Unit Study Kits

What are HCOS Unit Study Kits?

HCOS Unit Study Kits are a carefully researched and designed compilation of reading, listening resources, curated subscriptions, and choice-based activities based on the Big Ideas and Core and Curricular Competencies from BC’s Curriculum. Learners will engage in questioning, researching, discussing, exploring, creating, reflecting and designing as they interact with these fascinating activities and topics and inquire into the world around them. Unit Study Kits are intentionally created to fully meet (and exceed) the required content and competencies for BC Social Studies and Science. They offer families a complete curriculum for both subjects. Social studies and science kits are currently available for grades K-9.

What do Unit Study Kits Cover?

Our kits support learning in a variety of areas, including:

A cross-curricular approach that includes elements of science, technology, reading, writing, engineering, art, math, and other subject areas is integrated throughout the kits, as well as integration for differentiated learning options to meet the needs of each unique learner.
Career education and design thinking (ADST) activities
A Guided Inquiry approach directly tying into the Core Competencies, written from a Biblical worldview
Digital Literacy integration
Integration of First Peoples Principles of Learning where applicable

Grades K-3

Our K-3 Unit Study Kits are filled with fun and flexible activities to bring God’s world to life for our littlest learners. Families will discover beautiful books, carefully selected videos, and various engaging activities to select from.

Grades 4-5

Our 4th and 5th graders are gaining confidence as learners and enjoy being challenged with thought-provoking content, skill development, fascinating books and videos, and a wonderful array of knowledge-building activities to choose from.

Grade 6

Our newly revised grade 6 kits are written directly to the student. They are robust, humanities-based units with specific assignments that allow students to delve deeply into science and social studies topics while still providing them with room to express themselves as unique children of God.

Grades 7-9

Unit Study Kits for students in grades 7-9 are designed to begin preparing them for the HCOS Graduation program. Units thoroughly cover science and social studies topics, providing structured learning opportunities within a framework that promotes choice and allows students room to express themselves as learners.

Why are HCOS Unit Study Kits Helpful?

Unit Study Kits provide a flexible option for families who seek to build academic skills and knowledge with social studies and science units aligned to the BC Curriculum. The kits require no supplementation to meet BC Standards when completed as suggested. While unit study kits are specifically graded, many offer flexibility for whole-family learning. We encourage families to fully involve their teacher in the kit selection and planning process. Collaborating with your teacher will ensure you complete all necessary assignments for each of your children.

How Do I Use Unit Study Kits?

Unit Study Kit Components

HCOS Unit Study Kits are available in both physical and digital formats. In Grades K-6, a blended instruction guide is used for all kits. In Grades 7-9, you will access a digital guide for links and other digital resources; however, you can also borrow a physical kit package from the Learning Commons.

Digital Kits

When you choose to use a digital kit, nothing will be mailed to you; all of your resources will be in a digital format. You will access a blended guide. Guides are filled with links to access digital books, videos, and other virtual tools, games, and interactive resources. All instructions for activities are found within the kit guide. Digital kits are available to all patrons.

Tips For Using Digital Kits

We recommend that you log into Sora and the subscriptions before starting, saving the passwords in your browser (private devices only) as you go.
We will purchase more copies if no required eBooks for a particular Unit Study Kit are available. Please contact Pippa Davies at pdavies@onlineschool.ca if this is the case.

Physical Kits

Physical kit packs are available to book through the HCS Learning Commons Search Portal. K-6 kit packs use the same blended guide as the digital kits, while kits for grades 7-9 come with a physical version of the kit guide (you will still need to access the digital guide for links). When you order a physical kit from the Learning Commons, you will be mailed an assortment of lovely physical books to accompany your learning. Physical kits are available to enrolled patrons only.

When you book a kit through our Search Portal, it will be shipped to your home, and HCOS will send a courier to pick it up from your home after use. Kits may include novels, reference books, DVDs, games, slides, puzzles, etc.

Unit Study Kit Guides

All HCOS Unit Study Kits guides use Sora eBooks, audiobooks, and our subscriptions linked directly within the kit guides.

Grade K-6 Blended Guides

A blended guide is used for all kits. Blended guides are digital documents with fully clickable links. K-6 kits are available in digital and physical formats, but both types of kits use the same blended guide.

Grade 7-9 Digital or Physical Guides

Currently, you can choose between a digital guide or a physical guide. Physical guides accompany the physical kit, which you can borrow via the Search Portal. When you book a physical kit from the Learning Commons, you will receive a package with additional books and sometimes other materials. You will still need to access the physical guide online to utilize clickable links when using a physical kit. Families using physical kits can still select digital books to enhance their learning.

Grade	Blended Guide	Digital Guide	Physical Guide	Physical Kit
Grade K-5	✅	❌	❌	✅
Gr 6 Social Studies	✅	❌	❌	✅
Gr 6 Science*	❌	✅	✅	✅
Gr 7-9	❌	✅	✅	✅

* Note: We are in the process of creating updated blended guides for Grade 6 kits.*

Where do I Access HCOS Unit Study Kits?

All HCOS Unit Study Kits are password protected, so to view them, you must log in to the Learning Commons website. To find the passwords for HCOS subscriptions and the Unit Study Kit, choose the Subscriptions Icon in the menu at the top of the Search Portal. This will take you to the Subscriptions page, where you will find usernames, links, and passwords for all HCOS Subscriptions and the password to access digital Unit Study Kit Guides.

Troubleshooting

We love to hear from you! You can access help and support with the kits in various ways. These include:

LiveChat on our website (available Monday to Friday from 9-3. You can also leave a message outside of open hours. Messages will be responded to the next school day.)
Contacting Rachael Rennie at rachael.rennie@onlineschool.ca.
Discussing the kits with your support teacher.

If you have difficulty accessing subscriptions, please contact Margaret Basaraba at margaret.basaraba@onlineschool.ca or reach out on Live Chat.