Each group needs:

• 4 Petri dishes, 4-inch size
• microwave safe container (bowl), quart-size
• hot and cold tap water
• agar nutrient, 5 grams (for 4 Petri dishes)
• weighing boat
• stirrer, for boiling agar and water
• 2 samples raw hamburger, ~1/16 pound each (purchase one pound of raw hamburger for a class of eight groups; prepare by leaving one-half unrefrigerated overnight and one-half refrigerated; groups each get a sample from each half)
• 2 samples uncooked salad mix from a bag, ~ 1 cup each (purchase 2 bags salad mix; prepare by leaving one unrefrigerated overnight and one refrigerated; groups each get a sample from each bag)
• sterile water, ~ 8 ounces, available at pharmacies and medical supply stores
• wash bottle
• 4 cotton swabs
• 4 zip-lock plastic bags, size that can accommodate a Petri dish
• permanent marker or tape and pen, to label Petri dishes
• graduated cylinder, for measuring amounts of water
• polypropylene beaker
• lab tray or lab bench
• lab coat or apron, one per student
• purple nitrile gloves, one pair per student
• safety glasses, one pair per student
• Lab Results Sheet, one per person
• How to Culture Bacteria Steps, one per group
• Identifying Cultured Bacteria Handout, one per group
• (optional) second zip-lock bag that can hold four bagged Petri dishes (if needed for disposal method)

To share with the entire class:

• one-half teaspoon measuring spoon, for agar
• incubator, oven or other warm dark place to grow the cultures (not too warm, up to ~ 98 °F [37 °C])
• microwave, for boiling water
• digital balance
• access to a refrigerator, for chilling half the sample food
• biohazard disposal container (or your school's suggested disposal method)
• (optional) thermal gloves, bleach wipes, hand sanitizer, parafilm, bleach, standard trash bag