be provided free of
charge. At the course could be ended with a school tournament.

7. Today, after hundreds of studies, educational, and
rehabilitative chess applications have solid scientific
foundation. We can therefore say, that for the clinic of SEN-
Special Educational Needs this chess context represents a
gold mine for cognitive modulation and strengthening.
Roberto Miletto - Child neuropsychiatrist, UONPI - Child Neuropsychiatry
Operative Unit, ASL Roma H4, Pomezia.
Psychomotion on giant chess boards and
interdisciplinarity by chess is the real new frontier for
childhood technicians who want to face SEN-Special
Educational Needs, learning disorders and promote
citizenship education.
Alessandro Pompa - Teacher, 2nd Didactic Circle Anzio (Rome), inventor
of the psychomotion on giant chessboard method .
Respect for others, and the growth of young and civil
society, may well be favored by the practice of chess
and education in a chess-related context, characterized
by values such as responsibility and compliance with
the rules.
Don Alessio Albertini - National Ecclesiastical Adviser CSI – Italian
Sports Centre.
The chess context, modulating aggression among
peers at school, permits real bullying prevention in
childhood, contributes in the treatment specific and
non specific learning disorders.
Eleonora Di Terlizzi - Professor of Developmental Psychology at the
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Brescia.
For some years we have been inserting ambitious targets in
the School Project which we reach through mediation of chess.
These are activities that recover and enhance the motivation
to relate with others. Chess translate and smash defenses and
rigidity allowing cognitive understanding and affective
agreements endowed of particular meaning between teacher
and pupils.
Patrizia Roncoletta - Headmaster - Comprehensive School of Bozzolo
(Mn).

8. Primary
School
“At school with the Kings” project
www.giocandoconire.it
giuseppe.sgro@giocandoconire.it - cell. 340-2334243, fax 029254475
ADSAC , Via San Francesco d’Assisi 2 (c/o Atrion), 20061 Carugate (Mi)
For information about costs, estimates, projects, modules, courses, training and collaborations:
For pictures thanks to: ADSAC - Carugate (Mi), ASD Club64 - Modena, Comprehensive School Marco Polo - Fabriano (An).
Preschool
First and
Second years
of Secondary
School