Maker Supply List

for STEAM at Home, the Library, and in the Classroom

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Look around! You can start your own Makerspace for kids with just everyday stuff.

You don’t need to spend a fortune on high tech machines or kits to start doing real-life STEAM activities. Here are suggestions for things you can use and where to find them. If you need tips on what to do with the stuff you’ve collected, check out my books, or contact me to set up a STEAM at Home presentation for your school, library, or homeschool group!

Need something last minute? Supply chain delays making it difficult to make stuff?

Maker Supplies by Category

Materials and tools you may already have on hand, things you can easily find at at little or no cost, electronics and kits that are worth the investment, and additional resources to help you in your maker explorations!

School, Office, and Arts and Crafts Supplies

What to Use

Note: Categories are just suggestions — many items have multiple uses!

  • Building Materials

    • craft sticks

    • wooden shapes

    • Model Magic/Sculpey

    • corrugated cardboard boxes

    • thin cardboard boxes and sheets

    • cardboard tubes (toilet paper, paper towel)

    • empty plastic containers

    • empty metal cans

    • corrugated plastic board

    • corks

    • balloons

  • Fabric and Fiber Supplies

    • yarn

    • embroidery floss

    • fabric

    • elastic thread

    • easy-to-use fabric

      • felt

      • fleece

      • burlap

      • felted (shrunken) wool knit

  • Paper

    • notebooks (for keeping records)

    • copy paper

    • construction paper

    • card stock

    • origami paper

    • scrapbooking paper

    • handmade paper

    • watercolor/pastel paper

    • tissue paper

    • recycled newspaper and magazines

    • wallpaper samples

  • Decorations

    • googly eyes

    • pipe cleaners

    • pencil erasers

    • plastic beads

 

Tool Ideas

  • Cutting Tools

    • small, sharp, pointy scissors

    • patterned scissors

    • kid-friendly craft knives

    • sharp pencils

    • jumbo push pins

    • cutting mat

  • Drawing Tools

    • pens

    • pencils (graphite and colored)

    • washable markers

    • permanent markers

    • ruler

    • paint (including glow-in-the-dark)

  • Connectors

    • rubber bands (all sizes)

    • paper clips

    • binder clips

    • push pins

    • magnets (peel and stick sheets, tape)

    • brass paper fasteners (brads)

    • hair pins, hair clips

  • Adhesives

    • thin double-sided tape

    • glue stick

    • hot glue gun

    • colored/glitter glue/fabric paint

    • glue dots

    • white glue (gallon size for oobleck)

    • peel-and-stick Velcro

Where to Find It

  • the recycling bin

Check out my upcoming STEAM workshops!

Kitchen and Other Household Supplies

What to Use

  • disposable knives, forks, spoons, cups, plates, bowls and containers

  • metal and ceramic bowls

  • sponges

  • straws, toothpicks, wooden BBQ skewers, chop sticks

  • aluminum foil

  • wax paper

  • freezer paper

  • scrap cardboard boxes, tubes, etc.

  • Slurpee tops (makes good UFO parts)

  • #6 clear plastic take-out containers (Shrinky Dinks)

  • oral medicine syringes (for hydraulics)

  • silicone tubing and food syringes (for molecular cuisine)

  • digital kitchen thermometers

  • fruits and vegetables (for Edible Inventions and Musical Inventions)

  • kitchen chemicals, such as:

    • baking soda

    • vinegar

    • gelatin

    • glycerin

    • agar

    • epsom salts

    • bluing

 

Where to Find It

  • supermarket

  • dollar stores

  • drug store

  • recycling bin

Hardware and Hackable Gadgets

Construction Tools and Supplies

  • duct tape

  • aluminum duct tape

  • electrical tape

  • foam tape/clear extra strength tape

  • clear vinyl tubing

  • corrugated plastic tubing

  • string/rope

  • pulleys

  • PVC pipe and connectors (get it cut at the store)

  • hammer

  • screwdrivers (flat and Phillips head, all sizes from eyeglass on up)

  • pliers (different sizes)

  • wire strippers

  • clamps

  • nuts, bolts, washers (for jewelry as well as fastening)

  • screws (assorted sizes)

  • wood scraps

 

Devices, Toys, and Games to Take Apart and/or Hack

  • LED strand lights (battery-powered)

  • solar garden lights

  • LED keychains

  • musical/record-able greeting cards

  • mini FM radios

  • mini speakers

  • mini fans

  • electric toothbrushes

  • toy electric guitars and other instruments

  • fishing line (for guitar strings)

  • pool noodles (for ArtBots and game controllers)

  • lightweight sports equipment (toy baseball sets, bowling, tennis)

  • old board games (including Twister)

  • old vinyl records

  • old cassette tapes

Where to Find It

  • Dollar Tree (order in bulk online)

  • discount department stores

  • hardware stores

  • garage sales

  • online free groups

  • thrift shops

Electronic Parts and Tools

What to Use

  • batteries (AA/AAA/9V/3V coin batteries)

  • wires (insulated and magnetic)

  • wire cutters

  • wire strippers

  • DC toy motors (1.5V, low rpm)

  • LEDs

  • alligator clip wire connectors

  • solar panels

  • on/off switches

  • conductive tape

    • aluminum foil tape (used for heating ducts)

    • copper tape with conductive glue

    • fabric tape with conductive glue

  • conductive ink and paint

  • e-sewing components

    • conductive thread

    • conductive fabric and trim

    • metal jewelry fasteners (snaps, hooks)

    • metal beads

    • jewelry wire

    • metal snaps

    • metal clasps, hooks, and magnets

    • jewelry pliers

  • teflon plastic ironing sheet (for paper generators)

 
 

Storage Ideas

  • carrying case with boxes

  • plastic storage bins

  • rolling drawers

  • peg board

  • shopping bags/book bags

  • giant ziptop bags

  • tool box/tackle box

  • repurposed furniture (dresser, hutch)

Maker Books

My Books!

Recommended books by other authors:

 

Magazines and Websites

Online and Print Magazines

Project How-to Websites

Coding Resources

Drawing and Modeling

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