I've provided this description of the MIT 8.02 motor contest kit for OpenCourseware students who might like to try their hand at constructing a motor. This is the genuine-article, straight-from-MIT kit as provided to 8.02 students.
Contents of kit:
- wood block, 4.125" x 2.35" x 0.68"
- (2) ceramic magnets, 1" x 0.75" x 0.185"
- (2) paper clips, 1.24" long x 0.3" wide
- (2) thumbtacks, 0.39" diameter
- enameled wire, 24 AWG, 75" long, 0.022" diameter