A hands-on STEM project to approach radioactivity in lower secondary schools

Radioactivity and ionizing radiation are typically not included in lower secondary school curricula. However, these phenomena are present in our daily lives, making it essential to introduce these topics in schools to promote scientific awareness and literacy. Research in science education has demonstrated that active learning strategies can effectively address the challenge of introducing modern physics topics, engaging and motivating students to explore science. We present an innovative STEM-based educational project designed to teach radioactivity in lower secondary schools. We outline the structure of the project and share preliminary results from its implementation in Sardinia, Italy.