Enhance your first grader's critical thinking skills with our engaging chess worksheets! Designed to introduce young learners to the strategic world of chess, these worksheets encourage problem-solving, pattern recognition, and analytical thinking. Each activity is tailored to promote cognitive growth while making learning fun. Through puzzles, guided chess problems, and interactive games, children will develop essential skills such as focus, creativity, and decision-making. Our Critical Thinking Development worksheets provide a stimulating foundation for future academic success, all centered around the timeless game of chess. Explore our collection today and watch your child’s analytical abilities flourish!


Check out this FREE Grade 1 Trial Lesson on Chess!

Attacking the King: Discovered Check

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  • Grade 1
  • Critical thinking development
  • Chess
Discovered Check: Puzzle 4 Worksheet
Discovered Check: Puzzle 4 Worksheet

Discovered Check: Puzzle 4 Worksheet

Let your child test their chess skills with this easy worksheet. Have them take control of the black pieces and try to put the white king in checkmate. Ask them to draw a line from their chess piece to the white king, showing the move they'll make, then check the correct answer.
Discovered Check: Puzzle 4 Worksheet
Worksheet
What is Checkmate? Worksheet
What is Checkmate? Worksheet

What is Checkmate? Worksheet

This downloadable PDF worksheet lets your child practice identifying when a king is checkmated and how it looks on a chessboard. Checkmate is the best move and with this colorful worksheet, they'll learn that it means their opponent's king is in check and cannot be saved, so they can win!
What is Checkmate? Worksheet
Worksheet
Check or Checkmate: Part 2 Worksheet
Check or Checkmate: Part 2 Worksheet

Check or Checkmate: Part 2 Worksheet

Chess is a fun and competitive way for your child to practice strategic thinking, problem-solving and critical reasoning. This free PDF will help them sharpen their skills, by analyzing boards and marking ones where the king can escape check. An invaluable skill when playing on real boards.
Check or Checkmate: Part 2 Worksheet
Worksheet
Check or Checkmate: Part 1 Worksheet
Check or Checkmate: Part 1 Worksheet

Check or Checkmate: Part 1 Worksheet

Kids can learn and strengthen problem-solving and strategic thinking skills with this free chess worksheet. They'll have fun as they look at the pair of chessboards and decide which is check and which is checkmate. It's the perfect way to get them playing the game and making checkmates without even realising they're exercising their brains!
Check or Checkmate: Part 1 Worksheet
Worksheet
Find Stalemate! Worksheet
Find Stalemate! Worksheet

Find Stalemate! Worksheet

Teach your kids Chess and give them more than a hobby - equip them with critical thinking, rationale and problem-solving skills! This free worksheet helps them understand stalemates by examining various sample boards. By providing visual discernment and the joy of the game, your child's logical skills will soar!
Find Stalemate! Worksheet
Worksheet


Critical thinking development is crucial in early childhood education, and incorporating activities like chess in Grade 1 can significantly enhance cognitive skills. Chess encourages children to analyze situations, make strategic decisions, and foresee potential outcomes—a skill set that is vital for academic success and overall problem-solving abilities.

Parents and teachers should care about fostering critical thinking because it transcends traditional rote learning. By engaging in a complex game like chess, children learn to evaluate their options, consider consequences, and develop patience. These skills build a strong foundation for later learning in subjects such as math and science, where analytical thinking is essential.

Moreover, chess promotes social skills among peers, fostering collaborative learning and improving emotional intelligence. As children discuss strategies and share insights, they learn the value of teamwork and respectful communication.

At this young age, nurturing critical thinking through chess helps establish a mindset of curiosity and resilience. Children begin to approach challenges with a growth mindset, knowing that mistakes are opportunities for learning. Ultimately, fostering critical thinking in Grade 1 not only prepares children for future academic endeavors but also equips them with essential life skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.