Science · Pacing guide · 2026–27

Grade 7 science in Oakland Unified

Oakland Unified's plan for teaching grade 7 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 7 classroom.

Unit	Dates	Lessons	Assessment days	Flex days
Unit 0: Community Building, Policies, and Procedures	Aug 10 – Aug 14, 2026	0	0	5
Unit 1: Chemical Interactions	Aug 17 – Nov 27, 2026	47	13	5
Unit 2: Earth History	Nov 30, 2026 – Mar 2, 2027	44	8	1
Unit 3: Populations & Ecosystems	Mar 3 – May 27, 2027	36	9	0

Unit 0: Community Building, Policies, and Procedures

Aug 10 – Aug 14, 2026 · 0 lessons · 5 flex days

Day by day (5 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 Suggestion · Review Lab Safety using the FOSS Science Resource book: Chemical Interactions
Fri Aug 14	Flex Day

Unit 1: Chemical Interactions

Aug 17 – Nov 27, 2026 · 47 lessons · 13 assessment days · 5 flex days Being taught now

Investigation 8: Phase Change
Investigation 1: Substances
Investigation 2: Elements
Investigation 3: Particles
Investigation 4: Kinetic Energy
Investigation 5: Energy Transfer
Investigation 6: Thermos Engineering
Investigation 7: Solutions
Investigation 8: Phase Change
Investigation 9: Reaction

Day by day (75 school days)

Investigation 8: Phase Change
Mon Aug 17	Flex Day Suggestion · Skip to CI - 8.3, Step 1-14
Tue Aug 18	Flex Day Suggestion · CI - 8.3, Step 15-18
Wed Aug 19	MINIMUM DAY · Flex Day Suggestion · CI - 8.3, Step 19-23
Thu Aug 20	Flex Day Suggestion · CI - 8.3, Step 24-30
Fri Aug 21	Flex Day
Investigation 1: Substances
Mon Aug 24	Begin Science Instruction · Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How does matter interact? · CI - 1.1, Step 1 (#5 & 6 only)
Tue Aug 25	CI - 1.1, Step 2-15
Wed Aug 26	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 1.2, Step 1-8
Thu Aug 27	CI - 1.2, Step 9-14
Fri Aug 28	CI - 1.2, Step 15-20
Mon Aug 31	CI - 1.2, Step 21-34
Investigation 2: Elements
Tue Sep 1	CI - 2.1, Step 1-5
Wed Sep 2	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 2.1, Step 6-16
Thu Sep 3	CI - 2.2, Step 1-10,13
Fri Sep 4	Review Day
Mon Sep 7	NO SCHOOL · Labor Day
Tue Sep 8	CI - I-Check 1-2 (District Interim)
Wed Sep 9	MINIMUM DAY · Review CI- I-Check 1-2 Results · Revisit Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How does matter interact?
Investigation 3: Particles
Thu Sep 10	CI - 3.1, Step 1-8
Fri Sep 11	CI - 3.1, Step 9-14
Mon Sep 14	CI - 3.2, Step 1-6, 7-14
Tue Sep 15	CI - 3.2, Step 15-23
Wed Sep 16	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 3.3, Step 1-6
Thu Sep 17	Marking Period 1 Ends · CI - 3.3, Step 7-12
Fri Sep 18	NO CLASSES · Teacher PD Day
Mon Sep 21	Interim Window Open · 7th grade CI Inv. 1-2 I-Check · 9/21/26-10-2/26 · CI - I-Check 3
Tue Sep 22	Review CI- I-Check 3 Results · Revisit Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How does matter interact?
Investigation 4: Kinetic Energy
Wed Sep 23	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 4.1, Step 1-9
Thu Sep 24	CI - 4.1, Step 10-16
Fri Sep 25	CI - 4.2, Step 1-7
Mon Sep 28	CI - 4.2, Step 8-14
Tue Sep 29	CI - 4.2, Step 15-21
Wed Sep 30	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 4.3, Step 1-11
Thu Oct 1	CI - 4.3, Step 12-13
Fri Oct 2	Interim Window Closed · 7th grade CI Inv. 1-2 I-Check · 9/21/26-10-2/26 · CI - I-Check 4
Mon Oct 5	Review CI- I-Check 4 Results · Revisit Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How does matter interact?
Investigation 5: Energy Transfer
Tue Oct 6	CI - 5.1, Step 1-8
Wed Oct 7	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 5.1, Step 9-15
Thu Oct 8	CI - 5.2, Step 1-11
Fri Oct 9	CI - 5.2, Step 12-19
Mon Oct 12	NO SCHOOL · Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Tue Oct 13	CI - I-Check 5
Wed Oct 14	MINIMUM DAY · Review CI- I-Check 5 Results · Revisit Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How does matter interact?
Investigation 6: Thermos Engineering
Thu Oct 15	CI - 6.1, Step 1-9
Fri Oct 16	CI - 6.1, Step 10-21
Mon Oct 19	CI - 6.2, Step 1-7
Tue Oct 20	CI - 6.2, Step 8-19
Investigation 7: Solutions
Wed Oct 21	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 7.1, Step 1-19
Thu Oct 22	CI - 7.2, Step 1-12
Fri Oct 23	CI - 7.2, Step 13-21
Investigation 8: Phase Change
Mon Oct 26	CI - 8.1, Step 1-16
Tue Oct 27	CI - 8.2, Step 1-14
Wed Oct 28	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 8.2, Step 15-22
Thu Oct 29	CI - 8.4, Step 1-12
Fri Oct 30	Marking Period 2 Ends · CI - 8.4, Step 13-16
Mon Nov 2	CI - I-Check 7-8
Tue Nov 3	Review CI- I-Check 7-8 Results · Revisit Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How does matter interact?
Investigation 9: Reaction
Wed Nov 4	MINIMUM DAY · CI - 9.1, Step 1-13
Thu Nov 5	CI - 9.1, Step 14-22
Fri Nov 6	CI - 9.2, Step 1-8
Mon Nov 9	CI - 9.2, Step 9-16
Tue Nov 10	CI - 9.2, Step 17-23
Wed Nov 11	NO SCHOOL · Veterans’ Day
Thu Nov 12	CI- Post Test
Fri Nov 13	Continue CI- Post Test
Mon Nov 16	FOSS Kit Rotation Week · Review CI Post Test Results · Revisit Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How does matter interact?
Tue Nov 17	Flex Day
Wed Nov 18	MINIMUM DAY · Flex Day
Thu Nov 19	Flex Day
Fri Nov 20	Flex Day
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: Earth History

Nov 30, 2026 – Mar 2, 2027 · 44 lessons · 8 assessment days · 1 flex day

Investigation 1: Earth Is Rock
Investigation 2: Weathering and Erosion
Investigation 3: Deposition
Investigation 4
Investigation 5
Investigation 6
Investigation 7
Investigation 8
Investigation 9

Day by day (67 school days)

Investigation 1: Earth Is Rock
Mon Nov 30	Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How can we tell the geological story of Oakland? · EH- 1.1, Step 1 (#6 only)
Tue Dec 1	EH - 1.1, Step 2-13,19-22
Wed Dec 2	MINIMUM DAY · EH - 1.2, Step 22-24, 27-42
Thu Dec 3	EH - 1.3, Step 1-12
Fri Dec 4	EH - 1.3, Step 13-19
Investigation 2: Weathering and Erosion
Mon Dec 7	EH - 2.1, Step 1-7, 10-13, 16-20, 24-25
Tue Dec 8	EH - 2.2, Step 1-13
Wed Dec 9	MINIMUM DAY · EH - 2.2, Step 14-20
Thu Dec 10	EH - 2.2, Step 21-27
Fri Dec 11	EH - 2.3, Step 21-22
Mon Dec 14	EH - I-Check 1-2 (District Interim)
Tue Dec 15	Review EH - I-Check 1-2 · Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How can we tell the geological story of Oakland?
Investigation 3: Deposition
Wed Dec 16	EH - 3.1, Step 1-7, 9, 11-22, 24-26
Thu Dec 17	EH - 3.2, Step 1-17
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 · EH - 3.3, Step 1-10
Investigation 4
Thu Jan 7	EH - 4.1, Step 1-10
Fri Jan 8	EH - 4.1, Step 11-19, 23
Mon Jan 11	Interim Window Open · 7th grade EH Inv. 1-2 I-Check · 1/11/27-1/25/27 · EH - 4.2, Step 1-14
Tue Jan 12	EH - 4.2, Step 15-26
Wed Jan 13	MINIMUM DAY · EH - 4.3, Step 1-4,6-11,13-14, 23
Thu Jan 14	EH - 4.3, Steps 24-28
Fri Jan 15	EH - 4.3, Steps 29-30
Mon Jan 18	NO SCHOOL · MLK Jr.’s Birthday
Tue Jan 19	EH - I-Check 3-4
Wed Jan 20	MINIMUM DAY · Review EH - I-Check 3-4 · Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How can we tell the geological story of Oakland?
Investigation 5
Thu Jan 21	EH - 5.1, Steps 1-14
Fri Jan 22	EH - 5.2, Steps 18-19, 20-24
Mon Jan 25	Interim Window Closes · 7th grade EH Inv. 1-2 I-Check · 1/11/27-1/25/27 · EH - 5.3, Steps 1-11
Tue Jan 26	EH - 5.3, Steps 12-16
Investigation 6
Wed Jan 27	MINIMUM DAY · EH - 6.1, Steps 1-11
Thu Jan 28	EH - 6.1, Steps 12-30
Fri Jan 29	EH - 6.2, Steps 1-17
Mon Feb 1	EH - 6.3, Steps 1-10
Tue Feb 2	EH - 6.3, Steps 11-20
Wed Feb 3	MINIMUM DAY · EH - 6.3, Steps 21-23
Thu Feb 4	EH - I-Check 5-6
Fri Feb 5	Review EH - I-Check 5-6 · Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How can we tell the geological story of Oakland?
Investigation 7
Mon Feb 8	EH - 7.1, Steps 1-2,10-12,21-22
Tue Feb 9	EH - 7.1, Steps 23-35
Wed Feb 10	MINIMUM DAY · EH - 7.2, Steps 1-7
Thu Feb 11	EH - 7.2, Steps 8-21
Fri Feb 12	Marking Period 4 Ends · EH - 7.2, Steps 23-34
Mon Feb 15	NO SCHOOL · Presidents’ Day
Tue Feb 16	EH - 7.2, Steps 35-37
Wed Feb 17	MINIMUM DAY · EH - 7.2, Steps 38-40
Investigation 8
Thu Feb 18	EH - 8.1, Steps 1-18
Fri Feb 19	EH - 8.2, Steps 1-10
Mon Feb 22	EH - 8.2, Steps 11-18
Tue Feb 23	EH - 8.3, Steps 1-5
Wed Feb 24	MINIMUM DAY · EH - 8.3, Steps 6-12
Investigation 9
Thu Feb 25	EH - 9.2 Steps 1-10
Fri Feb 26	EH - Post Test
Mon Mar 1	Review EH - Post Test · Revisit Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How can we tell the geological story of Oakland?
Tue Mar 2	Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How do organisms, matter, and energy interact in a system? (This can be applied to Lake Merritt or another Oakland/East Bay specific location) · Pop Eco - 1.1, Step 1 (#1a & 1b only)

Unit 3: Populations & Ecosystems

Mar 3 – May 27, 2027 · 36 lessons · 9 assessment days

Investigation 5
Investigation 2
Investigation 4
Investigation 6
Investigation 8
Investigation 9

Day by day (57 school days)

Investigation 5
Wed Mar 3	MINIMUM DAY · PopEco - 5.1, Step 1-10
Thu Mar 4	PopEco - 5.1, Step 11-25
Fri Mar 5	PopEco - 5.2, Step 1-11
Mon Mar 8	PopEco - 5.2, Step 12-17
Tue Mar 9	PopEco - 5.3, Step 1-11
Wed Mar 10	MINIMUM DAY · PopEco - 5.4, Step 30-31
Thu Mar 11	Sex Ed
Fri Mar 12	Sex Ed
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
Investigation 2
Mon Apr 5	PopEco - 2.1, Step 1-20
Tue Apr 6	PopEco - 2.1, Step 1-20
Wed Apr 7	PopEco - 2.3, Step 1-15
Thu Apr 8	PopEco - 2.3, Step 15-22 · 7th Grade Live Organisms Delivered
Fri Apr 9	Marking Period 5 Ends · PopEco - 2.3, Step 23-26
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
Investigation 4
Mon Apr 19	PopEco - 4.1, Step 1-20
Tue Apr 20	PopEco - 4.2, Step 1-15
Wed Apr 21	MINIMUM DAY · PopEco - 4.2, Step 16-31
Thu Apr 22	PopEco - 4.3, Step 1-11
Fri Apr 23	PopEco - 4.3, Step 12-15
Mon Apr 26	PopEco - 4.3, Step 16-19
Investigation 6
Tue Apr 27	PopEco - 6.1, Step 1-17
Wed Apr 28	MINIMUM DAY · PopEco - 6.2, Step 1-18
Thu Apr 29	PopEco - 6.2, Step 19-35
Fri Apr 30	PopEco - 6.3, Step 1-17
Mon May 3	PopEco - 6.3, Step 18-28
Tue May 4	PopEco - 6.4, Step 1-11
Wed May 5	MINIMUM DAY · PopEco - 6.4, Step 12-14 · STEM Fair 4:30-6:30 @ the Coliseum
Thu May 6	PopEco - I-Check 6
Fri May 7	Review PopEco - I-Check 6 Results · Review Driving Question Board on Phenomenon: How do organisms, matter, and energy interact in a system? (This can be applied to Lake Merritt or another Oakland/East Bay specific location)
Investigation 8
Mon May 10	PopEco - 8.1, Step 1-11
Tue May 11	PopEco - 8.1, Step 12-24
Wed May 12	MINIMUM DAY · PopEco - 8.2, Step 1-4
Thu May 13	PopEco - 8.2, Step 5-14
Fri May 14	PopEco - 8.2, Step 14-16
Investigation 9
Mon May 17	PopEco - 9.1, Step 1-14
Tue May 18	PopEco - 9.2, Step 1-7
Wed May 19	PopEco - 9.2, Step 8-11
Thu May 20	PopEco - 9.2, Step 12-18
Fri May 21	PopEco - 9.3, Step 1-5
Mon May 24	PopEco - 9.3, Step 6-9
Tue May 25	PopEco - 9.3, Step 10-13
Wed May 26	MINIMUM DAY · PopEco - Post Test
Thu May 27	Last day of school for students · Marking Period 6/ Semester 2 Ends · Review results of PopEco - Post Test

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