HOP – Hands-On Physics is a collaborative project by INFN - National Institute for Nuclear Physics, CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research, and the Agnelli Foundation, designed to support Mathematics, Science, and Technology teachers in lower secondary schools by providing new teaching tools and methods to introduce the scientific method and physics. Through hands-on experiments and inquiry-based learning, the project encourages students to actively explore scientific concepts in an engaging and interactive way.

Running from 2023 to 2025, the project offers participating teachers a dedicated training day and provides them with a teaching and experimental kit for use in their classrooms. The hands-on approach is based on the idea that the scientific method is already present in students' everyday experiences, it simply needs to be brought to light and explored systematically. Through practical experiments and activities, the project sparks students’ curiosity, helping them gain a deeper understanding of key scientific concepts and theories.

Recognizing that the middle school science curriculum is vast and time for teaching physics is limited, inquiry-based learning has proven to be an effective way to show students how reality and scientific phenomena are interpreted, as well as the methods scientists use to investigate them.

By the end of the three-year project, over 2,000 teachers from across Italy will have participated in training sessions held in multiple cities. Each year, a survey is conducted to assess how teachers are incorporating the kit into their lessons. Early results show excellent feedback, with teachers reporting frequent use of the kit and recognizing its value in teaching programs.

Keywords: Education, Middle School, Hands-on Learning, Didactic kit, Inquiry Based Learning.