The sky as a laboratory: an educational project of the Department of Astronomy of the University of Padova

“The Sky as a Laboratory” is an educational project of the Department of Astronomy of the University of Padova aimed to give students a physical approach to astronomy and astrophysics. It is a regional program designed to improve science education in the last two grades of high school, by creating cooperation between scientists and teachers. Currently it is present in 30 high schools around all provinces of the region of Veneto in the North-East of Italy. The close involvement in the didactical activities of high schools teachers is without any doubt the winning strategy of the project. Their enthusiastic participation to teaching and organizing activities attracts each year the attention for sciences of an increasing number of students and suggests new ideas for future educational activities.