Owens NEF Grant Winner

NEF Grant Winner Lila Owens Bob Lewis Elementary - Art Teacher (pictured with Mrs. Browne-Principal)
The "Art" of Chess At the beginning of the school year, our data review indicated that the number of commended students for fifth grade was lower than the district and state averages. Upon closer review, the number of students who received commended as compared to the three other schools that are within one percentage point of “economically disadvantaged” rating, was much lower. We need to improve our student's critical thinking skills and motivate them to work to their fullest potential. As a teacher, I truly believe that chess will greatly enhance our students' critical thinking skills. Project Goal: 1) The art of chess playing involves knowledge. Students essentially have to memorize each piece and learn how it moves across the board. I will teach them how the pieces reflect a medieval village. We will be studying the life and times of the Middle Ages. 2) Playing chess also involves strategies. I will teach the students the strategies to attack, defend, and capture. We will be discussing the importance of making pieces work together to defend the King just like we work together to defend our country. 3) Students will practice playing chess thereby exercising their logical thinking skills. Not only do they have to memorize what each piece is and how it moves, they have to plan sequences in their mind as they play the game. Project Objectives: The "Art" of Chess unit will consist of two main objectives. 1) Students will learn to play chess. They will learn how each piece moves across the board. I will teach them that the way the piece moves is defined by its role in a medieval village. For example, the knights have their horses and are the only professional soldiers on the chess board, therefore they are the only ones that can jump over other pieces. 2) Students will create their own vision of a chess piece. Using various materials (beads, sequence, feathers, fabrics, felts, clay, paints, paper, markers) students will create a three dimensional collage of their vision of a chess piece. The final display will be all the students' chess pieces put together to create a medieval village. Project Description: The "Art" of Chess unit will be taught in approximately six lessons during 5 th grade specials time for art class. I am asking NEF to provide the funds for 14 chess sets and the art materials listed in the budget. The goal is to provide students with a wide variety of choices to create their chess pieces. Description of Target Population: This art unit will be taught to all 5 th grade students at Bob Lewis Elementary. We have 156 students in this grade level.
Credit: Graphics downloaded 10/23/07 from http://www.clipartheaven.com/ Background: copyright "© 2006-2007 FunDraw.com"

NEF Grant Winner
Lila Owens
Bob Lewis Elementary - Art Teacher
(pictured with Mrs. Browne-Principal)

The "Art" of Chess

At the beginning of the school year, our data review indicated that the number of commended students for fifth grade was lower than the district and state averages. Upon closer review, the number of students who received commended as compared to the three other schools that are within one percentage point of “economically disadvantaged” rating, was much lower. We need to improve our student's critical thinking skills and motivate them to work to their fullest potential. As a teacher, I truly believe that chess will greatly enhance our students' critical thinking skills.

Project Goal: 1) The art of chess playing involves knowledge. Students essentially have to memorize each piece and learn how it moves across the board. I will teach them how the pieces reflect a medieval village. We will be studying the life and times of the Middle Ages. 2) Playing chess also involves strategies. I will teach the students the strategies to attack, defend, and capture. We will be discussing the importance of making pieces work together to defend the King just like we work together to defend our country.
3) Students will practice playing chess thereby exercising their logical thinking skills. Not only do they have to memorize what each piece is and how it moves, they have to plan sequences in their mind as they play the game.

Project Objectives: The "Art" of Chess unit will consist of two main objectives.
1) Students will learn to play chess. They will learn how each piece moves across the board. I will teach them that the way the piece moves is defined by its role in a medieval village. For example, the knights have their horses and are the only professional soldiers on the chess board, therefore they are the only ones that can jump over other pieces.
2) Students will create their own vision of a chess piece. Using various materials (beads, sequence, feathers, fabrics, felts, clay, paints, paper, markers) students will create a three dimensional collage of their vision of a chess piece. The final display will be all the students' chess pieces put together to create a medieval village.

Project Description: The "Art" of Chess unit will be taught in approximately six lessons during 5 th grade specials time for art class. I am asking NEF to provide the funds for 14 chess sets and the art materials listed in the budget. The goal is to provide students with a wide variety of choices to create their chess pieces.

Description of Target Population: This art unit will be taught to all 5 th grade students at Bob Lewis Elementary. We have 156 students in this grade level.

Credit: Graphics downloaded 10/23/07 from http://www.clipartheaven.com/