Science · Pacing guide · 2026–27

Grade 6 science in Oakland Unified

Oakland Unified's plan for teaching grade 6 science: what is taught each school day from August 10, 2026 to May 27, 2027. Copied from the district's own guide, MS Science Scope & Sequence 2026-27, as it stood on October 25, 2026. Oakland Unified calls its day-by-day calendar a sample.

Overview of today's school system as applied by Oakland Unified School District:

one schedule for every grade 6 classroom.

Unit	Dates	Lessons	Assessment days	Flex days
Unit 0: Community Building, Policies, and Procedures	Aug 10 – Aug 21, 2026	4	0	6
Unit 1: Weather & Water	Aug 24 – Nov 27, 2026	46	10	2
Unit 2: Diversity of Life	Nov 30, 2026 – Apr 2, 2027	51	8	1
Unit 3: Human Systems & Interactions	Apr 5 – May 27, 2027	22	11	6

Unit 0: Community Building, Policies, and Procedures

Aug 10 – Aug 21, 2026 · 4 lessons · 6 flex days

Day by day (10 school days)

Mon Aug 10	First day of school for students · Community Building · Flex Day
Tue Aug 11	Flex Day
Wed Aug 12	MINIMUM DAY · Flex Day
Thu Aug 13	Flex Day
Fri Aug 14	Flex Day
Mon Aug 17	Community Building · Flex Day Suggestion · Skip to Diversity of Life unit i.e. DoL - 9.1, Step 1-7
Tue Aug 18	Flex Day Suggestion · DoL - 9.1, Step 8-16
Wed Aug 19	MINIMUM DAY · Flex Day Suggestion · DoL - 9.1, Step 17-26
Thu Aug 20	Flex Day Suggestion · DoL - 9.1, Step 27-29
Fri Aug 21	Flex Day

Unit 1: Weather & Water

Aug 24 – Nov 27, 2026 · 46 lessons · 10 assessment days · 2 flex days Being taught now

Investigation 1: What is weather?
Investigation 2: Air Pressure and Wind
Investigation 3: Convection
Investigation 4: Radiation
Investigation 5: Conduction
Investigation 6: Air Flow
Investigation 7: Water in the Air
Investigation 8: The Water Planet
Investigation 9: Climate Over Time

Day by day (70 school days)

Investigation 1: What is weather?
Mon Aug 24	Begin Science Instruction · Question Board on Phenomenon: Weather in the Bay Area · WW - 1.1, Step 1 (#5-7 only)
Tue Aug 25	WW - 1.1, Step 2-8
Wed Aug 26	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 1.1, Step 9-16
Thu Aug 27	WW - 1.1, Step 9-16
Fri Aug 28	WW - 1.1, Step 18-27
Mon Aug 31	WW - 1.2, Step1-14
Tue Sep 1	WW - 1.2, Step 15-25
Wed Sep 2	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 1.2, Step 26-27 · WW - 1.3, Step 1-11
Thu Sep 3	WW - 1.3, Step 1-11 Revisit
Fri Sep 4	Assessment - Answer the Focus Question
Mon Sep 7	NO SCHOOL · Labor Day
Investigation 2: Air Pressure and Wind
Tue Sep 8	WW - 2.1, Step 1-8
Wed Sep 9	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 2.1, Step 9-13
Thu Sep 10	WW - 2.1, Step 14-19
Fri Sep 11	WW - 2.1, Step19 revisited
Mon Sep 14	WW - 2.2, Step1-16
Tue Sep 15	Revisit 2.2
Wed Sep 16	MINIMUM DAY · WW - I-Check 2 (District Interim)
Thu Sep 17	Marking Period 1 Ends · Review WW - I-Check 2 Results · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: Weather in the Bay Area
Fri Sep 18	NO CLASSES · Teacher PD Day
Investigation 3: Convection
Mon Sep 21	Interim Window Open · 6th grade WW Inv. 2 I-Check · 9/21/26-10-2/26 · WW - 3.1, Step 1-10
Tue Sep 22	WW - 3.1, Step 11-23
Wed Sep 23	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 3.1, Step 24-33
Thu Sep 24	Revisit Steps 24-33 · Assessment - Answer the Focus Question
Fri Sep 25	WW - 3.2, Step 1-15
Mon Sep 28	WW - 3.2, Step 16-25
Tue Sep 29	WW - 3.3, Step 1-17
Wed Sep 30	MINIMUM DAY · WW - I-Check 3
Thu Oct 1	Review WW - I-Check 3 Results · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: Weather in the Bay Area
Investigation 4: Radiation
Fri Oct 2	Interim Window Closed · 6th grade WW Inv. 2 I-Check · 9/21/26-10-2/26 · WW - 4.1, Step 1-9
Mon Oct 5	WW - 4.1, Step 10-17
Tue Oct 6	WW - 4.2, Step 1-15
Wed Oct 7	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 4.2, Step 16-23
Thu Oct 8	WW - 4.3, Step 1-10
Fri Oct 9	WW - 4.3, Step 11-22
Mon Oct 12	NO SCHOOL · Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Tue Oct 13	WW - I-Check 4
Wed Oct 14	MINIMUM DAY · Review WW - I-Check 4 Results · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: Weather in the Bay Area
Investigation 5: Conduction
Thu Oct 15	WW - 5.1, Step 1-8
Fri Oct 16	WW - 5.1, Step 9-22
Mon Oct 19	WW - 5.2, Step 1-10
Tue Oct 20	WW - 5.2, Step 11-22
Wed Oct 21	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 5.3, Step 1-13
Thu Oct 22	WW - 5.3, Step 14-22
Fri Oct 23	WW - 5.3, Step 23-33
Investigation 6: Air Flow
Mon Oct 26	WW - 6.1, Step 1-9
Investigation 7: Water in the Air
Tue Oct 27	WW - 7.1, Step 15 · WW - 7.3, Step 2-11
Wed Oct 28	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 7.3, Step 12-20
Thu Oct 29	Flex Day
Fri Oct 30	Marking Period 2 Ends · Flex Day
Mon Nov 2	WW - 7.3, Step 21-27
Investigation 8: The Water Planet
Tue Nov 3	WW - 8.1, Step 1-15
Wed Nov 4	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 8.1, Step 16-25
Thu Nov 5	WW - 8.3, Step 1-7
Fri Nov 6	WW - 8.3, Step 8-16
Mon Nov 9	WW - I-Check 7-8
Tue Nov 10	Review WW - I-Check 7-8 Results · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: Weather in the Bay Area
Wed Nov 11	NO SCHOOL · Veterans’ Day
Investigation 9: Climate Over Time
Thu Nov 12	WW - 9.1, Step 1-9
Fri Nov 13	WW - 9.1, Step 10-18
Mon Nov 16	FOSS Kit Rotation Week · WW - 9.2, Step 1-10
Tue Nov 17	WW - 9.2, Step 11-21
Wed Nov 18	MINIMUM DAY · WW - 9.3, Step 1-19
Thu Nov 19	WW - Post Test
Fri Nov 20	Continue WW - Post Test · Review WW - Post Test · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: Weather in the Bay Area
Mon Nov 23	NO SCHOOL · Thanksgiving Break
Tue Nov 24	NO SCHOOL · Thanksgiving Break
Wed Nov 25	NO SCHOOL · Thanksgiving Break
Thu Nov 26	NO SCHOOL · Thanksgiving Break
Fri Nov 27	NO SCHOOL · Thanksgiving Break

Unit 2: Diversity of Life

Nov 30, 2026 – Apr 2, 2027 · 51 lessons · 8 assessment days · 1 flex day

Investigation 1: What Is Life?
Investigation 2: The Microscope
Investigation 3: The Cell
Investigation 4
Investigation 5
Investigation 6
Investigation 8
Investigation 9

Day by day (85 school days)

Investigation 1: What Is Life?
Mon Nov 30	Question Board on Phenomenon: How do you know something is living? · DoL - 1.1, Step 1 (#1 only)
Tue Dec 1	DoL - 1.1, Step 2-14
Wed Dec 2	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 1.1, Step 15-23
Thu Dec 3	6th Grade Live Organisms Delivered · DoL - 1.1, Step 15-23
Fri Dec 4	DoL - 1.1, Step 24 · DoL - 1.2, Step 1-15
Mon Dec 7	DoL - 1.2, Step 16-19
Tue Dec 8	DoL - 1.2, Step 20-30
Wed Dec 9	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 1.2, Step 31-37
Investigation 2: The Microscope
Thu Dec 10	DoL - 2.1, Step 1-8
Fri Dec 11	DoL - 2.1, Step 9-19 · DoL - 2.2, Step 1, 3, 12,17
Mon Dec 14	DoL - 2.3, Step1-9
Tue Dec 15	DoL - 2.3, Step10-16
Investigation 3: The Cell
Wed Dec 16	DoL - 3.1, Step 1-10
Thu Dec 17	DoL - 3.1, Step 11-20
Fri Dec 18	Marking Period 3/ Semester 1 Ends · Flex Day
Mon Dec 21	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Tue Dec 22	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Wed Dec 23	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Thu Dec 24	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Fri Dec 25	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Mon Dec 28	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Tue Dec 29	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Wed Dec 30	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Thu Dec 31	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Fri Jan 1	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Mon Jan 4	NO SCHOOL · Winter Break
Tue Jan 5	NO CLASSES · Teacher PD Day
Wed Jan 6	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 3.1, Step 1-10
Thu Jan 7	6th Grade Live Organisms Delivered · DoL - 3.1, Step 11-20
Fri Jan 8	DoL - 3.2, Step 1-10
Mon Jan 11	DoL - 3.2, Step 11-22
Tue Jan 12	DoL - 3.2, Step 22-25
Wed Jan 13	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 3.3, Step 1-16
Thu Jan 14	DoL - 3.4, Step 1-9
Fri Jan 15	DoL - 3.4, Step 10-14
Mon Jan 18	NO SCHOOL · MLK Jr.’s Birthday
Tue Jan 19	Interim Window Open · 6th grade DoL Inv. 1-3 I-Check · 1/19/27-2/2/27 · DoL - 3.4, Step 15-18 · DoL - I-Check 1-3 (District Interim)
Wed Jan 20	MINIMUM DAY · Review DoL - I-Check 1-3 · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: How do you know something is living?
Investigation 4
Thu Jan 21	DoL - 4.1, Step 1-11
Fri Jan 22	DoL - 4.1, Step 12-22
Mon Jan 25	DoL - 4.1, Step 22-27
Tue Jan 26	DoL - 4.2, Step 1-6
Wed Jan 27	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 4.2, Step 7-9
Thu Jan 28	DoL - 4.2, Step 10-30
Fri Jan 29	DoL - 4.3, Step 1-9
Mon Feb 1	DoL - 4.3, Step 10-19
Tue Feb 2	Interim Window Closes · 6th grade DoL Inv. 1-3 I-Check · 1/19/27-2/2/27 · DoL - 4.4, Step 1-7
Wed Feb 3	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 4.4, Step 8-13
Thu Feb 4	DoL - 4.4, Step 14 · DoL - I-Check 4
Fri Feb 5	Review DoL - I-Check 4 · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: How do you know something is living?
Investigation 5
Mon Feb 8	DoL - 5.1, Step 13 · DoL - 5.2, Step 1-10
Tue Feb 9	DoL - 5.3, Step 5-13
Wed Feb 10	MINIMUM DAY · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: How do you know something is living?
Investigation 6
Thu Feb 11	DoL - 6.1, Step 1-12
Fri Feb 12	Marking Period 4 Ends · DoL - 6.1, Step 13-17
Mon Feb 15	NO SCHOOL · Presidents’ Day
Tue Feb 16	DoL - 6.3, Step 1-10
Wed Feb 17	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 6.3, Step 11-15
Thu Feb 18	DoL - 6.3, Step 16-20
Fri Feb 19	DoL - 6.3, Step 21-23
Mon Feb 22	DoL - 6.4, Step 1-8
Tue Feb 23	DoL - 6.4, Step 1-8
Wed Feb 24	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 6.4, Step 9-14
Thu Feb 25	DoL - I-Check 6
Fri Feb 26	Review DoL - I-Check 6 · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: How do you know something is living?
Investigation 8
Mon Mar 1	DoL - 8.1, Step 1-11
Tue Mar 2	DoL - 8.1, Step 12-18
Wed Mar 3	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 8.1, Step 19-25
Thu Mar 4	DoL - 8.2, Step 1-9
Fri Mar 5	DoL - 8.2, Step 10-12
Investigation 9
Mon Mar 8	DoL - 9.2, Step 1-8
Tue Mar 9	DoL - 9.2, Step 9--18
Wed Mar 10	MINIMUM DAY · DoL - 9.2, Step 1-8
Thu Mar 11	DoL - Post Test
Fri Mar 12	Review DoL - Post Test · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: How do you know something is living?
Mon Mar 15	Sex Ed Week
Wed Mar 17	MINIMUM DAY
Mon Mar 22	Sex Ed Week · FOSS Kit Rotation Week
Wed Mar 24	MINIMUM DAY
Fri Mar 26	NO SCHOOL · Farm Workers Day
Mon Mar 29	NO SCHOOL · Spring Break
Tue Mar 30	NO SCHOOL · Spring Break
Wed Mar 31	NO SCHOOL · Spring Break
Thu Apr 1	NO SCHOOL · Spring Break
Fri Apr 2	NO SCHOOL · Spring Break

Unit 3: Human Systems & Interactions

Apr 5 – May 27, 2027 · 22 lessons · 11 assessment days · 6 flex days

Investigation 1
Investigation 2
Investigation 3

Day by day (39 school days)

Investigation 1
Mon Apr 5	Question Board on Phenomenon: How do humans live, grow, and respond to their environment? · HSI - 1.1, Step 1 (#2 only)
Tue Apr 6	HSI - 1.1, Step 2-13
Wed Apr 7	HSI - 1.2, Step 1-9
Thu Apr 8	HSI - 1.2, Step 10-16
Fri Apr 9	Marking Period 5 Ends · HSI - 1.2, Step 17-23
Mon Apr 12	SBAC Testing
Tue Apr 13	SBAC Testing
Wed Apr 14	MINIMUM DAY · SBAC Testing
Thu Apr 15	SBAC Testing
Fri Apr 16	SBAC Testing
Mon Apr 19	HSI - 1.2, Step 24-27
Investigation 2
Tue Apr 20	HSI - 2.1, Step 1-10
Wed Apr 21	MINIMUM DAY · HSI - 2.1, Step 11-15
Thu Apr 22	HSI - 2.1, Step 16-22
Fri Apr 23	HSI - 2.2, Step 1-14
Mon Apr 26	HSI - 2.2, Step 15-19
Tue Apr 27	HSI - 2.2, Step 20-22 · HSI - I-Check 1-2
Wed Apr 28	MINIMUM DAY · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: How do humans live, grow, and respond to their environment? · Review HSI - I-Check 1-2
Investigation 3
Thu Apr 29	HSI - 3.1, Step 1-10
Fri Apr 30	HSI - 3.1, Step 11-21
Mon May 3	HSI - 3.2, Step 1-8
Tue May 4	HSI - 3.2, Step 9-17
Wed May 5	MINIMUM DAY · STEM Fair 4:30-7:30 @ Coliseum · HSI - 3.2, Step 18-22
Thu May 6	HSI - 3.3, Step 1-10
Fri May 7	HSI - 3.3, Step 11-18
Mon May 10	HSI - 3.3, Step 19-27
Tue May 11	HSI - 3.4, Step 1-11
Wed May 12	HSI - 3.4, Step 12-14
Thu May 13	HSI - 3.4, Step 15-20
Fri May 14	HSI - 3.4, Step 21-23 · HSI - I-Check 3
Mon May 17	Review HSI - I-Check 3 · Revisit Question Board on Phenomenon: How do humans live, grow, and respond to their environment?
Tue May 18	HSI Post Test
Wed May 19	MINIMUM DAY · Review HSI Post Test
Thu May 20	Flex Day
Fri May 21	Flex Day
Mon May 24	Flex Day
Tue May 25	Flex Day
Wed May 26	MINIMUM DAY · Flex Day
Thu May 27	Last day of school for students · Marking Period 6/ Semester 2 Ends · Flex Day

Source: Oakland Unified's science pages, which links the guide. The district's sheet has more for teachers than this page shows.