Click here to fill out a survey about the 2008 500 Festival Education Program.

500 Festival and Indianaplis 500 Education Program

Learn more about the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 Education Program. Click here to watch the video.

This award winning program for Indiana fourth grade students opens up the world of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 and their important place in Indiana’s history and culture. Through an Indiana Academic Standards based curriculum, the program offers a variety of interesting and thought-provoking lessons and projects and a unique opportunity to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for an educational study trip during the months of April and May. This program is free to all schools in the state of Indiana.

To register for the 2009 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 Education Program please click here to submit your information to us, or call 317-614-6129. The deadline to register is October 13, 2008.

The 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 Education Program was launched in 2004 with 79 schools, 221 classrooms and 5,151 students.  Here is a look at this year's program:

By the numbers (2008):
25,242       Students
348             Schools Registered
207             Returning Schools
141             New Schools   
41%            of all Indiana 4th Grade
1042           Classrooms  
78                Indiana Counties 
85%            of all Indiana counties
183             Indiana Communities

Schools enrolled in the Educational Program will receive the following:

• Indiana Academic Standards based lesson plans designed to give students an appreciation of the events and history of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Lesson plans will be free to schools enrolled in the program.

             Standards Covered: 

• Students, teachers, and chaperones will have the opportunity to attend a Study Trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway grounds in April and May. The students will experience on-site programming that is designed to incorporate the lessons learned in the classroom. Schools attending the Study Trips will receive a stipend to offset its transportation costs. (Schools are not required to participate in the Study Trips to be enrolled in the program and receive the lesson plans).
  
• Students, teachers and chaperons on the Study Trips will be provided free admission to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Hall of Fame Museum where they will learn first-hand about one of Indiana’s greatest and most widely recognized traditions.

Click Here for driving directions to IMS

Study Trip Class Photos
Our partners at Sinden Racing are taking class photos on the day of your study trip. The photos will only be available on-line. All photos will be password protected and a specific URL is needed to access your school’s photos.

Sharing Photos
For security purposes, passwords and instructions on accessing photos will only be given out to an official representative of your school. To obtain instructions and the school’s password, please fax on school letterhead a request to: Joelle Baugher, 500 Festival, fax number: 317-614-6164.

If you choose to share your school’s password, you are responsible for the use of the photos.

Class photos may be downloaded from the album or you may order prints of the photos. Please note; prints may take up to 9-12 business days to receive. You will be ordering prints from a third party supplier. The 500 Festival or Indianapolis Motor Speedway is not able to track your prints or resolve any billing issues. Please contact www.photosite.com for customer service.