Unlock your child's potential with our Strategic Thinking Development Extra Challenge Worksheets for Ages 7-8! Designed to stretch young minds, these engaging worksheets promote critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills. Tailored specifically for this age group, the activities challenge children while keeping learning fun and enjoyable. Each worksheet is crafted to enhance strategic thinking abilities in a variety of contexts, from puzzles and logic games to multi-step math problems. Perfect for home or classroom use, these worksheets are an excellent resource for fostering intellectual growth and preparing children for future academic success.


Check out this FREE "Strategic thinking development" Trial Lesson for age 7-8!

Special Moves: Castling

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  • 7-8
  • Strategic thinking development
  • Extra Challenge
Short Notation of Moves Worksheet
Short Notation of Moves Worksheet

Short Notation of Moves Worksheet

To master chess, you need more than just knowing the pieces and their moves - you need to be able to make notations of your moves. To make a short notation, write the piece name and square it moved to; for example, Bd2 for bishop on d2. Pawns don't need the piece name, just the square; e.g. g5. Show your kids how to draw lines to the board for the moves given.
Short Notation of Moves Worksheet
Worksheet
One Move Checkmates: Puzzle 2 Worksheet
One Move Checkmates: Puzzle 2 Worksheet

One Move Checkmates: Puzzle 2 Worksheet

Fine-tuning logic and critical thinking skills can be tricky but this free PDF offers a fun way for little logisticians to practice visual-spatial relationships and strategizing to checkmate the black king. It also boosts directional and reading skills which makes it a great brain-building puzzle.
One Move Checkmates: Puzzle 2 Worksheet
Worksheet
Castling No - no's: Part 2 Worksheet
Castling No - no's: Part 2 Worksheet

Castling No - no's: Part 2 Worksheet

Teach your child the rules of castling: no castling if the king is under attack or will move onto an attacked square, or cross an attack line. To prepare for a game of chess, help your child complete the exercise of identifying when the king can castle – check the pictures.
Castling No - no's: Part 2 Worksheet
Worksheet


Parents and teachers should prioritize strategic thinking development for children aged 7-8 due to its foundational impact on their cognitive growth and problem-solving skills. At this age, children's brains undergo rapid development, making it a crucial time to introduce activities that challenge their mental processes. Strategic thinking helps kids learn to set goals, consider multiple steps ahead, and anticipate outcomes. These skills are essential not just in academic settings but also in daily life, enabling children to make sound decisions, plan effectively, and solve problems efficiently.

Engaging children in strategic thinking exercises enhances their ability to focus, improves memory, and stimulates creativity. It encourages them to look beyond immediate actions and outcomes and think critically about consequences and alternate solutions. Activities like puzzle games, strategy-based board games, or collaborative projects nurture teamwork and communication skills, further enriching their learning experience.

Moreover, these skills build a solid foundation for later academic challenges in subjects such as mathematics, science, and reading comprehension, where strategic thinking is paramount. In essence, fostering strategic thinking in young learners equips them with vital tools for lifelong learning and adaptability, laying the groundwork for future success. Investing effort and time into such activities at a formative age yields significant benefits, ensuring children grow into well-rounded, confident, and capable individuals.