Balancing a Pencil

How can you balance a pencil vertically with just a wire and a couple of clothespins? 21 second graders constructed 21 hypothesis.  It turns out that only one was correct.  After making a few adjusments by lowering the weights below the balance point, everyone discovered at least one way.

Second attempt.

It's able to balance with one counterweight.

After a few adjustements, it worked!

My hypothesis was correct but here's another way.

My hypothesis is incorrect.

I eventually figured it out!

I kept trying!

The weight is too high!

My way didn't work, but this way does!

Trying to balance the pencil was challenging.

Make the pencil stable!