Teaching Poi in School

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The following is a description of my experiences teaching and using Poi:

I have worked at Wynstones School for 6 years and in that time have used Poi in classes and circus performances with children varying in age from 9 to 18 years old.

The main reason for using Poi was initially to provide a curriculum link between sport and the arts. Circus skills in general provide a very skillful and playful space in which coordination and physical confidence can be developed without the very competitive environment that has grown up around modern sport.
Poi itself is particularly useful for developing spatial awareness concerning the six different planes of space which is fundamental to all movement disciplines but which can be hard to give students a different experience of. Rhythm is another very important movement skill which the Poi is excellent at providing an experience of. Once the skill of swinging the poi begins to be mastered there are hundreds of different skills elements of dance and acrobatics that can be added, however, the beginner can very quickly provide a colourful, rhythmical display which generally encourages them to continue.

There is no doubt in my mind that a weakness in the national sports curriculum is the link between skillful movement and playfulness, therefore any activity that can begin to address this issue is extremely useful to help our children gain confidence and enjoyment in and through their environment. Poi certainly is one of these activities.

Yours Sincerely,

Thomas Muller
Games Teacher