Each group needs:

• nail, 3-inch (7.6 cm) or longer (made of zinc, iron or steel, but not aluminum)
• 2 feet (.6 m) insulated copper wire (at least AWG 22 or higher)
• D-cell battery
• several metal paperclips, tacks or pins
• wide rubber band
• Building an Electromagnet Worksheet

For each electromagnetic field station:

• cardboard toilet paper tube
• insulated copper wire (at least AWG 22 or higher), several feet (1 m)
• cardboard (~ 5 x 5 inches or 13 x 13 cm)
• clothespins or clamps (optional)
• masking tape
• rubber band
• 2-3 D-cell batteries
• 9-V (volt) battery
• several metal paperclips, tacks and/or pins
• extra batteries, if available: 6-V, 12-V, lantern batteries
• (optional) electrical tape
• 2 small orienteering compasses

For the entire class to share:

• wire cutters
• wire strippers