Curriculum Options

Information on curriculum and resource suggestions.

Getting Started With Selecting Curriculum

Curriculum Picks

Curriculum Picks provide just one suggestion for each of the core subjects for each grade, meeting the needs of most typical home-educating students. The trick to finding the Curriculum Picks quickly is to filter Curriculum Options ONLY by GRADE and the Feature “HCOS Pick.” 

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Curriculum Options

If you would like more choices than our Curriculum Picks offer, the Curriculum Options page on our website provides a searchable selection of resources. 

Curriculum Selection Tools and Tips Webinar

This webinar provides an overview of the curriculum selection process and references many curriculum options that may work for your situation.

Slide deck: bit.ly/Curriculum-Selection-23

Curriculum Consultations

If you need assistance selecting curriculum, please be in touch with your support teacher. Our Curriculum Consultant, Cynthia Duncalfe is also available for consultations with HCOS enrolled or registered families via her online calendar.

Educational Apps for Tablets & Phones

This page contains free and paid app suggestions in a variety of subject areas and grade levels. 

HCOS + Flex Apps

These are the app versions of tools and platforms available to enrolled students through HCOS + Flex. Please search SOPHIE to learn more about accessing the Resources and visit the Learning Commons website to find passwords for our Subscriptions.

Resources

Name

Description

Links

Canva for Education

Graphic design

Apple App Store

Google Play

Google Workspace

Calendar, Docs, Drive, Gmail

Apple App Store

Google Play

Grammarly

Writing and proofreading

Apple App Store

Google Play

Read&Write

Reading and assistive technology

Apple App Store

Chrome Webstore

Subscriptions

Name

Description

Links

BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr

Movies and quizzes from the BrainPOP website

BrainPOP Apps

(Apple App Store and Google Play)

Matific

Skill-building numeracy games

Apple App Store

Google Play

Reading Eggs

Skill-based literacy games

Apple App Store

Google Play

RightNow Media

Bible study video resources

Apple App Store

Google Play

Sora

eBooks and audiobooks library

Apple App Store

Google Play

Tynker

Coding-based math games

Apple App Store

Google Play

Parents are encouraged to do their own research on these recommended apps to determine alignment with family values and learning goals. Reviews can be found on the links for the Apple App and Google Play Stores or by searching apps on Common Sense Education.

Arts Education

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Adult Colouring Book

Digital colouring book

Free

Apple App Store

DMD Panorama

Photo and video 3D camera app

$12.99 (Apple)

Free (Google)

Apple App Store

Google Play

GarageBand

Music recording and editing app

Free

Apple App Store

iMovie

Movie editing app

Free

Apple App Store

Lapse It

Time-lapse and stop motion video creator

Free

Apple App Store

Paper

Digital sketchbook

Free

Apple App Store

PicCollage EDU

Photo editor and collage creator

$2.99

Apple App Store

Pixlr

Photo Editor

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Procreate

Digital art creator and editor

$17.99

Apple App Store


Stop Motion Studio

Stop motion video creator

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Assistive Technology

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Articulation Essentials 2.0

Speech therapy support

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Articulation Station

Speech therapy support

Free

Apple App Store

Audio Notebook

Voice recorder

Free

Apple App Store

Mod Math

Adaptive math notation

Free

Apple App Store

SnapType

Worksheet digitization and editing

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Christian Studies

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Bible App for Kids

Interactive Bible stories for children

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

BibleProject

Interactive Bible resources and classes

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Keys for Kids Ministries

Daily devotionals

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Superbook Kids Bible

Interactive Bible stories and resources

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

YouVersion Bible

Digital Bible resource

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Executive Functioning and Organization

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Be Focused (Apple)

Focus To-Do (Google)

Time management support

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

CamScanner

Document scanner

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Evernote

Notes and task organizer

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Genius Scan

Document scanner

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Noteability

Notes organizer

Free

Apple App Store

Time Timer

Visual time management

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Vantage

Scheduling and calendar tool

Free

Apple App Store

Learning Support and Inclusive Education

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Blending Sounds 1

Skill-building phonics games

$19.99

Apple App Store

Brain Works

Sensory breaks

$11.99

Apple App Store

Choiceworks Calendar

Visual calendar and time management

$17.99

Apple App Store

Conversation Builder Teen

Skill-building conversation tools

$39.99

Apple App Store

Exploring Emotions

Social emotional learning

$9.99 (Apple)

$12.99 (Google)

Apple App Store

Google Play

First Then Visual Schedule

Visual calendar and time management

$19.99

Apple App Store

Keedogo Plus

Simplified keyboard layout

$3.99

Apple App Store

Letter Sounds 1

Skill-building letter sounds games

$19.99

Apple App Store

School of Multi-Step Directions

Auditory comprehension and listening skills

$24.99

Apple App Store

Sight Words 1

Skill-building sight words games

$19.99

Apple App Store

The Sounding Out Machine

Assistive reading tools

$3.99

Apple App Store

The Zones of Regulation

Social emotional learning

$7.99

Apple App Store

Google Play

Literacy

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Book Creator

eBooks creator

$3.99

Apple App Store

IXL 

Skill-building literacy games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

LetterSchool

Handwriting skills

$12.99 (Apple)

Free (Google)

Apple App Store

Google Play

Me: A Kid’s Story

Digital diary creator

$4.99

Apple App Store

Storybird

eBooks creator

Free

Apple App Store

Strip Designer

eComics creator

$4.99

Apple App Store

Tell About This

Photo prompt caption creator

$3.99

Apple App Store

Text Twist

Letter games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Numeracy

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Doctor Lowhigh

Ordering values

$0.99

Apple App Store

Equilibrians

Balancing equations

$2.99 (Apple)

Free (Google)

Apple App Store

Google Play

Euclidean Lands 

Puzzle-based math games

$6.99

Apple App Store

IXL 

Skill-building numeracy games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

King of Math

Skill-building numeracy games

Free (Apple)

$4.09 (Google)

Apple App Store

Google Play

King of Math 2

Skill-building numeracy games

$3.99 (Apple)

$4.09 (Google)

Apple App Store

Google Play

Lightbot

Coding-based math games

Free

Apple App Store

Math Slide

Multiplication and division

Free

Apple App Store

Monument Valley

Geometry-based math games

$4.99 (Apple)

$6.99 (Google)

Apple App Store

Google Play

Odd Bot Out

Puzzle-based math games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Prodigy

Puzzle-based math games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

ReflexMath

Skill-building numeracy games

Free

Apple App Store

ScratchJr

Coding-based math games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

SET Pro HD

Puzzle-based math games

$6.99

Apple App Store

Swift Playgrounds

Coding-based math games

Free

Apple App Store

Science

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Biodigital Human

3D anatomy virtual model

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Frog Dissection

Virtual dissection lab

$4.99

Apple App Store

IXL 

Skill-building science games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

NASA Visualization Explorer

Space research and exploration

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

The Explorer’s Library by Tinybop

Skill-building science games

$2.99-$4.99

Tinybop Apps

(Apple Play Store)

Social Studies

Name

Description

Cost

Links

Agents of Discovery

Exploration-based social studies games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

GeoGuessr

Map-based social studies games

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

Google Earth

Map Exploration

Free

Apple App Store

Google Play

External Online Resources

Overview

We’ve curated dozens of educational resources available for free online. These sites offer valuable and engaging articles, instructional videos, interactive games, and much more to supplement learning at home.  

Benefits

Parents, students, and teachers can access a wealth of information and interactive learning experiences for research and inquiry, as well as to supplement coursework, deepen understanding, and foster further exploration.

Using External Resources

Many of these resources are available without an account. Sometimes, parents must set up a free account to use the resource. 

Parents should preview resources to ensure suitability for their students.

Accessing External Resources

Kindergarten to Grade 5

Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies: Design Thinking and Making
Curiosity Machine Design challenges across various subject areas
Design Squad Global

Compete to create solutions to engineering challenges

Instructables

Learn how to make anything, one step at a time.

Makers Empire 3D design tool to create, download, and print original or community-based objects
The Tech at Home STEM and design challenge activities for K-12 learners
The Young Inventors Challenges designed to demonstrate how inventions can improve people’s lives
Tinkercad

Three workspaces where students can design: 3D Design, Codeblocks, and Circuits

Arts Education
8notes.com

Sheet music and resources for musicians, including tuners, chord charts, and lessons

Blob Opera

Create your opera-inspired song; no music skills required

GarageBand

Music creation studio with a complete sound library

Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM Arts-integrated online learning experiences for students that include videos and lesson plans
MetKids

Whimsical, kid-friendly intro to the wide art world with videos and interactive activities

PBS Learning Media’s Arts Education

Resources, videos, and interactive lessons in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts

TedEd Visual Arts Instructional videos with comprehension and guided discussion questions
Yo Kidz YouTube channel featuring dozens of drawing tutorials
Bible and Christian Studies
Calvary Curriculum

Bible lessons for grades 1 – 6

Discover God 4 Kids

Learn about God's character through family activities and Bible study

Douglas Talks

Douglas, the puppet, uses stories from his life to explain God’s plan for him and you

Elevate Kids Bible-based videos to show your child how to become the leader God designed them to be
Keys for Kids

A daily audio devotional based on scripture passages

Kids Corner

Audio adventures, Bible stories and activities for kids

Kids of Integrity

Downloadable lesson plans that help parents instil Christ-honouring character traits in their kids

Kids World Easy-to-read Bible lessons
Superbook

Engaging kids’ games, radio, interactive questions about God, and more.

Career Education
Bankaroo A virtual bank for kids where you can teach them about the value of money in a safe environment
EVERFI

Standards-aligned, research-based digital lessons to teach students to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Thrively Guides students through a student-centred journey to discover their strengths, increase their self-awareness, set goals and track progress, build skills, and learn real-world problem-solving
Communication & Collaboration
Lino

A sticky-note tool to organize and collect information and can be shared with parents and teachers

Screencastify

Empowering students to demonstrate and share their learning

Seesaw Students share their learning with others through digital portfolios
Wakelet Save, organize, and share any content from across the web
Computer Science
Code.org Hundreds of computer science activities and tutorials
Codeable Crafts Animate stories with accessible drawing tools and coding blocks
CS First Makes coding easy to teach and fun to use
Scratch Code, share, and remix stories, games, and animations
ScratchJr As above, for ages 5-7
English Language Arts
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Draft an entire novel in just one month in motivational virtual spaces
Quill Free writing and grammar activities and tools 
ReadWorks Differentiated reading passages designed to improve comprehension
StoryJumper  an easy way for students to write, narrate, and illustrate their stories.  Find informative, expository, collaborative, narrative, and creative writing project ideas, suggestions on topics to write about and digital storytelling ideas. Your students can then use our tools to create and narrate a book, print it on-demand, and publish a book they can hold and hear
Storyline Online read-along books read via video by actors and authors. Each book includes a supplemental curriculum a credentialed elementary educator developed to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners
Whooo’s Reading a website with a clear mission: to help students think more critically about whatever they read through open-ended rather than multiple-choice reading quizzes.
Indigenous Education

Canada’s Original Place Names – Indigenous Peoples named many places in present-day Canada.

Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada – Four books: Truth and Reconciliation, First Nations, Inuit, Metis

The Great Bear Sea – Curriculum resources based on the film The Great Bear Sea: Reflecting on the Past, Planning for the Future by Green Fire Productions can be used to engage students in an inquiry-based, educational journey through the Great Bear Sea exploring a variety of themes such as Indigenous Knowledge, collaborative science, marine planning, biodiversity, sustainable resource management and marine stewardship.

Mathematics

Didax – virtual manipulatives and downloadable activities for PreK – Grade 12.

Khan Academy – provides interactive lessons and instructional videos; students practice at their own pace, first filling in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning.

Legends of Learning – provides an engaging educational experience for at-home learning. Kids will love the educational games on the platform, and parents will love the data that comes out as they automatically progress.

MathAntics – FREE math videos and additional subscription-based content!

Math Learning Centre – easy-to-use math apps for web browsers, Apple devices or Chromebooks.

Math Snacks – educational animations, games, and interactive tools that help learners in grades 3 – 8 better understand math concepts.

Zearn – an online math curriculum with supplemental skills practice activities for K – 5. Parents and teachers must set up their own accounts and assign lessons to their students.

Multi-Subject

Choosito – a smart search engine that safely searches the web for resources based on your student’s reading level.

CK-12 – free Math, Science, Social Studies, English and more courses for grades 1-12.

Collabrify Productivity Tool Suite – educational productivity Apps. In real-time, two or more students, each on their own computing device, co-constructing text documents, drawings & animations, KWL charts, and spreadsheets.

Easy Peasy All-In-One Homeschool – a free online Christian homeschool curriculum.

Khan Academy Kids –  a free, award-winning app for children ages 2 – 7 that engages kids in core subjects like early literacy, reading, writing, language, and math, while encouraging creativity and building social-emotional skills.

Learning Hero Roadmap – an interactive guide with videos/tools to help parents support grade-level math and reading as well as social-emotional development. Informed by what parents need, developed by leading content experts.

Newsela – great nonfiction articles with 5 options for levelled reading.

NOVA – compelling videos, simulations, teacher guides, and other activities.

PBS Kids – a wealth of educational content and valuable learning resources covering various topics.

PBS LearningMedia – PreK-12 digital media service. Search and browse thousands of learning materials, including videos, interactive lesson plans, media galleries, and more.

Quarto Classroom is a free video library on YouTube of Quarto’s creators using their books as teaching tools in educational spaces.

Smithsonian Learning Lab – an interactive platform for discovering millions of authentic digital resources, creating content with online tools, and sharing in the Smithsonian’s expansive community of knowledge and learning.

TED-Ed – supports kids’ sense of wonder with outstanding short video lessons.

Wonderopolis – short, interesting informational texts. Each text has vocabulary practice, a comprehension quiz, and activities for further learning. The Immersive Reader tool increases text accessibility with read-aloud, picture dictionary, translation, and more.

Physical and Health Education

GoNoodle – movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.

KidsHealth – easy-to-follow articles, slideshows, videos, and health tools designed to help kids and teens learn, grow, and be their best.

PBS Learning Media’s Health & Physical Education  – resources that provide essential lessons on physical, mental, and emotional health.

Science

100 Fun Science Experiments / Science Fair Projects for Kids – amazing collection of science experiments and science fair projects that you can try with your kids and students at home or school.

Climate Kids – this kid-friendly, expert site by Nasa explores key climate issues through videos, games and activities.

Google Earth –  search for specific locations or quickly manually manoeuvre across the globe, zooming in to show detail to the level of parked cars and even pedestrians. Many world areas can be viewed in 3D, allowing students to see cities, the countryside, and famous landmarks in three dimensions.

Inquiry in Action – K-5 science lessons about physical science and chemistry in everyday life

Legends of Learning – provides an engaging educational experience for at-home learning. Kids will love the educational games on the platform, and parents will love the data that comes out as they automatically progress.

Nasa STEM @ Home – videos, interactive multimedia, hands-on activities and more categorized by grade range.

National Geographic Kids – stunning photos, in-depth stories of Earth’s peoples and wildlife, and a large collection of multimedia resources that teach students about animals, habitats, countries, and cultures.

Ocean School by the National Film Board of Canada. It’s bilingual, free and has aboriginal content! A YouTube channel and an app on iOS. It uses video, virtual reality, interactive and 360-degree video, augmented reality, newsreels, toolkits and assessments. Brings powerful storytelling techniques, immersive technologies and interactive media to your home. Explore the ocean with documentary footage of real scientists, 360 videos, AR, and VR.

Science Buddies – K-12 STEM resources, including 160+ hands-on STEM activities and videos. Our activities cover different STEM concepts, can be done in an hour or less, and use materials easily found at home.

Smithsonian Science Education Center – curriculum & resources searchable by type, grade and topic.

The San Diego Zoo – An interactive site featuring videos, games and activities.

Second Language

The ASL App – Learn American Sign Language right from your phone.

ASL Kids – ASL learning app for Beginners & Kids.

Boukili – Help your students and children love reading in French.

Curious Learning – apps for learning to read in 48 languages.

Duolingo – a science-based language education platform that has organically become the most popular way to learn languages online.

Fingerspelling – Learn the ABCs in ASL with machine learning.

HandsOnASL – Learn to fingerspell with sign language.

Oh Noah! – offers students a multi-pronged approach to learning Spanish vocabulary. With its funny, story-based interface, kids are encouraged to take an easygoing, just-try-it approach to learning languages.

OnlineFreeSpanish – dozens of games, colouring pages, and interactive activities by level can be accessed anytime on tablets or desktops.

Sign School – Learn American Sign Language

Social Studies

Canada’s Museum of History – videos, activities and online resources.

Canada’s War Museum – videos, activities and online resources.

Canadian Museum For Human Rights – Join our guides on video tours of the Museum’s galleries and architecture. Check out Museum exhibits and stories about human rights defenders and history. Discover our many special online experiences.

DOGO News – a diverse, kid-friendly news site enriched by visual and bilingual elements. Articles are separated into various subjects and reading levels.

Google Earth –  search for specific locations or quickly manually manoeuvre across the globe, zooming in to show detail to the level of parked cars and even pedestrians. Many world areas can be viewed in 3D, allowing students to see cities, the countryside, and famous landmarks in three dimensions.

Historica Canada – Programs you can use to explore, learn and reflect on our history and what it means to be Canadian.

National Geographic Kids – stunning photos, in-depth stories of Earth’s peoples and wildlife, and a large collection of multimedia resources that teach students about animals, habitats, countries, and cultures.

Our Country, Our Parliament – Learn about the Canadian Parliament through a downloadable book and interactive resources.

Parliament: An Overview – Learn about the Parliament of Canada

Smithsonian’s History Explorer – Lessons, activities, interactives, engaging media and more. Resources can be filtered by grade range, resource type, historical era and cross-curricular connections.

Teachers Zone: Canadian History In Your Classroom

Time for Kids – a digital news magazine for kids with age-appropriate stories kids are excited about and information just for kids that explains the world around them.

Touchable Earth – experience the world in the first person and access 25 communities worldwide.

Virtual Field Trips and Tours

British Natural History Museum – Virtual Museum: 14 ways to explore from home

Canadian Farm Food Virtual Tours – Learn how things are made and how animals are raised.

Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips – Promising amazing places and remarkable experiences, Discovery Education has many different cost-free tours available.

Great Lakes Virtual Field Trip – Learn about the science, diversity, and ecology of these large freshwater lakes.

Hall of North American Mammals (Grades 3-5) – Explore habitat dioramas to learn how animals must be adapted to an environment in order to survive in it.

Royal Tyrrell Museum Park – Visit Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the study of ancient life from home.

Slime in Space – This video field trip shows how slime acts in space. Watch astronauts play ping pong with it!

Smithsonian: National Museum of Natural History – Virtual Tours

The Butterfly Conservatory (Grades K-2) – Observe butterflies and compare their patterns.

The National Aquarium – Explore one of the best aquariums in the country in this interactive self-guided tour.

Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China

Curriculum Donations

The Learning Commons welcomes donations of gently used curriculum (e.g., no rips or marks on pages) that are not older than 7 years. Novels, DVDs, and CDs are only accepted if they are part of a curriculum package. When we receive curriculum donations, we post them in our Used Bookstore for other families to purchase at a discounted rate.

Please email Library Administrator Shandra Wiebe for more information: swiebe@onlineschool.ca