Learners will need an abacus that fits into one of two types: 

A Chinese abacus (suanpan) has two beads in the upper deck and five beads in the lower deck.
--> See image here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suanpan.jpg 

A Japanese abacus (soroban) has one bead in the upper deck and four beads in the lower deck. 
--> See image here: http://tiny.cc/iydhdz

The method of calculating is similar for both the soroban and the suanpan, so learners can participate in this class using either (or both!) of these two types. 

An abacus with a "reset" button is very handy, but not required. Here is a link to one that I have and like: http://tiny.cc/b2dhdz

I will also provide links to virtual abacuses that learners can use if they do not have access to a physical abacus. For those who appreciate a kinesthetic experience, this may not be as fulfilling of an experience. But they are a good option for those who would prefer to learn the concepts without buying a new piece of equipment. 

Practice problems will be provided as PDF attachments. Learners will need the ability to print these documents. 

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Virtual Abacus

An abacus can also be used to multiply, divide, and find square roots. While this class does not get into that level of detail, if learners are interested in taking their skills further, I would be willing to create a class to teach these other concepts.