HELPFUL IDEAS:  Here's some ideas I solicited from Dave at Larrabee Elem, 
about what one might do at an elem. chess club.   Thanks Dave!

Dave sez:

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As far as Elem Chess club advice---
1. I have a large magnetic demo board and make a point of having some 
kind of "Puzzle" set up on it when the kids wonder in. That helps to 
minimize the behavior issues that otherwise tend to arise when little 
people aren't engaged. 

2.We always have some kind of snack. k-2 starts at 2:30, grades 3-5 
at 3:30. By then it's been awhile since lunch and I find the snack 
helps them concentrate and their full little mouths stay quiet for 
about five minutes while I give a very brief and simplified lesson 
on some aspect of chess. I notify parents in a rotating cycle when 
it is their turn to provide the snack. 

3.After everyone is done eating we take turns trying to solve the 
puzzle. This has been a favorite part of the session for most kids. 
I let them come up before their peers and they seem anxious to do so. 

4.Steps 1-3 take not more than 10-15 minutes max. I lose them if I 
go any longer. Next we play chess. I have the players arranged in 
a ladder so each will play others of a similar ability, moving up 
the ladder as they improve. The kids pick up on this quickly and 
strive to make it to the lunch table where boards 1-4 are.  

5.When players finish we record the result for the W/L column. 
We are very careful to never use the word "lose" in our club. 
The "W" is Win, the "L" is Learn. When a game is over I will 
usually ask the L player what he/she learned. If they can't 
come up with something ...anything  I ask them to study the 
board as it looks at the conclusion until they can think of 
something learned. 

6. I try to roam around while the games are going. If there 
is a specific tactic we are studying like forking or something 
I will encourage the kids to raise their hand when they think 
they've used it. That way I can take a look and show some praise. 

7. Any Player from the top four boards becomes an "Assistant Coach" 
when they finish their game. I ask them to observe and correct at 
the bottom boards. A little power goes a long way with Elems and 
you'd be surprised how seriously they take themselves and the game. 

That's about it. I'm sure there are things I could be doing better. 
I'm still pretty new to this myself. But I love kids and I love 
chess and the rest I'll learn. Feel free to share any of this 
with other Coaches if it seems worthwhile. 

Many thanks!

(Coach) Dave Mauro
Larrabee Elementary