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BELL RINGER / EXIT TICKET

Chain Reaction

Grade:

3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Uses:

Preview and Engage
/  Creative Expression and Communication
Check for Understanding

Materials:

Chain Reaction word puzzle, writing utensils
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Description

Students complete a word chain that links content terms, practicing vocabulary and building connections.

Preparation

Choose a starting word and an ending word that connect to your learning objective, theme, or unit of study. Plan three to five linking words that clearly and logically connect the other two words. (Templates are provided that accommodate either five or seven words total.)
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Implementation

Display the starting word and the ending word on the Chain Reaction word puzzle. Explain to students that their task is to figure out the connecting words that link the starting and ending words. Remind them that each word should be associated, and connected, with the one above it, like links in a chain. Students may work individually or with a partner to build the word chain. Allow 5–7 minutes for them to complete the task. To support student thinking, you may choose to give the first letter of the next word as a hint. Afterward, review the completed word chain together, and invite students to explain how they made their connections.

Example:

sun → flower → petal → bee → pollen

• sun → flower: Flowers need sunlight to grow.

• flower → petal: Petals are part of a flower.

• petal → bee: Bees land on petals while collecting nectar.

• bee → pollen: Bees spread and collect pollen.

Teaching Tips

  • Before implementing the activity with partners, model it for the full class using different words.
  • To build students’ critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, encourage them to explain why each word connects to the next.
  • For lower grades, limit the number of links in the chain (e.g., three or four words instead of six or seven), and consider providing a word bank of words to choose from.

Supporting All Learners

For students needing support: Fill in one of the middle words so that students can focus on fewer connections.

For advanced learners: Encourage students to create a chain with multiple possible solutions, or extend the chain to include more abstract connections.

For multilingual learners: Pre-teach or review key vocabulary in context, allow use of students’ home languages for brainstorming, and pair students with supportive peers to practice making connections aloud before writing.

Note: Provide accommodations and modifications based on your learners’ needs to ensure full participation.

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