Paper Clip Chain STEM Challenge

Can a paper clip chain hold the most weight? This paper clip chain STEM challenge is a fantastic way for kids to explore engineering challenges using paper clips! Build, test, and improve your design to see how strong your paper clip chain can be!

Paper Clip Chain STEM Challenge

This STEM activity encourages problem-solving, testing different designs, and thinking like a scientist. Plus, it’s fun and can turn into new challenges as you experiment with stronger structures!

💡Be sure to check out 100 more STEM projects for Kids here.

Recommended Grade Levels:

Grades 2-3 – Simple STEM challenge focusing on linking paper clips and seeing how much weight they can hold. Basic discussions on engineering and trial and error.
Grades 4-6 – More detailed exploration of strongest structures, different ways to link paper clips, and adding measurement with a scale for comparisons.

Supplies Needed:

✔ Paper clips (a bunch of paper clips to build your chain)
✔ Bucket or basket with a handle
✔ Coins, marbles, or rocks (for weight)
✔ Pair of scissors (optional for modifying clips)
✔ Scale (optional for measuring how much weight the chain holds)

🔎 Have leftover paper clips? Try our floating paper clip experiment or paper clip surface tension in a glass!

Instructions: Build a Strong Paper Clip Chain!

Let’s include the engineering process. Learn more about the engineering design process steps [here] and grab a free printable. It’s an excellent way to extend the activity for older kids.

Step 1: Create Your Paper Clip Chain

🔗 Start with a bunch of paper clips and link them together to create a chain.
💡 Hint: There’s more than one way to connect paper clips! Experiment to find the strongest structure.

Step 2: Attach Your Chain to a Bucket or Basket

🪣 Secure one end of your paper clip chain to the handle of a bucket or basket.

Step 3: Add Weight to the Bucket

⚖ Start adding coins, marbles, or rocks into the bucket. Keep track of how much weight your paper clip chain can hold.
⏳ Try keeping the weight steady for at least one minute to test its durability.

Step 4: Test and Improve Your Design

🧐 Does the length of the chain affect how much weight it can hold?
🔁 Try different paper clip arrangements. Which one holds the most weight?

Step 5: Experiment with Other Materials

🔬 Add a paper chain STEM challenge – use pieces of construction paper to make a paper chain and compare its strength to your paper clip chain.
📏 Try using pipe cleaners, binder clips, or clothespins to see how different materials compare!

STEM Questions for Reflection

After testing your paper clip chain, discuss these reflection questions:

What challenges did you face when building the chain?
Which way of connecting paper clips was the strongest?
How did the length of the chain affect its strength?
What materials could make a stronger chain?
How does this compare to real-world engineering challenges?

📓 Tip: Older kids can write their answers in a STEM notebook, while younger kids can discuss their results in a group. Grab this free STEM Questions for Reflection printable.

Click Here to Get Your Free Printable Paper Clip STEM Challenge!

More Fun STEM Activities!

Floating Paper Clip Experiment – Test the surface tension of water and see if a paper clip can float!
Penny Boat Challenge – Use a simple tin foil boat to see how many pennies it can hold before it sinks.
Spaghetti Marshmallow Tower – Build the tallest spaghetti tower that can support the weight of a jumbo marshmallow.
Marshmallow Toothpick Tower Challenge – Create the strongest structures using marshmallows and toothpicks!
Strong Spaghetti Challenge – Build a bridge using spaghetti and see how much weight it can support!
Egg Drop Challenge – Design a way to protect an egg from breaking when dropped.
Paper Bridges – Build a strong paper bridge using pieces of construction paper. Can it hold coins?
Cup Tower Challenge – Stack paper cups to build the tallest tower possible.
Paper Chain Challenge: Make the longest chain possible from 8.5 x 11 size sheet of paper
3 Little Pigs Architecture Project: Design and build model houses to withstand strong forces.