Rev your engines, race fans!
On August 8, 2002, the United States Mint officially
unveiled the brand new Indiana quarter design at a ceremony in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The ceremony, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, marked the release of the nineteenth state's quarter to be celebrated as a part of the 50 State Quarters® Program!
Teachers, below you will find several activities and links that will bring the excitement of Indiana's "State Quarter Day" into your classroom!
Indiana Quarter
Learn more about the latest quarter and the important symbols that inspired it.
50 State Quarters Program
Find out more about this program that honors every state in America!
50 State Quarters Program Lesson Plans
The 50 State Quarters Program lesson plans are ready for you to use in your classroom! Take a look at the lessons created specifically to celebrate the Indiana quarter: Coin Crossroads (K–1), The Great States Race (2–3), and A Race Through the States (4–6)! After that, be sure to check out the rest of the state-specific plans, FREE to download in sets designed specifically for grades K and 1, 2 and 3, and 4 through 6.
State Quarter Day Classroom Activities
Here are some fun ways to infuse your curriculum with activities that celebrate the arrival of the newest quarter in circulation!
Also, take a trip to Get a Clue About Collecting to Find the Hidden Coins that are a part of the 50 State Quarters Program.
Racing Their Way Into Your Pockets
Curious about the race which inspired this new coin? Take a look at December 2002's Coin of the Month and then try out the accompanying Teacher Feature, Rings Around the Racetrack. It's sure to become a "fast" favorite among your students!
Connected Coins and Medals
The Indianapolis 500 is not the only famous race commemorated on a coin. Read on to find our what other states have been home to such exciting events:
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What state chose to place a horse on the reverse of their new quarter? Kentucky of course! Take a look at how the 2001 Kentucky quarter commemorates the longest running annual horse race in the United States, the Kentucky Derby, as well as other important symbols of the state. |
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Did you know that Rhode Island was home to the America's Cup yachting race for over fifty years? That, along with the state's over 400 miles of coastline, helped the "Ocean State" chose a design with a sailboat gliding through the Narragansett Bay to feature on the 2001 Rhode Island quarter's reverse. |
Our Foreign Friends
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The coins produced for the 50 State Quarters Program share much in common with the European currency, the euro. With your students, visit the interactive cartoon, Coins of the World, to see how these two programs are similar (here's a hint: look at the backs of euros from different countries, and then look at their fronts). |
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Quarter Games
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Here's a challenge for your students! Put all the pieces of the Indiana quarter back together—in three minutes or less! |
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Are your students budding artists? Let them try their hands at painting the Indiana quarter. An orange racecar with blue wheels...let your imagination run wild! |
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Here's a word search all about quarters and other coins. Can your students find all the words on each list? |
A Coinage Cartoon
Teachers' Network
Teachers, if we've piqued your interest with the activities above, please sign up for the Teachers' Network. As a member, you can receive information about all of the new educational resources that become available from the United States Mint!
