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Activities With a Ball of Yarn

While it may look like nothing but a ball of yarn, it is really a gateway to a world of entertainment and imagination. A ball of yarn serves as a way to break the ice with strangers, as the main item in a sports event with friends, or simply as a source of enjoyment when you are on your own. Do not be afraid to make up your own games while you are playing.

Yarn Toss Q &A
- Yarn Toss Q &A is an ice breaker when you are thrown in with a group of strangers. To play, gather a group of strangers (any number from 4 to 12 people is ideal) in a circle. One person must hold the yarn end and throw the ball of yarn to another person. The person holding the yarn can now ask the person who caught the ball a single question that must be answered. From there, the second person holds a piece of the yarn and throws the ball to another person, repeating the process of the question and answer. The game ends when the ball of yarn is no longer intact, instead leaving a web of yarn between the group.
The Game of 500
- The game of "500" can be played with as few as three people and as many as eight. One person is the designated thrower. That person throws the ball of yarn into the air towards the other "catchers" that are gathered in the group. When the ball is in the air, the thrower calls out a number between 0 and 500. That is the value of the ball. The person who catches the yarn ball gets the number of points that is called out. When a catcher gets a total of 500 points, they win the game and then become the designated thrower, while the thrower becomes one of the catchers.
Yarn Toss
- This is an activity for one person. Pull out a piece of string from the ball, about three feet of yarn. Make a double knot from the string you pulled with another piece of string that is inside the ball. The key will be that the piece of string is attached to the ball but will not pull the rest of the yarn out of the ball. When completed, it should look like a ball on a string. Go outside and swing the ball around on the loose piece of string in a circle. After getting a good amount of force, launch it up into the air. Try to catch the ball on its way down without letting it hit the ground. See how many times in a row you can accomplish this feat.
Spiderweb Your Room
- Near the ceiling, pin one end of the string from the ball of yarn with a push pin . Once attached, throw the ball to the other side of the room. Wherever it lands, pin another string of yarn near the ceiling. Continue going back and forth along the room, pinning the yarn near the ceiling, until your ball of yarn has been exhausted. When completed, it should look like a giant spider web on your ceiling.

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