Answer:
here is my crude attempt:
import turtle
t = turtle.Turtle()
t.speed(0)
colors = ["black", "yellow"]
SQUARES = 8
SQUARESIZE = 20
def rectangle(color, s):
 t.begin_fill()
 t.pendown()
 t.color(color)
 for i in range(4):
  t.forward(s)
  t.right(90)
 t.end_fill()
 t.penup()
for row in range(SQUARES):
 for col in range(SQUARES):
  t.setpos(row*SQUARESIZE, col*SQUARESIZE)
  rectangle(colors[(row+col)%2], SQUARESIZE)
