Over time we have collected a database of materials we use regularly in the Creativity Lab. We understand how challenging, overwhelming and, at times, expensive it is to organize and order materials. There are many sources to choose from and many factors to weigh in when deciding what to purchase and stock in your maker space or classroom. For detailed lists of materials purchased, please see our individual project guides, K-4 Classroom Creativity Lab Materials, and Basic Project Materials for the High School Making Elective.
Below are some useful links to help you in this process.
Recycling, Re-purposing, Re-using
Eco-friendly salvaged goods, from housewares & building materials to furniture, clothes & books. Good for Take-Aparts!
900 Murray St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Quirky, eco-minded resale shop with items ranging from arts & craft supplies & fabric to furniture.
4695 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Chain of thrift stores supporting local charities offering gently used clothing & household goods.
16160 E 14th St, San Leandro, CA 94578
General Making and Art Supplies
Online Store that serves public educational institutions. Good source for hobby motors, magnets, gear boxes, hardware and other mechanical parts. Also provides arts and crafts supplies.
Has a wide variety of supplies that range from robotics, electrical, hardware, arts and crafts. Good place to look for things that you are unable to find elsewhere.
Family-owned retail and catalog business that supplies professional and amateur artists, students, scholastic art programs, and anyone requiring art supplies for business or pleasure.
Electronics and Robotics
Carries over 50,000 semiconductors, passives, interconnects, electromechanics, power supplies, LEDs and other electronics.
Variety of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and utility hardware.
Adafruit was founded in 2005 by Limor Fried. The company has expanded offerings to include tools, equipment and electronics. Good source for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, components for robotics, wearables, and conductive materials and accessories.
Makers of the Hummingbird Kit, which allows students to create and program robots built from electronic components and craft materials.The Kit includes a Hummingbird controller, sensors, motors, LEDs, servos.
Pro-Bot offers students an enticing, engaging, and hands-on experience with Logo programming as well as robotic controls.
Turns everyday objects into touch-pads. It’s a simple Invention Kit for Beginners and Experts doing art, engineering, and everything in-between.
Sparkfun manufactures and sells microcontroller development boards and breakout boards. All products are released as open-source hardware
Lectrify designs, prototypes and tests interactive hands-on curriculum for kids. Their circuits are universally embeddable meaning they can be used on all types of materials – paper, wearables, arts & crafts. They produce great pieces for sewn circuits.