This is a short essay on ideas for adapting picnic tables/benches for chess. One of these adaptations can be seen at Trinity Square in Hull, England. Following this initiative, VHEY (Visit Hull and East Yorkshire) placed four chessboards on picnic tables during the summer of 2022. The essay portrays three procedures: printing/spray painting with the use of a stencil, inlaying with a ready-made chessboard, and/or placing a printed chessboard on a table. VHEY chose the third option, with many added extras, such as QR codes for learning the rules of chess, together with other interesting facts and activities relating to the game.

The S32 Chess Spinner works in a similar way to a 32-sided chess die. There are also two blanks that allow a free choice of move. The S32 Chess Spinner is easy to assemble, as it only requires cutting around the spinner, hand and split pin, and making holes for the spinner and hand. The arms of the split pin are first folded inwards. Only glue the sections of the arms that connect to the underside of the body of the split pin. Once the holes are made, place the hand in position and insert the split pin. The two arms of the split pin are then folded outwards under the spinner. Make sure the hand moves freely around the split pin. Secure the arms of the split pin under the spinner. Card is recommended for printing, but normal paper can also be used and then glued onto card for extra solidity. Decorate as required.

The W16 Chess Wheel works in a similar way to a sixteen-sided die. There are also two blanks that allow a free choice of move. The W16 Chess Wheel is easy to assemble, as it requires cutting around a hexadecagon, and then making a 7mm hole for a pencil stub (rounded base) for spinning. Card is recommended for printing, but normal paper can also be used and then glued onto card for extra solidity. Decorate as required.

The W8 Chess Wheel works in a similar way to an eight-sided die. There are also two blanks that allow a free choice of move. The W8 Chess Wheel is easy to assemble, as it only requires cutting around an octagon and making a 7mm hole for a pencil stub (rounded base) for spinning. Card is recommended for printing, but normal paper can also be used and then glued onto card for extra solidity. Decorate as required.

The W4 Chess Wheel may allow a choice between two options. However, these options can vary depending on the stage in the game. Opening/start: one option. Middlegame: two options. Endgame: one or two options. The above is for general guidance only. The W4 Chess Wheel is easy to assemble, as it only requires cutting around a square and making a 7mm hole for a pencil stub (rounded base) for spinning. The use of card is recommended for printing, but normal paper can also be used, and then glued onto card for extra solidity. Decorate as required.

15 and Out is a chess variant game. The first player to capture pieces and pawns worth 15 points wins the game. Value of pieces and pawns. Queen = 9 points. Rook = 5 points. Bishop = 3 points. Knight = 3 points. Pawn = 1 point. The king does not apply, as its value is infinity.

The Chess Coin works in a similar way to a chess die. Each side of the coin has three figurines, so that’s six figurines for both sides. Each figurine is enclosed in a sector with an angle measuring 120 degrees. When the Chess Coin is flipped, the figurine most upright towards north is the one that’s played, bearing in mind that all moves must be legal. The probability of getting a king is 1/2, but it also needs to be the one that’s most upright towards north, which is 1/3. The ‘And Rule’ is applied, which means both probability outcomes are multiplied. (1/2) x (1/3) = 1/6 This is the same probability as getting a king when rolling a six-sided die. The Chess Coin is easy to assemble, as it only involves cutting around two circles and gluing them together back to back. You can also decorate your Chess coin as required. Card is recommended for printing, but normal paper can also be used and then glued onto card for extra solidity.

This resource is aimed at children and adults with difficulties in reading an analogue clock. The use of strong card is recommended for printing. Please note, the minute hand has a slot that requires cutting out. The use of a paper fastener/split pin is recommended for rotating the hands.

The Chimney Makers is an activity story, where missing words are filled in. This resource can be used to improve reading and to increase vocabulary.

Finding Areas of Composite Shapes A to R - ANSWERS.

10 x 10 times table to complete. There are 49 squares to fill with the required number.

Six composite shapes, M to R, are provided to find their areas. The use of metric is used: mm, cm, m.

Six composite shapes, G to L, are provided to find their areas. The use of metric is used: mm, cm, m.

Six composite shapes are provided on each A4. The use of metric is used: mm, cm and m, and their use is not mixed.

This A4 resource contains 9 blank chessboards, which can be used for setting puzzles, exercises, studies and homework. A Chess Coach can use this resource to set exercises like the one shown in the cover image (Lucena’s Position). The white king has to move out of check, so can white win this game? White is shown as red for visual reasons. The resource can also be used as homework. For example, a learner is asked to produce nine different checkmates. The resource is ideal for endgame studies, such as king and pawn vs king. The following notation can be used to draw pieces and pawns. King = K Queen = Q Rook= R Bishop = B Knight = N Pawn = a dot

This Chess Die Net, D20 icosahedron, can be enlarged or reduced as required. The use of card for printing and assembly is recommended, but normal paper can also be used and then glued on card for extra solidity. Chess Dice is a popular chess variant, and can be used as a fun and didactic activity in chess lessons. This A4 resource can also provide a rich cross-curricular activity, where chess, maths, origami, art, physics, design and technology are present. The figurines and backgrounds can be decorated, if required. Instructions for assembly. Cut around the net along solid lines. Scoring along dotted lines is recommended to make folding easier. The use of a sharp blade is not recommended for scoring, as it can easily over-score and cut through card. The following tools can be used for scoring safely: the edge of a plastic spatula, the lid of a Bic pen, a pen-shaped staple remover… Fold, glue and hold together till attached. Rules of Chess Dice for D20. All moves must be legal. If you get black, you can choose what to play (John Foley rule). Original basic version: roll the die and play what you get. if you can’t make a legal move, you roll again. If you wish to castle, you need a king, or a rook, or black. Advanced John Foley version: roll the die and play what you get. if you can’t make a legal move, you can choose what to play. I published the concept of Chess Dice Nets on 6th April 2021. The figurine drawings, sizes, their distribution and orientations are my own work. The requirement to create D12 and D20 chess dice was requested by John Foley. The optimal frequency of figurines for D12 and D20 was calculated by WIM Rita Atkins.

This Chess Die Net, D12 dodecahedron, can be enlarged or reduced according to needs. The use of card for printing and assembly is recommended, but normal paper can also be used and then glued on card for extra solidity. Chess Dice is a popular chess variant, and can be used as a fun and didactic activity in chess lessons. This A4 resource can also provide a rich cross-curricular activity, where chess, maths, origami, art, physics, design and technology are present. The figurines and backgrounds can be decorated, if required. Instructions for assembly. Cut around the net along solid lines. Scoring along dotted lines is recommended to make folding easier. The use of a sharp blade is not recommended for scoring, as it can easily over-score and cut through card. The following tools can be used for scoring safely: the edge of a plastic spatula, the lid of a Bic pen, a pen-shaped staple remover… Fold, glue and hold together till attached. Rules of Chess Dice. All moves must be legal. Original basic version: roll the die and play what you get. if you can’t make a legal move, you roll again. If you wish to castle, you need a king or a rook. Advanced John Foley version: roll the die and play what you get. if you can’t make a legal move, you can choose what to play. I published the concept of Chess Dice Nets on 6th April 2021. The figurine drawings, sizes, their distribution and orientations are my own work. The requirement to create D12 and D20 chess dice was requested by John Foley. The optimal frequency of figurines for D12 and D20 was calculated by WIM Rita Atkins.

This Chess Die Net, D6 cube, can be enlarged or reduced according to needs. The use of card for printing is recommended, but normal paper can also be used and then glued on card for extra solidity. Chess Dice is a popular chess variant, and can be used as a fun and didactic activity in chess lessons. This A4 resource can also provide a rich cross-curricular activity, where chess, maths, origami, art, physics, design and technology are present. The figurines and backgrounds can be decorated, if required. Instructions for assembly. Cut around the net along solid lines. Scoring along dotted lines is recommended to make folding easier. The use of a sharp blade is not recommended for scoring, as it can easily over-score and cut through card. The following tools can be used for scoring safely: the edge of a plastic spatula, the lid of a Bic pen, a pen-shaped staple remover… Fold, glue and hold together till attached. Rules of Chess Dice. All moves must be legal. Original basic version: roll the die and play what you get. if you can’t make a legal move, you roll again. If you wish to castle, you need a king or a rook. Advanced John Foley version: roll the die and play what you get. if you can’t make a legal move, you can choose what to play. I published the concept of Chess Dice Nets on 6th April 2021. The figurine drawings, sizes, their distribution and orientations are my own work. The requirement to create D12 and D20 chess dice was requested by John Foley. The optimal frequency of figurines for D12 and D20 was calculated by WIM Rita Atkins.

The A4 sheet contains three Chess Dice Nets and instructions for their assembly, together with game rules and credits. D6 - cube, D12 - dodecahedron, D20 - icosahedron. Each die portrays chess figurines. When assembled, the D6 has 1.6cm edges, the D12 is approximately 3cm in diameter, the D20 about 4cm in diameter. The Chess Dice Nets can be proportionally enlarged or reduced according to needs. The use of card for printing is recommended, but normal paper can also be used and then glued on card for extra solidity. Chess Dice is a popular chess variant, and can be used as a fun activity in chess lessons. This A4 resource can provide a rich cross-curricular activity, where chess, maths, origami, art, physics, design and technology are present. The figurines and backgrounds can be decorated, if required. Scoring is recommended to make folding easier. The use of a sharp blade is not recommended for scoring, as it can easily over-score and cut through card. The following tools can be used for scoring safely: the edge of a plastic spatula, the lid of a Bic pen, a pen-shaped staple remover… I published the concept of Chess Dice Nets on 6th April 2021. The figurine drawings, sizes, distribution and orientations are also mine. The requirement to create D12 and D20 chess dice was requested by John Foley. The optimal frequency of figurines for D12 and D20 was calculated by WIM Rita Atkins.