Award-winning chess-as-education program

for 5 to 9 year olds

International Research studies:

Zaire 1974: Dr. Albert Frank“…learning chess strengthened both numerical and verbal aptitudes”.

Venezuela 1989: Wechsler Intelligence Scale“…significant increase in most students’ IQ scores after only 4.5 months of systematically studying chess”.

Canada 1992: Prof. Gadreau“...average problem solving score of pupils increased from 62% to 81%.”

Research in USA: Robert Ferguson

Gr. 7 – Gr. 9 (1979 – 1983) Spending 60 –64 hours playing and studying chess over

32 weeks “Test scores improved 17.3% for students regularly

engaged in chess classes, compared with only 4.6% for children participating in other forms of “enrichment activities”.

“…significant increase in both memory and verbal reasoning skills”.

MiniChess-program wins SA’s Top Education Award in 2012

Developed over 20+ years inside SA schools Marisa van der Merwe; B.Sc degree & chess

background: FIDE-Trainer & Arbiter. Effective Early Childhood learning-through-play. Impacts Mathematics, Science and Life skills

performance, and much more. Supported by Garry Kasparov, CHESSA & many Chess

Federations, FIDE & SA DoE.

MiniChess Research in SA:Shows significant benefits in Early Childhood (Parsons 2011 & DoE ANA-testing 2012):

Improves Spatial awareness, as pre-learning for mathematics & reading.

Improves School-readiness – correcting early fall-outs in critical development-areas

Improves logic thinking skills & reasoning.

Improves understanding & working with numbers.

Improves perceptual development - as base for later learning

Improves focus and concentration… positively impacting discipline in-class.

Improves Life skills – problem solving, perseverance, risk analysis, creativity, planning skills and emotional intelligence.

SA Research studies:

1

South Africa ANA results 2012

2SA Research study: Primary school

0-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-1000

5

10

15

20

25

32

78

17

8

21

Dr. Monare PS 2012 – Compare with ANA results

GRADE 1

0-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-1000

5

10

15

20

25

0 0 0

8 8

21

13

GRADE 2

Dr. Monare PS 2012 ANA interpretation

GRADE 3 All Grades

0-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-1000

5

10

15

20

25

30

1 1 2

8

13

24

6

1 2 3 4 50

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Series1

Series2

Dr. Monare PS 2012 ANA interpretation

GRADE 4

GRADE 5

0-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-1000

5

10

15

20

2522

11

8

21

01

0-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-1000

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

4035

17

0 0 0 0 0

South African Study at High School level (longer term impact)

Kemm & Cloete (2009) Chess players show much-

improved general academic performance

Chess improves social development and interaction within pear group

Chess builds leadership skills

3

Kemm & Cloete study at SA sample High School:

Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Distinctions 21 15 38 6 20 41

No of chess-players 4 4 5 1 4 6

Table 1- Number of exam distinctions (80%+) achieved by the number of “chess-player scholars” writing their final school-leaving exam (Gr.12)

Kemm & Cloete study at the sample School:

Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Honours Colours 27 27 31 26 27 37

No of chess players 32 25 27 24 36 36

School honours colours were awarded for exceptional achievement in: academics, sport, cultural activities and leadership.

Table 2 - Number of school’s “honours colours” gained by number of chess-player scholars indicated

Chess-as-Education program For Grade R to Grade 3+Teacher

InvolvementLearner

activities

Partnerships

• Effective Teacher Training, 4 levels

• Structured curriculum with Lesson plans in Teacher Manuals - for effective age-specific teaching and proven educational benefits.

• Comprehensive teaching support & materials

• Accreditation

• Project books (4 levels) with accreditation.

• Impacts Maths, Science, Technology and Life skills

• Practical learning-through-play

• Games, Quizzes, teamwork & e-learning• Federation membership &

Scholar’s exams

• Endorsed by Garry Kasparov & KCF-A

• University studies in SA: UP, UJ and NWU.

• School Bodies: SA & international.

• FIDE & International Sport Federations.

• NGO’s, PBO’s and Community Sponsors, & patrons.