Apple Pencil not connecting

So I just recently got my IPad Air Gen 3 and an Apple Pencil Gen 1 and I did what most do and placed my Apple Pencil into the port of the IPad, but there is nothing indicating that the pencil was connecting in any way. I tried doing everything I can, I charged the pencil (to what I assumed is the max); I restarted my IPad; I even disconnected my wifi, but nothing seems to work. So I was wondering if there is something wrong with either the technical portion of the pencil or the pad because I’ve been sitting here trying to connect it.