Each group needs:

• 1 D-cell battery
• 1 wide rubber band
• 2 large paperclips (metal, with no coating)
• 1 rectangular-shaped ceramic magnet (available large hardware stores such as Home Depot)
• 43.5 in (111 cm) medium-gauge magnet wire; magnet wire is copper wire insulated with a polymer-based film, or red enamel, not plastic; available at large hardware or electronics stores such as Radio Shack
• Student Instructions Handout

For the entire class to share:

• fine sandpaper
• needle-nose pliers or wire cutters
• (optional) a few compasses
• thread