INFN Kids is a project of the Italian Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) dedicated to the dissemination of science, physics in particular, for children in the age range from 6 to 13. Specific attention is given for integrating and broadening the educational science programs in primary and middle schools. For this purpose, we have recently started a pilot project in collaboration with two schools located in peripheral areas of the Veneto region: the Istituto Comprensivo of Piombino Dese (Padua) and the Istituto Comprensivo of Caprino Veronese (Verona).

With the advice of teachers and school principal, we selected a series of suitable workshops fitting with the educational program for each grade. The structure of each workshop includes both an hands-on and a demonstration part. Pupils were encouraged and stimulated to ask questions and discuss the proposed experimental activities and the obtained results. Each workshop lasts about one hour and also features playful activities that are crucial for keeping the attention of the younger ones. The teachers’ involvement has proved to be essential for the success of the whole activity.

The topics chosen for the primary schools are: properties of air and gases, for first and second grade, properties of water for the third grade, energy (with a particular focus on renewable sources) or, alternatively, light and colors for the fourth grade, the solar system for the fifth grade. In the middle schools we proposed the following subjects: properties of water and liquid in general for the first grade, atoms and their models for the second grade, light and colors for the third grade.
Some of the chosen subjects can be also linked to other disciplines such mathematics, art, biology, environment and technology. These links will be discussed in the presentation.

After the workshop, teachers were asked to propose a follow-up activity (such as drawing, short text or other) that would allow us to understand what the children had learned, and also to help the pupils to fix and recapitulate the whole experience. Results of the follow up activities will be reported.

Keywords: Education, hands-on workshops, science dissemination, integration of educational programs.