Neuro-based Teaching Methodologies

MiniChess Club classes is a structured programme offered face-to-face after school hours, typically aligned with Mathematics and/or Entrepreneurship. The programme spans five developmental levels, from StartSmart (4-5 year-olds) to Level 3 (up to 11 year-olds), effectively fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and core STEM development. MiniChess Clubs meet weekly.

Overview

MiniChess and Coding is an introduction to coding. It is purpose-designed for the South African context and includes pre-coding skills development, hands-on activities with SmartBot, and the Scratch visual coding system on a tablet (as prescribed by the DBE in South Africa). It is not the same programme developed by our partners in Sweden, as the context differs greatly.

MiniChess and Coding applies the internationally recognised S.A.R.A. methodology:

MiniChess and Coding FIRST develops the pre-skills needed in coding.

Coding requires far more than repetitive technical skill. It relies heavily on spatial ability, visualisation, reasoning, planning skills, creative problem-solving, resilience and perseverance, and other core abilities that are often absent from curricula but are developed effectively through MiniChess. Coding can feel abstract for young learners, so MiniChess neuro-based teaching starts with three-dimensional, concrete learning, then moves to two-dimensional work, and only then to abstract application.

What is S.A.R.A?

In this coding training course, we follow the S.A.R.A. teaching methodology, as prescribed by Lund University in Sweden: starting with sequencing exercises, then moving to alternatives, repetition and lastly abstraction. After learners build competence in pre-programming skills, we move to Scratch programming on the tablet.

After mastering ScratchJr, learners progress to Scratch. Scratch is a high-level, block-based visual programming language.