Moon Day and International Chess Day on July 20: Blast Off to Brainpower: A Weekend of Stars and Strategy!
Moon Day and International Chess Day on July 20
Blast Off to Brainpower: A Weekend of Stars and Strategy!
TINA KHATRI
Hold on to your helmets—this weekend, we're launching into a celebration that’s part moon mission, part master-level mind game. On July 20, we mark Moon Day and International Chess Day with creativity, craft, and clever thinking.
Start by crafting your own wearable astronaut helmet using balloons, paper, glue, and imagination. Paint, decorate, and prepare for lift-off. Then, head to the kitchen to make your own Moon Pies. Sandwich marshmallow crème between graham crackers, dip them in melted chocolate, chill, and enjoy a snack that's truly out of this world.
Next, shift from space to strategy with a rapid-fire chess trivia challenge. Think you can remember which piece moves in an L-shape? Or what happens when a player has no legal moves but isn't in check? Test your wits and show your skills.
Whether you're building, baking, or playing, this weekend is all about fun, learning, and aiming high. Shoot for the moon—whether you land among the stars or find yourself in check, you’re guaranteed a weekend well played.
Wearable astronaut helmets
Materials needed:
- Balloons
- Newspaper or paper strips
- Glue (flour and water mixture or white glue)
- Water
- Scissors
- Paint and paintbrushes
- Cardboard or foam for visor
- Elastic or ribbon for chin strap
Instructions:
1. Blow up balloons to desired helmet size.
2. Tear newspaper strips into long pieces.
3. Apply glue to strips and wrap around balloon.
4. Repeat layers, allowing each layer to dry.
5. Pop balloon and remove.
6. Trim edges, create visor slot.
7. Attach cardboard or foam visor.
8. Paint and decorate.
9. Add chin strap.
Moon Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 package of graham crackers
- 1 jar of marshmallow creme
- 1 bar of chocolate (milk or dark)
Instructions:
1. Sandwich a layer of marshmallow creme between two graham crackers.
2. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.
3. Dip the graham cracker-marshmallow sandwich into melted chocolate.
4. Refrigerate until chocolate sets.
5. Enjoy your homemade Moon Pies!
Chess Trivia Questions
1. What is the name of the piece that moves in an L-shape?
→ Knight
2. Which piece can move diagonally any number of squares?
→ Bishop
3. What is the term for a situation where the king is under threat of capture?
→ Check
4. What is it called when a player cannot make a legal move and is not in check?
→ Stalemate
5. What is the most powerful piece on the board?
→ Queen
6. What piece starts next to the king and queen and moves vertically or horizontally?
→ Rook
7. What is the only piece that can jump over others?
→ Knight
8. What is it called when a pawn reaches the opposite end and becomes another piece?
→ Promotion
9. What move involves the king and rook switching places under certain conditions?
→ Castling
10. What is the term for sacrificing a piece to gain an advantage?
→ Gambit
11. What colour goes first in a game of chess?
→ White
12. What is the maximum number of queens a player can have at once?
→ Nine
13. What is the initial time control in classical tournament chess usually measured in?
→ Minutes
14. Which piece is removed first if a player is checkmated in Fool’s Mate?
→ Pawn
TINA KHATRI
Hold on to your helmets—this weekend, we're launching into a celebration that’s part moon mission, part master-level mind game. On July 20, we mark Moon Day and International Chess Day with creativity, craft, and clever thinking.
Start by crafting your own wearable astronaut helmet using balloons, paper, glue, and imagination. Paint, decorate, and prepare for lift-off. Then, head to the kitchen to make your own Moon Pies. Sandwich marshmallow crème between graham crackers, dip them in melted chocolate, chill, and enjoy a snack that's truly out of this world.
Next, shift from space to strategy with a rapid-fire chess trivia challenge. Think you can remember which piece moves in an L-shape? Or what happens when a player has no legal moves but isn't in check? Test your wits and show your skills.
Whether you're building, baking, or playing, this weekend is all about fun, learning, and aiming high. Shoot for the moon—whether you land among the stars or find yourself in check, you’re guaranteed a weekend well played.
Wearable astronaut helmets
Materials needed:
- Balloons
- Newspaper or paper strips
- Glue (flour and water mixture or white glue)
- Water
- Scissors
- Paint and paintbrushes
- Cardboard or foam for visor
- Elastic or ribbon for chin strap
Instructions:
1. Blow up balloons to desired helmet size.
2. Tear newspaper strips into long pieces.
3. Apply glue to strips and wrap around balloon.
4. Repeat layers, allowing each layer to dry.
5. Pop balloon and remove.
6. Trim edges, create visor slot.
7. Attach cardboard or foam visor.
8. Paint and decorate.
9. Add chin strap.
Moon Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 package of graham crackers
- 1 jar of marshmallow creme
- 1 bar of chocolate (milk or dark)
Instructions:
1. Sandwich a layer of marshmallow creme between two graham crackers.
2. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.
3. Dip the graham cracker-marshmallow sandwich into melted chocolate.
4. Refrigerate until chocolate sets.
5. Enjoy your homemade Moon Pies!
Chess Trivia Questions
1. What is the name of the piece that moves in an L-shape?
→ Knight
2. Which piece can move diagonally any number of squares?
→ Bishop
3. What is the term for a situation where the king is under threat of capture?
→ Check
4. What is it called when a player cannot make a legal move and is not in check?
→ Stalemate
5. What is the most powerful piece on the board?
→ Queen
6. What piece starts next to the king and queen and moves vertically or horizontally?
→ Rook
7. What is the only piece that can jump over others?
→ Knight
8. What is it called when a pawn reaches the opposite end and becomes another piece?
→ Promotion
9. What move involves the king and rook switching places under certain conditions?
→ Castling
10. What is the term for sacrificing a piece to gain an advantage?
→ Gambit
11. What colour goes first in a game of chess?
→ White
12. What is the maximum number of queens a player can have at once?
→ Nine
13. What is the initial time control in classical tournament chess usually measured in?
→ Minutes
14. Which piece is removed first if a player is checkmated in Fool’s Mate?
→ Pawn