We have provided all special materials (that you couldn't buy at
any grocery store) in the kit. On the first page of each section
we have listed all the materials needed for that section, and indicated
which are provided and which you will have to supply, so that
you can begin gathering them ahead of time. Here is the complete
list of materials you will need to find:
various containers to hold water (for the section on fluids).
for example, a few quart or two-liter plastic bottles.
aluminum foil -- this is used as a flexible conducting material
paper clips -- these are used as a kind of stiff wire occasionally
tape -- there are a number of construction activities
cardboard or cardstock -- to make things from
a few plastic straws to make things from
some rubber bands -- to make things from
paper towels -- to make things from
a pencil lead (for a mechanical pencil) or a broken wooden pencil (so
that you can access both ends of the lead)
various objects and materials to test for their conductivity, and for
their magnetic properties. Choose things that you think will respond,
as well as anything you are not sure about!
a black marking pen. This is used to make a wire insulating, as
part of making a motor
This kit contains a lot of small parts. The resistors, light-emitting diodes,
the magnet wire, and the piece of sandpaper will disappear magically if
you are not careful to keep track of them. It might be useful to have a plastic bag labelled "spare
parts," into which you sweep your workspace at the end of each session.