The students will visit the Chicago Field Museum Nov. 15-16 as part of an electronic field trip sponsored by Insite, Ball State University's distance learning program.

"Underground Adventure" is a one hour program that allows students nationally watch museum scientists and staff members electronically shrink to a half-inch tall and walk through a soil environment to observe living organisms.

The field trip is designed to teach students about the diversity of life in soil and the critical role the ecosystem plays in supporting life on Earth.

Burris students participating include Drew Coelho, Mia Tabberson, Amelia Wood, Sejin Yoon, Zach Jones, Mica Newman, Brett Stedman and Carly Townsend. Cindy Walker, a Burris third-grade teacher, and Insite staff members will accompany the group.

The program may be viewed locally Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. and noon on WBSU, Channel 5 on the local cable system, and on Ball State's Video Information System. Students in classrooms nationally will receive broadcasts via satellite transmissions, the Vision Athena Network and online webcasts.

The program is the second in a series of electronic field trips broadcast in 1999-2000 though an educational partnership between Insite, the Chicago Field Museum and Best Buy Children's Foundation.

For more information, call (765) 285-6608.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager