New chess exhibit makes its opening move Saturday

Exhibit at Creative Discovery Museum for ages 3-11

A new children’s chess exhibit makes its f irst move Saturday, Jan. 14, when it opens for a fourmonth run at the Creative Discovery Museum.

“Kings, Queens & Castles” is a national traveling exhibit co-created by the World of Chess Hall of Fame and The Magic House, the St. Louis Children’s Museum. Its interactive sets are designed to interest children ages 3-11 in learning how to play the classic game.

While Henry Schulson, museum executive director, acknowledges chess is typically thought of as a game for older children and adults, he points out its benefits for elementary school-age children as well.

“Playing this ancient game addresses current learning skills, including problem- solving, spatial reasoning and critical thinking. All of these skills are foundational for understanding STEM-related concepts,” he says.

“Even our youngest visitors will enjoy learning about the different chess pieces and practicing how they move on a life- size chess board. A visit to this dynamic exhibit may very well spark a lifelong passion for the game.”

Shannon Bailey, World Chess Hall of Fame chief curator, concurs in a news release that a “growing interest in the game of chess, especially among school- age children” has been observed by the exhibit’s organizers. She says children learn basic strategies of playing the game while dressing up for medieval role-play.

Visitors to “Kings, Queens & Castles” can:

Walk across a drawbridge into a medieval castle complete with turret slides, giant chessboard floor and life- size chess pieces.

Make a fanciful crown, don a royal cape, then sit on a majestic throne to play king or queen.

Design and create a shield to become a knight.

Build castle walls with oversized, interlocking bricks.

Learn how to prepare a game by arranging a giant chessboard with large-scale pieces.

Play a human chess game dressed as a favorite chess piece.

Play a game of chess with a friend while sitting on royal thrones at a oneof-a-kind game table.

Take t he exhibit experience home with an app that creates a personalized memory book of the visit and connects to a digital chess game.

“Kings, Queens & Castles” is free with regular museum admission. It will be on display through Sunday, May 14.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Kids can play a game of chess seated on “royal thrones” at specially designed game tables during the run of “Kings, Queens & Castles” at Creative Discovery Museum.