The Benefits of playing Chess for Middle School Students
Have you ever watched adults play chess?
It might seem complicated, and perhaps even boring. But the truth is, chess is one of the oldest and most universally beloved games in the entire world. With over a million different strategies to memorize and use, it can teach you critical thinking, memory recall, and strategy. That is why we at NSHSS Young Scholars want to show you just how much fun, and how helpful, the game of chess can be. Who knows, by the end, you might want to go play your first game. The loser has to put away all the pieces!
Some History
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Chess has been around for a long time, almost 1,500 years!
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The original game came from the Chinese, dated back to 650 B.C.
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Over the years, the game of chess has grown significantly, from East Asia, to Europe and through to America.
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Two major additions helped standardize the game itself. These were the sets themselves, with color-coded pieces for each player, and the small clocks you see beside the boards, as a way to keep a game on pace. Before then, a single game could be as long as 14 hours.
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As these small additions were incorporated, more and more professional players began to populate. And within the last hundred years, the game only grew more and more in popularity.
Inside the Classroom
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Chess has been proven to increase cognitive function in children, both inside and outside the classroom.
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These functions include math, solving logic puzzles, critical thinking in reading, writing, and communication.
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Chess has also been linked to helping kids with ADHD focus their hyper-activity concerns.
Outside the Classroom
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Chess is a fantastic way to meet people with similar interests.
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By travelling to different conventions and competitions, you will find peers like yourself that you wouldn’t find otherwise in school or in your neighborhood.
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Participation in chess clubs is a great thing to include in future college applications.
Whether you’ve always wanted to play chess, or never even considered it, we at NSHSS Young Scholars believe in the power of this ancient, ever-fascinating game. So ask your parents or your teachers about chess, and try giving it a shot. You might find a new skill you never knew you had. Besides, at the end of the day, it’s still a fun game!