Lesson 3 of 5

45 minutes
Curriculum expectations: 1.3, 1.4, A1.2, A1.1,
A3.1
Vita Parcours Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living
Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors

Learning Goals

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

identify factors that contribute to their personal enjoyment of being active

apply communication skills as they participate actively and safely in a variety of cooperative games.

Facility

Open field

Safety Requirements

Refer to the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education.

Equipment List

Beam, blocks or steps

Teacher Resource 1: Active Living and Living Skills Anecdotal Recording Chart

Teacher Resource 2: Vita Parcours Station Cards

Student Resource 1: Exit Card

Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors | Vita Parcours | Page 1 of 5

 Lesson 3 of 5
45 minutes
Curriculum expectations: 1.3, 1.4, A1.2, A1.1,
A3.1
Vita Parcours Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living
Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors

Warm-Up

Students will gradually increase their heart rate by participating in the following activity.

Can You Remember?

In pairs, one student becomes the leader and creates a pattern of moderate to vigorous physical
activities (e.g., five Marches, two Stretch and Reaches, three Hops, two Popcorn Jumps) from Ophea’s
50 Fitness Activities (see Appendix).
The leader selects a physical activity and the number of repetitions and performs the action, while the
partner watches.
The partner repeats the action while the leader moves on to his or her next action. The partner is
always one action behind the leader.
Sample pattern: leader performs five Marches, partner watches; leader performs two Stretch and
Reaches, partner performs five Marches; leader performs three Hops, partner performs two Stretch and
Reaches, etc.
Change the leader and repeat the above process.

(Adapted from On Your Way with DPA, Toronto Catholic District School Board.)

Minds On

Share and clarify the lesson Learning Goals with students.

Teacher prompt: “In this lesson we are going to think about what factors contribute to our personal
enjoyment of being active. The reasons may be different for everyone. At the end of the class you will be
asked to complete an Exit Card to express your reasons.”

Factors Contributing to Personal Enjoyment:

It makes me feel good.

It’s fun.
My friends are active.
My family likes to participate together.
I sleep better.

Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors | Vita Parcours | Page 2 of 5

 Lesson 3 of 5
45 minutes
Curriculum expectations: 1.3, 1.4, A1.2, A1.1,
A3.1
Vita Parcours Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living
Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors

I feel less stressed.

A&E - Minds On

Teacher observation with verbal feedback of students’ ability to discuss and share ideas surrounding
personal enjoyment

Action

Vita Parcours
Vita Parcours was invented by Erwin Weckemann in 1968 and consists of an outdoor walking or jogging
circuit with 10 to 20 designated stops. At each stop there is a laminated card that instructs students to
perform a specific exercise. Prior to this exercise, copy, cut out and laminate the cards for each station
(see Teacher Resource 2: Vita Parcours Station Cards).

Students choose a partner who is at approximately the same fitness level as they are and with whom
they would like to work during this lesson.
Throughout the lesson, the partners are encouraged to talk to each other about the things that
motivate them to participate in physical activities and why being active is a part of their overall health.
Students are encouraged to motivate each other throughout the activity.
Depending on the setup of the outdoor space, students perform a running/power walking stint of about
100 – 200 metres followed by an exercise that is posted on the laminated card. See Teacher Resource
2: Vita Parcours Station Cards for stations.
Once they have completed the exercise, students continue on to the next card until the circuit is
complete.

With their partners, students discuss the activities they participated in.

Teacher prompt: “Did you like the activities you participated in? Why or why not?”

Students complete Student Resource 1: Exit Card using their reasons from the discussion.

Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors | Vita Parcours | Page 3 of 5

 Lesson 3 of 5
45 minutes
Curriculum expectations: 1.3, 1.4, A1.2, A1.1,
A3.1
Vita Parcours Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living
Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors

A&E - Action

Teacher observation with anecdotal writing of students’ safe and active participation and communication
skills using Teacher Resource 1: Active Living and Living Skills Anecdotal Recording Chart

Cool-Down

Students gradually decrease their heart rate to a resting rate by participating in the activity below.
Students should also stretch the body parts that have been active throughout the lesson. See Appendix
for stretches.

Follow the Leader

Select four students to be leaders and have one leader stand on each of the four sides of the activity
area.
The first leader faces the group and leads them through a few stretches of the leader’s choice.
After leader 1 has led a few stretches, the class jumps a quarter turn clockwise and follows leader 2.
Repeat the pattern until each leader has had an opportunity to lead.

Consolidation

Students use the ideas generated during Minds On to identify what they did well and what they need to
improve, and to set a goal for improvement for the next class. Students share their goal with their partner
and discuss how they will achieve the goal.

A&E - Consolidation

Teacher observation of students’ self-assessment and goal setting relating to the Success Criteria

Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors | Vita Parcours | Page 4 of 5

 Lesson 3 of 5
45 minutes
Curriculum expectations: 1.3, 1.4, A1.2, A1.1,
A3.1
Vita Parcours Topics: Movement Competence, Active Living
Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors

Ideas for Extension

Extend the distance students run/power walk between stations.

Have students check their heart rate after every five stations and have them self-evaluate their level of
effort throughout the activity.

Grade 7 | Cooperative Games Outdoors | Vita Parcours | Page 5 of 5