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Creative
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Polynesian Poi Balls

By Rachel Stones
10-12-20

Highlights 4Cs

Curious, Creative, Caring, and Confident™
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Curious
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Creative
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Caring
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Read About Highlights 4Cs
Make Polynesian poi balls, then swing and twirl them in a dance from New Zealand. Invite your child to invent their own dance moves.
make poi balls

Image Credit |

Photos by: Hank Schneider (craft) and Guy Cali Associates, Inc. (girl) | Craft samples by: Buff McAllister

Poi balls are used in a form of Polynesian dance that started in New Zealand. Holding cords that are attached to the poi balls, performers swing and twirl the balls in rhythmic patterns as they dance.

What You'll Need
  • crumpled newspaper (enough for 2 balls)
  • six 48-inch-long pieces of yarn
  • tape
  • two 10-inch circles of fabric
What to Do

1. Crumple newspaper into two balls.

make poi balls

2. Wrap and tie six 48-inch-long pieces of yarn around each ball, as shown. Tape the yarn in place. Braid the leftover yarn and knot the ends together.

3. Cover each ball with a 10-inch circle of fabric. Tie it in place with yarn.

learn a polynesian dance

4. Holding the ends of the braids, swing and twirl the poi balls in different rhythmic patterns.

Print

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