{"id":7063,"date":"2021-04-19T16:32:28","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T16:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/?page_id=7063"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:54:40","slug":"2nd-grade","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/?page_id=7063","title":{"rendered":"2nd Grade"},"content":{"rendered":"<div   data-size='featured'  data-lightbox_size='large'  data-animation='slide'  data-conditional_play=''  data-ids='61'  data-video_counter='0'  data-autoplay='false'  data-bg_slider='false'  data-slide_height=''  data-handle='av_slideshow'  data-interval='5'  data-class=' avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  '  data-el_id=''  data-css_id=''  data-scroll_down=''  data-control_layout='av-control-default'  data-custom_markup=''  data-perma_caption=''  data-autoplay_stopper=''  data-image_attachment=''  data-min_height='0px'  data-lazy_loading='disabled'  data-default-height='28.666666666667'  class='avia-slideshow avia-slideshow-1  av-control-default av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-featured av_slideshow  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first   avia-slide-slider '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 45%;' ><li  class=' av-single-slide slide-1 ' ><div data-rel='slideshow-1' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><div class=\"avia-caption av-slideshow-caption\"><div class=\"avia-inner-caption\"><h2  class='avia-caption-title  '  itemprop=\"name\" >2nd Grade<\/h2><\/div><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-61 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-61\"  src=\"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5th.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"225\" title='5th Grade' alt='5th Grade'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5th.jpg 500w, https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/5th-300x135.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_slideshow  el_before_av_textblock  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >2nd Grade<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Welcome to 2nd Grade at 21st Century Public Academy!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year, our classroom will focus on building strong readers, writers, scientists, thinkers, problem-solvers, and community members through engaging learning experiences connected to the world around us. Our learning will be centered around inquiry, exploration, collaboration, creativity, and authentic experiences that help students connect classroom learning to real life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Math, students will develop strong number sense, problem-solving skills, and mathematical thinking through hands-on learning, discussion, visual models, and real-world application. In 2nd grade, it is especially important for students to see numbers in action and recognize how math connects to everyday life. Students will explore patterns, measurement, data, place value, geometry, and problem solving while learning to explain their thinking, justify solutions, and apply mathematical reasoning to authentic situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the year, students will participate in interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Math through hands-on investigations, projects, discussions, engineering challenges, observation journals, performance tasks, and Out of School Instruction (OSI) experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each unit of study will be guided by essential questions that encourage students to think deeply, ask questions, investigate ideas, and apply learning in meaningful ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our units this year include:<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><b>Stories, Communities, &amp; American Landscapes<\/b><\/h1>\n<h3><b>Essential Question:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do people and places shape stories?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students will explore communities, geography, landforms, and resources while learning how settings influence stories and people\u2019s lives. Through field journals, mapping activities, storytelling, and OSIs, students will investigate how landscapes and environments shape communities and experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planned OSIs\/VOSIs connected to this unit may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Rio Grande Nature Center,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the New Mexico State Fair,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and geography or community-based virtual explorations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These experiences will help students observe landscapes, resources, environments, and community connections in authentic settings while applying classroom learning through discussion, writing, mapping, and observation journals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><b>Inventors &amp; Problem Solvers<\/b><\/h1>\n<h3><b>Essential Question:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do humans create and solve problems?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students will study inventions, engineering, materials, and redesign while learning how humans solve problems and improve communities. Students will participate in observation activities, engineering challenges, and a Young Inventors Expo performance task where they design, build, test, and redesign inventions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planned OSIs\/VOSIs connected to this unit may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balloon Fiesta observations,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">engineering and design investigations,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and invention or science-based virtual explorations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These experiences will support scientific observation, engineering thinking, problem solving, and evidence-based discussions as students investigate how inventions and materials solve real-world problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><b>Stories, Traditions, &amp; Communities<\/b><\/h1>\n<h3><b>Essential Question:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do stories, myths, and traditions help people explain the world and bring communities together?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students will explore myths, traditions, celebrations, and cultural stories from around the world. Students will compare traditions, discuss cultural importance, and create their own mythical creation stories connected to natural phenomena in New Mexico.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planned OSIs\/VOSIs connected to this unit may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Day of the Dead cultural studies,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cultural food festival,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cookies Around the World,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and community-centered cultural explorations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These experiences will help students connect informational reading, storytelling, traditions, celebrations, geography, and community discussions through authentic cultural learning experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><b>Community Change Makers<\/b><\/h1>\n<h3><b>Essential Question:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do people create change in communities and the world around them?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students will investigate leadership, fairness, community problems, resources, environmental responsibility, and changemakers throughout history and today. Students will participate in research, collaborative discussions, evidence-based writing, and presentations while exploring how individuals and communities create positive change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planned OSIs\/VOSIs connected to this unit may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buffet\u2019s Candies,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Bingham Copper Mine,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">community leadership investigations,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and civic or environmental learning experiences.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These experiences will help students investigate how communities use resources, how industries impact people and the environment, and how individuals can create positive change through leadership, responsibility, and problem solving.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><b>Animal Habitats &amp; Adaptations<\/b><\/h1>\n<h3><b>Essential Question:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do animals and humans adapt to their environment?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students will build background knowledge through the study of life cycles, habitats, survival, and adaptations. Through research, scientific observation, and informational reading, students will investigate how living things survive and interact with their environments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planned OSIs connected to this unit may include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Botanic Garden &amp; Aquarium,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">habitat investigations,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and nature-based scientific observations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students will apply their learning through research, observation journals, and a habitat diorama performance task where they explain how an animal\u2019s adaptations help it survive within its environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_third  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_one_third  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><section  class='avia-team-member   avia-builder-el-4  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><div class='team-img-container'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" class='wp-image-46623 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-46623 avia_image avia_image_team' src=\"http:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/danielle-armijo.jpg\" alt='Danielle Armijo'  itemprop=\"image\"  \/><div class='team-social'><div class='team-social-inner'><span class='hidden av_member_url_markup '  itemprop=\"email\" >mailto:darmijo@21stcenturypa.com<\/span><a rel='v:url' data-avia-tooltip=\"darmijo@21stcenturypa.com\"  class=' avia-team-icon ' href='mailto:darmijo@21stcenturypa.com' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue805' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class='team-member-name'    itemprop=\"name\" >Danielle Armijo<\/h3><div class='team-member-job-title '   itemprop=\"jobTitle\" >2nd Grade<\/div><span class='hidden team-member-affiliation'  itemprop=\"affiliation\" >21st Century Public Academy<\/span><\/section><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_third  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding   avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-last  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><section  class='avia-team-member   avia-builder-el-6  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" ><div class='team-img-container'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" class='wp-image-8105 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-8105 avia_image avia_image_team' src=\"http:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/samantha-garcia.jpg\" alt='Samantha Brogdon'  itemprop=\"image\"  \/><div class='team-social'><div class='team-social-inner'><span class='hidden av_member_url_markup '  itemprop=\"email\" >mailto:sbrogdon@21stcenturypa.com<\/span><a rel='v:url' data-avia-tooltip=\"sbrogdon@21stcenturypa.com\"  class=' avia-team-icon ' href='mailto:sbrogdon@21stcenturypa.com' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue805' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><h3 class='team-member-name'    itemprop=\"name\" >Samantha Brogdon<\/h3><div class='team-member-job-title '   itemprop=\"jobTitle\" >Special Education<\/div><span class='hidden team-member-affiliation'  itemprop=\"affiliation\" >21st Century Public Academy<\/span><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2311,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7063"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7063"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47605,"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7063\/revisions\/47605"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/21stcenturypa.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}