School Festivals and Events

Enjoy hands-on activities, performances, community collaborations and more that will appeal to a variety of your students while fulfilling select Indiana Academic Standards. Several of these events are included in the price of admission. Learn about these events below or download our Indiana State Museum Educator Guide.

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geofest

GEOFEST: THE INDIANA STATE MUSEUM GEM, FOSSIL AND MINERAL SHOW

K-Grade 12
Feb. 16-18, 2024; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bring your students to explore Paleozoic seas, discover mysteries in Ice Age caves, test their knowledge of Indiana’s geology and investigate the world under their feet. Hands-on activities and million-year-old specimens in our galleries help illustrate Indiana’s geological past. Shopping for gems, fossils and minerals from around the globe is available. Registration is required by calling Visitor Services at 317.232.1637.

Click here to view Indiana Academic Standards

STEAM DAYS (SOLD OUT)

K-Grade 6
March 6 and 7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Students will connect to the museum on a deeper level as they interact with hands-on, minds-on activities throughout the museum on these special STEAM Days. The galleries will have 8-10 activities spread throughout all three levels to tinker and discover Indiana’s connections to science, technology, engineering, art and math. Look for a special bonus in the Education Center for a design challenge that will have your students creating prototypes to solve a real-world challenge.

There is limited space so register early! Only STEAM-related field trips are offered during this time. No self-guided field trips available on these days.

Price: $6/student, $2/chaperone, free for teachers

Contact Brittney Basaran at 317.409.7136 or [email protected] with any questions.

CANCELLATION POLICY: School programs cancelled less than 72 hours before the day of the scheduled program will incur a $50 cancellation fee per program.

Click here to view Indiana Academic Standards

STEAM Days
Pinewood Derby

ANNUAL PINEWOOD DERBY®

K-Grade 12
March 27-30 & April 3-8, 2024; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

On your mark, get set … for the second-greatest spectacle in racing! The Indiana State Museum and Crossroads of America Council BSA invite you to build and race Pinewood Derby cars down the two-story, 125-foot racetrack and watch them speed across the finish line!

Click here to view Indiana Academic Standards

Total Solar Eclipse Celebration

K-Grade 12
April 8, 2024; 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Join space and astronomy enthusiasts for out-of-this-world fun! Learn about the total solar eclipse, how to safely view this phenomenon and enjoy sun, Earth and moon hands-on activities and demonstrations throughout the day. Find your spot on the front lawn for viewing the solar eclipse (weather dependent). Live-streaming of the eclipse will take place in the museum’s auditorium. The museum will have a limited supply of solar viewing glasses available for visitors and additional glasses will be for sale in the Indiana Store.

Click here to view Indiana Academic Standards

students standing in front of eco-science fair presentation

ANNUAL ECO-SCIENCE CHALLENGE

K-Grade 12
April 26, 2024; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Deadline for application: April 12, 2024

Innovative Hoosier students are invited to get involved in becoming the solution to global climate issues. Students can submit science challenge projects on a range of topics including aquaculture, vermiculture, composting, social awareness, urban farming, alternative energy and recycling initiatives in their schools and communities. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the schools of the winning students to assist in continuing eco-science-related work. Click below to submit your Eco-Science Challenge application.

Learn more

Click here to book your field trip. Fill out the form and select ‘Eco-Science Challenge” from the ‘any additional programming?’ drop down menu. Contact Brittney Basaran at 317.409.7136 or [email protected] with any questions.

Click here to view Indiana Academic Standards