CHICAGO, Ill. ? Four second graders and their teachers from Burris Laboratory School were left in awe Wednesday when the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex was unveiled at the Field Museum of Natural Science.

"It was cool," said Will Spengler, a Burris second grade student. "We studied fossils for awhile but to see it up close was neat."

Burris students served as reporters for the largest electronic field trip produced by Ball State University, which oversees the lab school. Student newscasters got the "scoop" of the day's happenings, interviewing museum scientists and VIP guests.

Joining Spengler were Andy Joe, Arin Phillips and Taylor Unroe who were under the direction of Jolena Sutherland, a Burris second grade teacher. Second graders have been studying fossils for several months to prepare for the broadcast.

"This was a once in a lifetime opportunity," Sutherland said. "It brings a whole new meaning to the world of field trips."

Sue is the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. It was discovered by fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson in 1990, in the badlands of South Dakota. The Field Museum purchased Sue at public auction in 1997 with generous financial support from McDonald?s Corporation, Walt Disney World Resort, and private individuals.

Burris students also got to talk with Hendrickson, who signed autographs and answered questions. She left them aspiring to go into the dinosaur-hunting business.

An estimated 5 million K-12 students watched the satellite broadcast around the country. It was a new record for Ball State?s electronic field trip program, said Mark Kornmann, director of outreach programs for Ball State?s Teachers College.

The production included six separate one-hour broadcasts that allowed students to ask questions of field museum officials by e-mail or by phone. The project brings scientists, research facilities and collections into classrooms nationwide through satellite broadcasts, Webcasts and online resources and activities.

"It was a very exciting experience and a great day for Ball State to be able to provide this to students all over the country," Kornmann said. "The e-mails and phone calls came in by the hundreds during each broadcast. We were totally swamped with questions and had to hold many over to the next broadcast."

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager