MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Far East meets the Midwest Sept. 15-18 when a group of Japanese elementary school students visit their counterparts at Burris Laboratory School.

Twenty Japanese elementary school students from the laboratory school at Aichi University, located in Okasaka City, will attend classes, tour Ball State University's campus, participate in discussion sessions and interact with local host families. The students range in age from nine- to 12-years-old.

The exchange is the result of two years of planning between Burris and Japanese school educators. Planning began after Ball State President John Worthen visited Japan, sparking interest by Japanese school officials, said Christy Wauzzinski, a Burris instructor and a member of the exchange program. Danette Morrel, a Burris instructor, is the exchange team coordinator.

"We plan to show the youngsters what it is like to live in the United States," Wauzzinski said. "We are taking them to the mall, to local businesses, the Children's Museum in Indianapolis and other points of interest."

Burris officials plan to allow the Japanese students to participate in the annual mock Olympic Games.

Children from both schools exchanged information over the summer to better understand their new classmates. Japanese children also have received video and written information about their counterparts and host families, including names of family members and pets, and interests, activities and education preferences.

"Even though the Japanese children are not fluent in English, we anticipate that both groups should get along very well," Wauzzinski said. "Youngsters are open to new cultures. No matter what the language barrier, kids understand the idea of playing and having fun."

In the spring of 1998, a group of Burris elementary school students will make the trip to the Japanese islands. Participants have been selected, she said.

"In the past, Burris students have been to Mexico and other parts of the United States," Wauzzinski said. "We are looking forward to sending the first elementary-aged delegation to Japan."

Burris is the state's only K-12 public school and enrolls about 500 students. It is supervised by Ball State's Teachers College, serving as a laboratory for the university's teaching majors. Burris also houses classes for the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities, the state's only public, residential high school for academically gifted juniors and seniors.