Materials Catalog
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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Table of Contents
Building Blocks
Stiff ………………………………………….…….…….2
Bendy ………………………………………….……….3
Flat materials
Paper-based ………………………………………….4
Other …………………………………………..………..5
Connectors
Glue .……………………….……………..……………...7
Tape ………………………………………………...…...7
Other …………………………………….………..……..8
Miscellaneous …………………………………….10
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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Building Materials
Stiff:
Item #
0001
Name
Popsicle sticks
Description
Flat wooden sticks, will not
bend without breaking,
comes in two different sizes
Size
Regular
Length: 4.5 in.
Width: 3/8 in.
Jumbo
Length: 6 in.
Width: ¾ in.
Length: 11 in.
Diameter: ¼ in.
0002
Straws
Hollow plastic tubes, bendy
section, can bend without
breaking
0003
Coffee stirrers
Hollow plastic tubes,
shorter and skinnier than
regular straws, no bendy
section, can bend without
breaking
Length: 5 in.
0004
Toothpicks
Small round wooden stick
with pointed ends, will not
bend without breaking
Length: 3 in.
Width: 1/16 in.
0005
Paper tubes
Toilet paper and paper
towel tubes, made of thin
cardboard
Toilet paper tube
Length: 4 in.
Width: 1.5 in.
Long wooden rods, circular,
very sturdy
Paper towel tube
Length: 11 in.
Width: 1.5 in
Length: 12 in
Diameter: 1/4 in.
0006
Wooden
dowels
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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0007
Bamboo
gardening
sticks
Long bamboo poles, slightly
irregular width, able to
bend
Length: 5 ft.
Diameter: 3/8 in.
0008
Plastic
silverware
Basic sturdy plastic utensils.
Usually used for eating, but
can be used for projects too!
Length:
Fork: 7 in.
Knife: 7.5 in.
Spoon: 6 in.
Bendy:
Item #
0101
Name
Pipe cleaners
Description
Soft, colorful, wire on the
inside makes them bendy
with ability to hold shape
Size
12 in.
0102
Wire
Skinny, metal, bendy with
ability to hold shape
Comes in a roll and
can be cut to any
length
0103
Plastic tubing
Clear, flexible tube,
bendable but will not hold
shape
Diameter:
3/16 in.
Comes in a roll and
can be cut to any
length
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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Flat Materials
Paper-based:
Picture
Item #
1000
Name
Chipboard
Description
Extremely strong and durable
Size
Length: 7 in.
Width: 5 in.
1001
Corrugated
Cardboard
Lightweight but still very
sturdy
Length: 11 in.
Width: 8.5 in.
1002
Copy Paper
Everyday white printer paper
Length: 11 in.
Width: 8.5 in.
1003
Construction
Paper
Colorful, and a bit thicker than
plain white paper
Length: 11 in.
Width: 8.5 in.
1004
Newspaper
Lightweight and plentiful!
Length: 21 in.
Width: 6 in.
1005
Wax Paper
Thin transparent paper coated
with wax to make it moistureproof
Length: 12 in.
Width: 12 in.
1006
Coffee Filter
Even thinner than newspaper,
thin enough to filter water but
still sturdy when wet
Top Diameter:
7 in.
Bottom Diameter:
5.5 in.
Height: 4.5 in.
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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1007
Poster Board
Also known as “foam core” – a
layer of foam with paper on
either side. Sturdy and light
Length: 12 in.
Width: 12 in.
1008
Index Cards
Standard small size of heavyweight paper. Pastel colors
Length: 3 in.
Height: 5 in.
1009
Paper Plates
Standard dinner-size paper
plate. Thicker than regular
paper, but thinner than
cardboard
Diameter: 8 in.
Other:
Picture
Item #
1100
Name
Felt (colored)
Description
Soft and good insulating properties
Size
Length: 12
in.
Width: 9 in.
1101
Foam (colored)
Low density and good insulation
properties. Will float in water
Length: 8.5
in.
Width: 5.5
in.
1102
Cork Sheet
Cork floats extremely well in water
and is also an effective insulator
Length: 6 in.
Width: 6 in.
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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1103
Tinfoil
Extremely thin but very resistant to
water. Can be folded or torn very
easily, and will retain its folded shape
Length: 12
in.
Width: 12 in.
1104
Transparency
Film
Clear and flexible – a plastic piece of
paper
Length: 11
in.
Width: 8.5
in.
1105
Cloth
Thin cotton cloth
Length: 12
in.
Width: 12 in.
1106
Quilt Batting
Quilt batting resembles a sheet made
from a giant cotton ball. It is very soft
and a good insulator
Length: 12
in.
Width: 12 in.
[thickness?]
1107
Netting/Mesh
Extremely thin and lightweight, with
many holes
Length: 12
in.
Width: 12 in.
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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Connectors
Glue:
Item #
2001
Name
Elmer’s
white glue
Description
Multipurpose glue, works well
with paper and fabric, dries
clear and quickly
Size
1 bottle
2002
Glue sticks
Fast drying, but not as strong as
liquid glue, dries clear
1 stick
2003
Tacky glue
Better than Elmer’s glue or glue
sticks for rough surfaces like
Styrofoam, strong, long-lasting,
dries clear
1 bottle
Tape:
Item # Name
2101
Duct tape
Description
Very strong
Size
1 roll
2102
Not as strong as duct tape, but
will still hold things together,
easy to rip
1 roll
Masking tape
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2103
Painting tape
Weak adhesive, usually used
in painted to protect edges of
room
1 roll
2104
Electrical
tape
Stretchy and strong, smooth
black on the outside, usually
used to insulate wires in
electrical systems
1 black
Other:
Item #
2201
Name
String
Description
Basic cotton cord
Size
1 ball
2202
Thread
Very thin cord, can be
used with a needle if
necessary
1 spool
2203
Fishing line
Clear plastic cord, made
to look “invisible” when
hanging
1 spool
2204
Paper clips
Wire fasteners, can
unbend and rebend to
make different shapes
#1 size:
1.375 in. long
Jumbo: 1.75 in.
long
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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2205
Magnets (strip)
Holds together by
magnetic force, can easily
attach and detach, sticky
back, can be cut to any
size
Length:
12 in. strip
Width: ½ in.
2206
Magnets
(circular)
Holds together by
magnetic force, can easily
attach and detach
Diameter:
½ in., ¾ in., or 1
in
2207
Rubber bands
Stretchy rubber circles
Various sizes
2208
Zip ties
Once tightened, will not
come undone unless cut
Length: 4 in., 6 in.,
8 in.
2209
Clothespins
Wooden and metal clips
that hold together by a
spring force
Length: 3.4 in.
2210
Velcro
Good use as a fastener for
objects that need to be
attached and detached,
sticky back
Length: 6 in. strip
Width: ¾ in.
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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Miscellaneous
Picture
Item # Name
3000
Dixie Cups
Description
Small cups, either paper or
plastic.
Size
Diameter: 2 in.
Height: 3 in.
3001
Cotton Balls
Soft balls of cotton with
good insulating properties.
Diameter: 1.3 in.
Height: 1.6 in.
3002
Play-Doh
Soft, moldable modeling
dough.
1 tub
3003
Model Magic
Soft modeling dough that
hardens over time.
1 tub
3004
Clay
Soft and moldable. Needs
to be baked to become
hard.
6 ounces
3005
Styrofoam
Thick board made of light
plastic. Floats well in
water.
Length: 12 in.
Width: 12 in.
3006
Trash Bags
Large durable plastic bag.
13 gallons
3007
Tupperware
Strong, durable plastic
container.
Length: 6 in.
Width: 6 in.
Height: 3in.
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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3008
Egg Carton
Cardboard carton typically
used to transport eggs.
Length: 12 in.
Width: 4 in.
Height: 3 in.
3009
Funnels
Plastic tool with a large
opening at one end and a
small opening at the other.
Various sizes
3010
Pulleys
A wheel attached to hook
that, along with string can
change the direction and
strength of a force.
Length: 3.5 in.
Width: 2 in.
3011
MakeDo pieces
Small plastic pieces that
are designed to connect
cardboard.
1 MakeDo piece
3012
Yak Bak (?)
Say something into the Yak
Bak, and it will repeat it
back to you.
1 Yak Bak
3013
Dead batteries
Dead batteries make
efficient weights.
Length: 2 in.
Diameter: .5 in.
3014
Balloons
Standard plastic party
balloon.
Length: 12 in.*
* inflated
3015
Sand
Very fine grains make sand
good for filtering and can
also be used as a weight.
1 cup
3017
Gravel
Larger particles, also
works well as filter or
weight.
1 cup
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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Index
Balloons, 11
Bamboo gardening sticks, 3
Blue painting tape, 8
Chipboard, 4
Clay, 10
Cloth, 6
Clothespins, 9
Coffee filters, 4
Coffee stirrers, 2
Construction paper, 4
Copy paper, 4
Cork sheet, 5
Corrugated cardboard, 4
Cotton balls, 10
Dead batteries, 11
Dixie cups, 9
Duct tape, 7
Egg carton, 11
Electrical tape, 8
Elmer’s glue, 7
Felt, 5
Fishing line, 8
Foam, 5
Funnels, 11
Glue sticks, 7
Gravel, 11
Index cards, 5
Magnets, 8
MakeDo pieces, 11
Masking tape, 7
Model Magic, 10
Netting/mesh, 6
Newspaper, 4
Paper clips, 8
Paper plates, 5
Paper tubes, 2
Pipe cleaners, 3
Plastic silverware, 3
Plastic tubing, 3
Play-Doh, 9
Popsicle sticks, 2
Poster board, 5
Pulleys, 11
Quilt batting, 6
Rubber bands, 9
Sand, 11
Straws, 2
String, 8
Styrofoam, 9
Tacky glue, 7
Thread, 8
Tinfoil, 6
Toothpicks, 2
Transparency film, 6
Trash bags, 10
Tupperware, 10
Velcro, 9
Wax paper, 4
Wire, 3
Wooden dowels, 2
Yak bak, 11
Zip ties, 9
Copyright 2012 Tufts Center for Engineering and Education Outreach
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