Materials:

D battery
Piece of thin wire a foot long
Nail

What To Do:

1) Take some of the plastic coating off each edge of the wire so the metal part of the wire shows.
2) Wrap ALL the wire around the nail.
3) Put one end of the wire on the positive side of the battery and the other end of the wire on the negative side of the battery. Make sure the metal part of the wire is touching the battery on both ends!
4) Try to pick up a paper clip or some staples with the nail.

Make a compass

www.howstuffworks.com/compass1.htm

Make an electroscope

www.schoolnet.ca/general/electric-club/e/page4.html