Mr Herkes' Excellent Electric Motor

•  One 'D' Cell Alkaline Battery
• One Wide Rubber Band
• Two Large Paper Clips
• One Rectangular Ceramic Magnet
• Heavy Gauge Magnet Wire (the kind with red enamel insulation, not plastic coated)
• Sandpaper, file or razor blade
• Optional: Glue, Small Block of Wood for Base

Instructions:

1. On one tail, use the sandpaper or file to completely remove the insulation from the wire for a length about 0.25-0.5" from the end.  On the other tail, lay the coil down flat and scrape off the insulation from the top half of the wire only.  The diagram below if for an end view of each end of the wire. 
2. Bend the two paper clips into the following shape (A pair of pliers will be useful here):   
3. Use the rubber band to hold the loop ends (on the left in the above drawing) to the terminals of the "D" Cell battery: 
4. Stick the ceramic magnet on the side of the battery. Since it is a magnet, it will stick on its own:  
5. Adjust the tails of the coil so the bare wire touches each paper clip - this may require wrapping the tails around the coil another one or two times.
6. Place the coil in the cradle formed by the right ends of the paper clips. You may have to give it a gentle push to get it started, but it should begin to spin rapidly. If it doesn't spin, check to make sure that all of the insulation has been remove d from the wire ends. If it spins erratically, make sure that the tails on the coil are centered on the sides of the coil.  
7. It might help to bend the tails of the coil a little bit to keep it on its cradle: 
8. Here is a diagram of the finished motor:
9. Feel free to change and adjust anything that you think will allow the motor to run better.  Different shape coil?  Different magnet configuration?   Try a different orientation of the sanded half versus coil?