Elementary school students with a farmer's diploma: chess course for children

Created: 04/09/2022, 12:09 p.m

By: Laura Forster

The next generation of chess: Gerhard Strecker (left) and Fritz Absmaier from Chess Club Starnberg have been giving lessons to pupils at the Percha primary school since November.

Rector Sonja Hörmann is enthusiastic.

© andrea jaksch

Instead of sitting alone in front of the tablet, around 30 students from the Percha primary school play chess together every Wednesday afternoon after class.

The idea came from a mother.

Fritz Absmaier, chairman of the Starnberg chess club, is surprised by the great interest shown by the children.

Percha – Fritz Absmaier, chairman of the Starnberg Chess Club, really started playing chess at the age of 16.

The children he has been giving lessons in the mental sport for six months are significantly younger.

"When you start school, you can incorporate the first playful elements," says Absmaier.

"The idea of ​​competition only comes later."

Last autumn, two mothers of children from the Percha elementary school approached the chess club with the question of whether the members would also offer courses.

"If the interest is there," replied Absmaier.

The Seefelder reckoned with a handful of children in the first lesson.

"I was very surprised when 40 students showed up." He couldn't have taught the course alone with so many participants, so he got Gerhard Strecker, also active in the Starnberg Chess Club, to help out.

Every Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. the chess enthusiastic students from the first to fourth grades meet in two classrooms.

"We looked at who could already do something and who was starting from scratch, and then divided the children into two groups." Seven participants in the advanced course even received their farmer's diploma at the last meeting.

"That means they have mastered the basic formation, the possible moves and the chess notation." Next comes the rook diploma.

Fritz Absmaier works with different learning methods in children's chess lessons

According to Absmaier, there are a few things to consider when teaching chess to children.

"We work with different teaching methods." He taught himself these with the help of books and software.

"In the beginning you play rather short and don't fall back on all the characters right away.

Everything has to be explained step by step.

The focus is on having fun,” says Absmaier.

Although the students are motivated and want to, the first lessons were challenging for the two chess players.

"With so many children, you realize you're not a teacher.

Supervision wasn’t that easy at all.”

Absmaier is particularly pleased that some students can imagine joining the chess club later and playing tournaments.

“Playing chess helps for the rest of life.

It increases concentration and strengthens abstract and logical thinking.

You also become more foresighted and learn to be fair,” says Absmaier, who has been chairman of the chess club for five years.

Sonja Hörmann, Rector of the elementary school, is also enthusiastic about the students' interest in playing chess.

"Of course we support this very meaningful cause," she says.

"The children learn a lot of useful things." Whether the course will be offered again in the coming school year depends on the pupils of the Percha primary school.

"If you feel like it, we're happy to continue," says Absmaier.

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