Chess is pretty straightforward. We got the PTO to fund 30 chess sets. We started meeting in the early evening; once a week for 8 weeks right after the holidays [Jan-mid March]. It's a good chunk of time where the kids aren't loaded with assorted sports practices. Like I said, we started doing an 8 week course but now it's up to 10 weeks due to the requests of students and parents. The kids play chess for a couple of hours and we serve coffee and refreshments. Last year a parent donated delivered pizza! Parents are required to stay - it's NOT a drop-off service. Parents who are not chess players bring other games to play. It's a real nice social game night at a time of year when kids would be otherwise holed up watching TV or playing video games. Our top chess players are VERY serious about achieving their ranking and maintaining it. Many kids are just learning so they get a lot of coaching from DH. DH coded a computer program to keep track of scores and rankings on a laptop.
It might sound funny but the younger kids go nutz for our star system. Each child gets an index card with their name and if they're a fresh beginner they start out with a green star. They then look for other kids with cards with green stars. Once they win a few games as a green they can go and challenge a kid with a red star. If they win, they are awarded red star status and so on and so on; sort of like karate belts. It keeps the players within a good range so they don't get discouraged by losing most of the time. Once kids get up in the silver and gold range then they start being concerned about their rankings. It's a dirt cheap system but the kids LOVE those cards. Many ask to take their cards, somewhat beat up by the end of 10 weeks, home to keep. LOL Sure, why not!
Lego Engineering required far more planning. It's NOT Lego Robotics [don't get me started]. It was supposed to be for mainly the TAG or SNAP kids in our school. The District funded Educational Legos with lots of gears, hubs, wheels and motors. We ran it for 8 weeks. Builds became increasingly more difficult as we went on. Each build introduced a new principle of physics. Early builds were string gondolas and balloon powered vehicles. Later builds were trebuchets and a ground driven [functional] carpet sweepers. The builds were competitive with design tests and trials.
Lego Engineering came out of listening to Administration moaning at TAG Meetings about the scores for Physics in High School. We pointed out that music scores tend to remain good all through school. We added that music is introduced at very early grades yet physics is not. We maintained that there was no reason not to introduce physics [and basic math related applications] in Elementary School. They agreed to give it a shot and we ran with it.
It's important to have a VERY good relationship with Admin. They have learned that we're not just at their door complaining and poking and prodding them to do more we are also in the trenches DOING the MORE. They just need to sanction it. Admin's biggest roadblock is funding and volunteers. We have a great PTO with a healthy bank account and we're willing and able volunteers. Win, win.
