Four blocks that take the class from story and play all the way to playing on their own. The idea is simple: you point the class to the next block, the app handles the difficulty. You don't need to know chess yourself.
This is where the child starts. No pressure, no capturing.
Where in the app: Tap Learn to play, open the section Learn the basics. There you find The Chess Adventure and Chess Tales.
What the child learns. In The Chess Adventure the child meets one piece at a time through thirty short lessons and learns how each piece moves. In Chess Tales the child takes part in an exciting saga with music that teaches them to move the pieces correctly. All at the app's own pace, no pressure and no one knocked out.
Your role. Start The Chess Adventure and let the children follow the lessons in order. Read the story aloud for the youngest if you like. This block may take many sessions, that's the point.
Ready to move on when. The child recognises the pieces and roughly knows how they move. That's enough, no performance demands.
Practise how the pieces move. Still no opponent.
Where in the app: Same button, Learn to play, open the section Quick practice.
What the child learns. Here the child drills the movements without time pressure. In Move pieces, green squares show where a piece may go. In Paint the board, the piece leaves a colour trail, so the pattern is clear. Catch words lets the child type the words on the keyboard and build a sentence, a gentle link to early reading and keyboard skills. Set up the board teaches the child where the pieces start.
Your role. Let the children choose freely among the exercises. If a child finds a piece tricky, ask them to open Paint the board for that piece.
Ready to move on when. The child can move every piece without hesitation.
Only now do we introduce capturing and playing the computer.
Where in the app: Piece values and Capture piece are in the Quick practice section. Endgames is in the Special training section. You start a game against the computer with the New game button on the start screen.
What the child learns. Now you introduce capturing. Piece values teaches the child which pieces are worth most, and Capture piece trains capturing the opponent's pieces. In Endgames the child practises delivering checkmate and finishing a game, often what decides a real match.
The first game. Tap New game and choose the level Apprentice or Scout, the two easiest. The computer adapts to the child, if the child wins it gets a little harder, if the child loses it gets a little easier.
What to say. "Now we can start capturing the opponent's pieces and playing real games. The computer is just right for you."
Ready to move on when. The child plays a whole game from start to finish and takes both wins and losses calmly.
Optional, for those who want more.
Where in the app: The Learn to play button, the Special training section.
What the child learns. Chess puzzles train the child to see patterns, take the themes in order if you like: hanging piece, fork, pin and then mate in one or two. Openings show how a game can begin (Italian, Spanish, English), with each move explained simply.
Your role. Here the children's own curiosity takes over. Let them move freely between playing, solving puzzles and practising. Follow their progress in the portal and highlight it.
Done. There is no further step, the class runs on its own.
Everything is under the Learn to play button, except New game which you start on the start screen.
The Chess Adventure (thirty short lessons, how the pieces move) and Chess Tales (a saga with music that teaches the child to move correctly). This is where the beginner starts.
Move pieces, Paint the board, Catch words (typing on the keyboard), Piece values, Capture piece and Set up the board. Short exercises that drill the basics.
Chess puzzles (hanging piece, fork, pin, mate in one or two), Openings and Endgames. For those who want to get sharper.
Play a whole game against the computer. Choose a level: Apprentice, Scout, Adventurer, Mage or Chess Hero. The computer adapts to the child.
In the teacher portal you see each pupil as a card with number of games, wins, how their playing strength develops, completed sagas, stars and when the pupil was last active, all in real time. Use it to encourage: highlight the one who has solved many puzzles, or the one who dared to play their first whole game.
Want to know why chess makes a difference for children's learning? Read Pedagogy. Need to set up accounts and a class? See Manuals.