500 FESTIVAL-INDY 500 EDUCATION PROGRAM STILL GAINING MOMENTUM
INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, March 20, 2007 – More than 24,000 Indiana fourth graders will experience the history, science, cultural impact and magic of the Indianapolis 500 in 2007, thanks to the hard work of the 500 Festival.
A record 24,030 Indiana fourth-grade students are learning about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500-Mile Race in classrooms across Indiana this spring through the 500 Festival & Indianapolis 500 Education Program.
The program is growing because of its ease of use and because students enjoy the program’s unique approach to learning, said James Carson, a fourth-grade teacher at Crooked Creek Elementary in Indianapolis.
“The education program staff is extremely helpful and the (curriculum) materials are all provided for you,” Carson said. “It covers many different aspects of the Indy 500, from the Festival to the history of the event.
“Students all seem to enjoy something different. Some like the videos and seeing the race footage. They also like to learn about the history behind how the race came to be. And the field trip … who doesn’t like a day at the track?”
The fourth-graders also become race fans and want to get involved in community activities after the experience, Carson said. It’s another embodiment of “Spirit and Speed,” the theme of the 91st Indianapolis 500 and the 50th Anniversary of the 500 Festival this year.
“The students see this program as a chance to learn about our state’s history and as a way to develop an enjoyment of the ‘500,’” Carson said. “Many students will in turn go to the race, the 500 Festival’s Mini-Marathon and kid’s day. It helps develop a passion about the whole experience.”
In January 2007, the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 Education Program provided a complimentary Indiana Academic Standard-based curriculum to 1,001 fourth-grade teachers in communities across Indiana. The students are studying the “500’s” relationship with subjects such as Indiana history, social studies, health, language arts, science, technology, physical education and math.
In April and May, more than 11,000 of those students will spend a day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and see the history and culture of the Indianapolis 500. They’ll also enjoy interactive learning such as putting on driver fire suits to learn about driver safety, handling an actual paving brick from the track’s historic surface, and viewing other icons of IMS tradition that have made Indy famous.
“We’re pleased about the success of the 500 Festival & Indianapolis 500 Education Program,” IMS President Joie Chitwood said. “The Month of May at the Speedway is an important part of the fabric of life for all Hoosiers, and the program is a unique way to help educate an entire generation of Indiana youngsters and introduce them to ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
In 2005, the 500 Festival Education Program was awarded the Silver Award in the International Festival and Events Association (IFEA)/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards in the category of Best Education Program.
“The success of the Education Program is a true reflection of how the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 have helped define Indianapolis and Indiana,” said Kirk Hendrix, president and CEO, 500 Festival. “Thousands of students are now getting the opportunity to learn more about and see the significance and history behind the famed oval.”
The mission of the 500 Festival, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2007, is to produce events and programs that celebrate the success of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Indiana and their guests. These events and programs, produced largely by more than 7,000 volunteers, enhance the image of the city and state by showcasing their cultural, educational and social benefits to the world.
