By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
A fifth-grade teacher from Yukon’s Independence Elementary School, has been named a winner in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Devon Thunder Explorers program.
As one of January’s monthly winners, Akira McGuire will receive $500 for his classroom.
The Devon Thunder Explorers program encourages fourth through sixth-grade students to be pioneers. The program provides students with activities that challenge them to think outside the box and develop problem-solving skills around questions that focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) principles.
Each month, four classes are selected to win cash prizes through the Devon Thunder Explorers program.
Yukon’s McGuire will use the $500 prize to get a 3-D printer because his students use a website in his class to create and build 3-D figures and art. He wants his students to get the chance to see how their art comes to life and how the 3-D printing process works.
The IES teacher, who only teaches STEM, said he always needs fun and exciting activities for his students to keep the class interesting.
McGuire described how the Devon Thunder Explorers’ program has helped him present lessons to students:
“Their favorite part is probably being able to build something and getting their hands on it and not just reading the textbook or doing a worksheet,” he said.
