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TTHEK'EHDELI/JEAN MARIE RIVER - They're a long way from becoming grandmasters, but some students at Louie Norwegian school are taking advantage of the opportunity to learn how to play chess.

So far two of the five students and most of the staff at the school are learning the basics of the game.

At Louie Norwegian school in Jean Marie River, student Rhonda Grossetete, right, and classroom assistant Connie Villeneuve plot their next moves in a game of chess. - photo courtesy of Terry Davidson

The chess playing started after the Christmas holidays when teacher Terry Davidson introduced "choice day."

One afternoon a week the students get to choose the activities they'd like to do. One period is devoted to educational games.

Davidson, who plays chess recreationally and has organized chess clubs at other schools, immediately thought of offering the game.

"I thought it would be neat if children played games were there was decision making to do," he said.

In chess, players have to decide on their moves and plan ahead, something that doesn't happen in most games, said Davidson. Chess is also a good activity for developing visual, spatial, numerical and organizational skills, he said.

Davidson is teaching chess to every student who shows an interest and believes they will all be playing eventually. Even seven-year-old Zaida Sanguez, the youngest student at the school, is learning to play.

Being young isn't a hindrance when learning to play chess, in fact it might be a benefit, Davidson said.

"I think it's better if you start when they're young, he said.

Rhonda Grossetete, 10, was the first student to show an interest in learning the game. Davidson started by teaching her how to set up the board and how each chess piece moves.

Davidson and Grossetete now play almost every second day.

"She beats me regularly," he said.

Grossetete said she decided to learn how to play chess because she thought it would be fun.

Chess is an easy game to play but it can be difficult to remember the differences between the pieces and how they move, she said.

"You need to concentrate," said Grossetete.

Grossetete said she plans to keep playing and hopes to enter a chess competition some day.

The students are learning how to play on a Canadian-themed board where each chess piece is a different figure from Canadian culture.

The kings are Bonhomme (a snowman ambassador in Quebec), the bishops are hockey players, the knights are RCMP officers and the pawns are all beavers.

"I think that's partially why the kids like it as well," said Davidson about the board.

The chess instruction isn't limited to the students. Some of the staff including Connie Villeneuve, a classroom assistant, and Florence Hardisty, the school's janitor, are learning.

"She'd never played in her life before and she said she quite enjoyed it," said Davidson about Hardisty.