Teaching Kinetic Energy is a LOT of fun! After all, there’s nothing middle schoolers like more than movement. 😱
To give our students something to REALLY get excited about, we created this Kinetic Energy Popsicle stick chain reaction and the students were like WOW! 🙌🏻
Make Your Own Kinetic Energy Chain Reaction
After watching VIDEO after VIDEO demonstrating how to create these chains (and all of them made it look so easy) I realized it WASN’T so easy! As a result, I modified several of the suggestions and came of with this very ‘doable’ strategy….easy enough for a sixth grader (or sixth grade teacher) to do!!
Step #1: Gather Materials
✨8 ” popsicle sticks <<lots of them>>
✨2- 1 1/4” Binder Clips
✨A carpet square <<recommended but not necessary>>
✨An extra set of hands to stabilize and hold the chain as you build
✨Patience and persistence! <<definitely necessary>>
Step #2: Design the base
Arrange 3 popsicle sticks in a fan and clip the base with a binder clip.
![Kinetic Energy Popsicle Stick Chain](https://yoursmarticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinetic-Energy-Chain-Reaction-8-1-768x1024.jpg)
Next, weave a 4th popsicle stick under the center stick of the fork and clip it to the other end with a binder clip.
![Kinetic Energy Popsicle Stick Chain](https://yoursmarticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinetic-Energy-Chain-Reaction-1-2-768x1024.jpg)
Step #3: Begin the weave pattern
After Step #2, you’ll be weaving sticks at 2 angles. 11:00 and 7:00.
Start with an 11:00 facing stick and weave it under and then over the two right hand ‘prongs’ of the original fork. **By 11:00 stick, I mean a stick at this angle–> \ **
![Kinetic Energy Popsicle Stick Chain](https://yoursmarticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinetic-Energy-Chain-Reaction-4-768x1024.jpg)
Continue with a 7:00 facing stick and weave it under and then over the two ‘prongs’ on the lower side of your chain. **By 11:00 stick, I mean a stick at this angle–> / **
![Kinetic Energy Popsicle Stick Chain](https://yoursmarticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinetic-Energy-Chain-Reaction-5-1-768x1024.jpg)
The next stick is always the hardest! Weave an 11:00 \ stick Fit under the stick farthest to the right and balance it over the tiny remaining piece of the right hand side of the fork.
![Kinetic Energy Popsicle Stick Chain](https://yoursmarticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinetic-Energy-Chain-Reaction-6-768x1024.jpg)
After this point the weaving gets MUCH easier.
Use a 7:00 stick / and go under and over the bottom 2 popsicle sticks on the bottom right hand side of your chain then use a 11:00 stick \ and weave it under and over the 2 popsicle sticks on the top right hand side of your chain. Repeat.
![Kinetic Energy Popsicle Stick Chain](https://yoursmarticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinetic-Energy-Chain-Reaction-10-1-768x1024.jpg)
![Kinetic Energy Popsicle Stick Chain](https://yoursmarticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinetic-Energy-Chain-Reaction-11-1-768x1024.png)
![Kinetic Energy Popsicle Stick Chain](https://yoursmarticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kinetic-Energy-Chain-Reaction-7-768x1024.jpg)
Step #4: Release!!
When you’re happy with the length of your chain, release!! Chains can be made as LONG as you want provided you don’t run out of popsicle sticks (✨or Smarticles✨)
More GREAT NGSS Ideas and Resources
FREE ✨Smarticles!✨
Connect with ✨Your Smarticles✨ to get our latest content by email.