The “Yarn Network” is a quick energizer (and/or icebreaker) exercise in which the teacher uses a physical object to teach a concept relevant to the lesson. In this exercise, the teacher uses a simple ball of yarn. The students stand in a circle and, by tossing the ball of yarn to one another (while holding the yarn in their hands), create a large, physical web. When one child lets go, the sagging web proves everyone is essential. This activity helps the elementary students visually understand connectedness.

Skill focus 

Primary Skill Focus

• Connectedness 

Secondary Skill Focus

• Valuing people and nature, 
• Emotional regulation, 
• Flexibility, 
• Curiosity, 
• Sense of wonder and openness, 
• Creativity

Age group	Student number	Duration
6-10 years old students	whole class	10 – 15 minutes

Proposed step by step implementation of the learning activity: 

In this exercise, students use a simple ball of yarn to visualize the connections among themselves, while each one shares their thoughts on the current lesson topic, demonstrates their existing knowledge, or solves the current task.

Rules: 

1. Everyone must have a turn (the ball of yarn may only be thrown to someone who has not had it yet). 
2. The yarn must be held tightly, but not too tightly. 
3. While throwing a ball of yarn, the student must answer a short question that is given by the teacher.

Running the activity: 

1. Setting up the space: The teacher asks the students to stand in a large, spacious circle (by moving the desks aside).
2. Presenting the subject/exercise/task: The teacher gives an open-ended task related to the lesson’s topic.
3. Starting the net: The teacher starts by holding the end of the yarn, answers the question, and then throws the ball of yarn to a student on the other side of the circle.
4. Knitting the net: The student who catches the ball also grabs the thread (they can wrap it around their finger once), answers the question, and then throws the ball to someone who has not had it yet. This continues until the ball has been caught by everyone, and a large, tangled spiderweb forms in the middle of the circle.
5. The discussion: The teacher asks the students to take a small step back so that the web tightens. Then they ask 1–2 students to let go of the thread. The web immediately sags and loses its shape. “See? If someone doesn’t participate or is absent, the entire community’s network is weakened.” What did those two or three students who just let go of the string say, or what clever ideas did they contribute to our work?