Hi LogiqBoarders, I hope today’s blog reaches you in time for your teacher planning and preparation for World Book Day. 📚

World Book Day 2025 is on the 6th March

On this day we celebrate World Book Day. Schools all over the country will be dressing up as book characters, authors will be visiting schools online and in person. Teachers and children will be celebrating their favourite books. Creative writing and fun literacy tasks will fill the classrooms.

The King’s Chessboard, highly recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Today I’m sharing a book that I love as a maths teacher and chess teacher. The King’s Chessboard, by David Birch, illustrated by Devis Grebu is a wonderful story for the week.

Exploring mathematical skills and concepts through stories

Not only does it show the beautiful game of chess but it also sets the scene for the classic grain of rice maths problem. With young children explore doubling or maybe focus on patterns, repeating patterns or growing patterns. You could if you preferred, explore ‘how many squares’ on a mini chessboard. Some schools have a whole school book with different tasks for each year group. At the end of the week everyone’s learning is shared.

With older children you might explore doubles, exponential growth and powers.

A story with a message

It also has many morals to share. A King learns a lesson. A story about pride, humility and gratitude.

Why did the King really want to reward the Wise Man for his service over the years?

Did the King deserve this treatment?

Who gained from this story, was the Wise Man rewarded, was the King rewarded with a lesson or was it the people who gained food with the bags of rice?

To infinity and beyond 🚀

The King’s Chessboard is a glorious book that explores doubles and exponential growth. Before you know it you’re imagining millions and beyond. Large numbers that will blow your mind when you’re a little mathematician. How does the rice increase so quickly?

Children love seeing these numbers, hearing them and saying them. What comes after a million? What comes after a billion? The King couldn’t imagine that there weren’t enough grains of rice in the world to fill the chessboard!

Beyond the book and board

There are many themes to draw out. Talk about how we teach a person a life lesson, are actions more powerful than words? Explore how it’s ok to ask for help sometimes, an important part of the maths classroom. You could also make links to financial education and investments.

Ideas for the Classroom

I’m sharing some PowerPoint slides with you. I hope they inspire you to bring chess stories into your classroom.

Maths through stories is part of a rich mathematics curriculum. It gives context and purpose, it allows children to use vocabulary in a meaningful way and develop conceptual understanding. Giving children opportunities to understand something they haven’t experienced.

Investigations are where we feel like maths detectives

Some of my favourite lessons are whole sessions dedicated to a problem or challenge. Children immersed completely, collaborating and communicating ideas. They love problem solving and turning into maths detectives.

Make a chess library in your school

It’s also worth noting that chess fiction and nonfiction have never looked so good! Invest in a chess corner for your library. Chessboards are optional.😉

Homework time ✏️

Your homework this week is to put this book on your ‘to buy’ list. (The last blog was a game to buy, this time it’s a book.) Read the PowerPoint and you’ll see why, just the illustrations alone are worth the spend. A book for the whole family, classroom or chess club.

Curious about Maths?

If you’re curious about maths through stories check out my dear friend, colleague and boss, she is the maths through stories queen. Check out Sara Tilley aka Curious Maths and her YouTube channel. Watch the maths through stories video below 🦉 Yes, I work with the best!

Finally, I’d love to know,

What’s your favourite children’s book?

My personal favourite filled with childhood memories is The Three Robbers, by Tomi Ungerer 💙

I would love to hear your favourites. Let me know in comments 👇

Happy World Book Day! 📚

Hari x