Story-based Chess Lessons!
Launching Summer ‘26
“In a world where every chess piece has a heart, a diverse cast of young learners discover life’s biggest lessons - one move at a time.”
SEL/CASEL Chess Lessons Loved by Teachers, Trusted by Parents.
Why? Here are just a few reasons:
This storytelling-based SEL chess curriculum offers districts a research-aligned, engaging, and equitable approach to developing the whole child.
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By combining strategic gameplay with narrative and emotional learning, this curriculum builds critical academic and life skills while fostering positive school culture.
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Its proven classroom impact and scalable design make it a compelling investment for funders and school systems seeking innovative, outcomes-driven SEL solutions.
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Bring Little Ones Chess into Your Chess Program!
Our social-emotional, story-based method promotes the building of life-skills such as patience, choice, and the understanding of consequences (positive and negative). Children develop the ability to have fun and sit with discomfort. They learn to see the board, and the world around them, from someone else’s perspective. Key skills for future growth!
And perfect for developing curious, emotionally intelligent critical thinkers in and out of the classroom! No prior chess experience required.
Foundation License:
Best for:
Schools and After-school Programs with experienced Staff
SEL Curriculum Access (1 yr.) for up to 3 onsite Educators
Access to any and all curriculum upgrades during license term
Teaching Guides and Lesson Pacing
Email support
Partnership License:
Best for:
New or scaling programs interested in guided rollouts for extra confidence
Everything in the Foundation License
2 Live implementation support sessions per quarter (8/year)
Priority email support
Optional onboarding & planning session
Extended Support Add-On’s:
Best for:
Programs needing sustained strategic support
Additional Implementation Support Pack (5 planning/building sessions)
Additional Implementation Support Pack (10 planning/building sessions)
Starting at: $750 - $1,400 per year
Optional onboarding & planning session
Priority email support
Starting at: $2,000 per year
Starting at: $4,000 per year
FAQs
You’ve got questions,
we’ve got answers
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We designed this curriculum for children ages 4-12. Though we do understand that younger learners, or learners with a shorter attention span may benefit from more compact stories. And with this in mind, we created a “simplified” version of each standard lesson! That way, everyone can join King Mateo on his adventures in life and chess!
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Our SEL Chess Curriculum integrates social-emotional learning directly into chess instruction, helping students develop emotional regulation, decision-making, resilience, and positive peer interaction—through story and play.
Designed for schools and after-school programs, the curriculum is structured, flexible, and easy to implement by chess instructors, teachers, or enrichment staff.
This curriculum supports:
Emotional regulation during competition
Growth mindset and reflective thinking
Respectful communication and sportsmanship
Perseverance and coping with challenge
Social awareness through collaborative play
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This specialised SEL chess curriculum was designed by educator and artist, Selina Hernandez. She spent over ten years teaching children of all ages to learn and love this game. But after working extensively with younger learners, she discovered the need for a different, more inclusive and engaging approach. From there, the Little Ones Chess stories were born. Honed and tested in the classrooms and homes of New York City, they are now available to you!
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Each lesson was designed with the classroom in mind. So while the stories themselves take only 10 minutes or less to read, their accompanying teaching guides are perfect for instructing a typical 45min. - 1hour class/home instruction.
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Licensing for schools/chess programs begins at $2,000. See section above these FAQ’s for more info.
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Each of these sessions are approx. 45-1hr depending on your scheduling needs.
Adventures with King Mateo await you!