  The reform of the upper secondary school in Italy has recently introduced
physics in the curricula of professional schools, in realities where it was
previously absent. Many teachers, often with a temporary position, are obliged
to teaching physics in schools where the absence of the laboratory is added to
the lack of interest of students who feel this matter as very far from their
personal interests and from the preparation for the work which could expect
from a professional school. We report a leaning path for introducing students
to the measurement of simple physical quantities, which continued with the
study of some properties of matter (volume, mass, density) and ending with some
elements of thermodynamics. Educational materials designed in order to involve
students in an active learning, actions performed for improving the quality of
laboratory experience and difficulties encountered are presented. Finally, we
compare the active engagement of these students with a similar experience
performed in a very different vocational school.
