Review - Online Science Video Courses

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

If you read my post on our Road Map to IGCSE, then I promised to share some of the resources we are using. 

Just managed to get some time to do a brief review of one of the resources we are using for science.

Read till the end to get your special discount on this program Inshaa Allaah. 

I used to really enjoy teaching science for the preschool and kindergarten age, but as Maimoonah was growing the most challenging subjects for me as a homeschooler were Mathematics and Science especially the KS3 level and now IGCSE. Therefore I was looking for some alternatives and we settled with using Science Video Courses created by Graham Bray. 

Sister Umm Khadeejah at A Muslim Homeschool was the first to share with me this awesome science resource a few years ago, however, it was during our relocation and we were not settled, hence we did not go forward with it. 

Since we started our road map to IGCSE, we have chosen to use this online course for KS3. We have decided that Maimoonah will not be doing any of the science subjects for IGCSE Examinations as her interest is not sciences. But she wants to learn and study science for learning purposes.

 We have been using many textbooks and I realized that we are not reaching our goals completing those textbooks either because there is too much information or very less information. We have always done science with a lot of projects and using encyclopedias from pre-kinder level and of course using some attractive little workbooks. KS3 seems very different and I found myself halting with overwhelmed information to cover and not knowing exactly how to get about it.

Alhamdulillah Science Video Courses solved our problem. The courses are designed and delivered by Graham Bray a retired teacher with over 30 years of experience. You can read more about him here

This website contains three different courses.

1. KS2  - Key Stage 2 - Ages 7 to 11 years (Year 3, 4, 5, 6)

2. KS3 - Kay Stage 3 - Ages 11 - 14 years  (Year 7, 8, 9 )

3. IGCSE  - International General Certificate of Secondary Education  - Ages 14 - 16 (Year 10, 11)

We are currently using the KS3 Course. These are the printouts from the first few units.

The good thing about these courses is that each stage covers everything you need to know, this means you do not have to fetch for other resources and waste your time.

I asked a few questions for Graham and he was more than pleased to answer. I think the below answers shared by Graham answers your questions too. Read on..

1. Do all courses cover the entire curriculum for each respective course?

Yes, the videos are complete courses for Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and IGCSE.


2. Will you be adding more videos and content?

The courses are complete, so no more content is required (unless the specifications change), but I am looking to record some videos in a 'Kitchen Sink Science' series, showing parents how they can carry out practical experiments with their children just using materials available in the home.  These videos will be recorded soon.


3. What particular Exam board/boards are the courses based on?

The Key Stage 2 course follows the National Curriculum.  Key Stage 3 also follows the National Curriculum, although AQA has organized the content into ten 'big topics' that I found it easier to work with.  The IGCSE videos were originally intended for the Edexcel International GCSE, but it is also very relevant to the Cambridge IGCSE.


4. Do you get any progress report or monitoring access for the courses?

The KS2 and KS3 courses both have the end of video questions that allow assessment of progress.  The IGCSE courses have examples of exam questions with mark schemes, and also 'Talking papers'.


6. Do these courses include Past papers or question papers? If not will you be including later?

I am updating the KS3 resources, and these will include some past SATs papers (although this age group, like KS2, no longer has any formal exams). IGCSE video courses have past papers and mark schemes.


7. It is a one time fee for each course and accessible for life. And the fee is for one family and NOT per child in the family, is this correct?

The payment is one-off.  No further payments are necessary (but obviously subscriptions to new courses, such as the Kitchen Sink Science, will be extra) and the payment is for a family, so it doesn't matter how many access the videos.  There is no time limit on access.


8. What exactly does a course contain?

Each course contains videos, powerpoints, schemes of work, worksheets (where available), links to other resources.


9. What is the difference between any other online science courses and your courses?

As far as I am aware, nobody else has produced complete video courses for KS2, KS3, and IGCSE.  There are other courses available, particularly at GCSE level, but most of these do not contain videos, and mine are very (very!) reasonably priced compared to others.  I have not produced the videos to generate my own wealth, but to help others - particularly the homeschooled communities.  The courses are not free because I do have to cover costs, and also I have two students in the family who require University fees!


How are we using it?

• I print all the relevant notes and worksheets for the unit and Maimoonah pastes the pages on her science notebook.
• She will go through the videos for that unit.
• Complete the worksheets
• Do further experiments if there are any

What we like about the KS3 Course so far?

• The explanations are to the point and not too chatty or fancy. 
• The fee is so affordable and it is only one time with access to download and save all content. 
• This includes notes, worksheets, answers for the worksheets, and schemes work.
• We can schedule as per our homeschool schedules and use it at our own pace. 
• Graham is so easy to approach and understands the homeschooling community well.

What we do not like about the KS3 Course So far?

• The music. Only at the beginning of each video, you will hear music for about few seconds and then it fades. You can easily mute the few seconds as there is no voice during the music. 

You may check the courses out by watching the sample videos on the Science Video Courses website and get more information on their Facebook Page. 

And now here is the gift from Science Video Courses exclusively for my blog readers.

If you are purchasing  KS2, KS3 or IGCSE courses (not the separate Biology, Chemistry or Physics courses though), you will get a 40% discount.

 Email me at ummmaimoonah@gmail.com to get the discount code.

Actual cost is £59.99

With the discount code, the cost would be around £36. Alhamdulillaah it is a big saving and take advantage of this and benefit. Enjoy

Disclaimer: Please note I was not paid by anyone to do this post neither did I receive my subscription free of charge. I received the same discount and I am happy to share with my readers the same. Additionally, when you purchase these courses I DO NOT receive any monetary benefits from the program owners. I have no affiliation with Science Video Courses in any way and I am not in any way responsible for the content. I am just an ordinary user of this program. And as I always stress all unislaamic contents that go against the beliefs and morals of Islaam should be avoided, and disregarded and should not be used.   Baarakallaah Feekum.

Making a Bird Feeder

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم

Masha Allaah, we got a Bird Feeder Kit and made this wooden Bird Feeder. It was really fun making this and hanging outside our rooftop.

So a bird feeder is something like a tray of food or anything like that kept outside to give food for birds. Our bird feeder is a wooden one looks like a cute house, 

Bird feeders are kept outdoors to attract birds, so that they eat and give us reward. We keep the bird feeder out to invite more birds, and observe and identify them. And we could also help the migrating birds to survive during their flight. You may also see rare and uncommon birds at the bird feeder! 

Islaam encourages us to be kind and merciful to the birds and animals in this world.  Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was on a journey with his companions. Some of his companions saw a nest with a bird and its two chicks. They took the chicks from the nest which made the bird swivel around in anxiety. When the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) saw this he said: “Who has caused distress to her regarding her children? Return her children to her”. (Authentic – Reported by Hakim)

Muslim will increase obedience to Allaah by leaving out bread and biscuits for the birds that visit the garden, because, The Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Any Muslim who plants a tree gains the reward of giving in charity. What is eaten from it is charity, what is stolen from it, what the animals eat and what the birds eat is all charity….” (Reported by Muslim – Eng. Trans Vol.3, p818, No.3764).

We followed the instructions (we made without glue) and nailed a firm wooden bird feeder by using pieces of wood, a screwdriver, and nails. First we took two plastic square pieces, clear and safe, and we put one nailed in the inside of a wood piece. We did the same with the other one. 

Next, we nailed the sides together, put the bottom on, and then we screwed the top on. Then we hand-screwed two handle-like things, on the top. Lastly, we added the rope to the handles.This is how it looks when it is done.

Abi helped me to hang the bird feeder at our roof top and he asked me to keep a bowl of water too. Then we put some bird food (we used budgie food for the bird feeder)! Now the beautiful bird feeder is hanging outside. I have still not seen any birds eating from it but I have noticed that the food does reduce. I clean the feeder and add new food often along with changing the water in the water bowl. Tomorrow Insha Allaah, we are going to put dahl out and see if more birds would come as I read when you keep changing food birds would come by to try them.   

I hope lots of birds would come to my bird feeder and keep eating the food and give us rewards Inshaa Allaah. I am waiting to see the birds eat from the bird feeder soon!

السلام عليكم

Maimoonah

Birdwatching in Qatar!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم

I love birds, and I admire every bird that looks at me from the window. Birdwatching helps me to remember Allaah's perfect creation. It is indeed knowing your Lord through His signs, signs in His creation. Allaah says in the Qur'aan, 

أَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

"Do they not see the birds held (flying) in the midst of the sky? None holds them but Allah [none gave them the ability to fly but Allah]. Verily, in this are clear proofs and signs for people who believe (in the Oneness of Allah)."

Soorah Nahl Aayah 79

(For those of you who are studying about Tawheed and its categories, can you guess which type of Tawheed is this aayaah talking about?)

Birdwatching  means going outside to enjoy watching birds. Someone who does this is called a birdwatcher or birder. Ornithology is the study of birds, and the one who studies about birds is called an ornithologist.

This is my little fascinating, radiant birdwatching spot. It is where I read my books too!  Can you see a big bird book waiting for me to read? 

This is my big book of birds which helps me to identify different birds. It gives me information such as whether it is common or not, migrant or resident, in which months and seasons they can be seen and locations of where you can spot those different birds in Qatar.  

These are some of the birds I hear and see a lot:

Common Myna, present all year: Common Nightingale, it is seen in parks, and gardens: Common Starling which is up north and is black with "stars". you can see them now.

 

The Spanish sparrow:  The female house Sparrow on the ladder looking for me:  The Cuckoo can be seen during Spring and Autumn. Blue Rock Thrush in February and October. Citrine Wagtail seen in the north and east of Qatar: White Throated Robin a migration visitor.

The book also has information of other birds that can be seen in deserts, coastal areas, farms and gardens. 

 

 

I do not have a birdwatching kit with a binoculars and other things, but Inshaa Allaah I hope I will have one later, until then I enjoy watching birds from my rooftop and I look for them at many different parks in Qatar when I go out. 

We hope to make our own wooden bird feeder at the co op inshaa Allaah and it is going to be thrilling watching birds coming and eating. I will share with you about it later inshaa Allaah. Do you like watching birds too? If you have not tried yet just look outside your window and see what birds come and what they do. Happy birdwatching!

Maimoonah

All about Horses!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

So, like most of the kids Maimoonah is obsessed with Horses these days. Thanks to Sister Iman at Iman Homeschool, we managed to do a Lapbook about Horses. Since Maimoonah is learning to ride a horse and has been reading a lot about Horses, she was the one who explained to me all the details in this Lapbook.

A friend of mine gave these lovely books about Horses. We borrowed The Little Pony book from the QMuslimah Children Library.

She wrote the parts of the Horse.

The different breeds of Horses and what they eat.

Horse Sports!

Horse Colours!

What the Qur'aan and the Hadeeth say about Horses in Islaam! She showed this lapbook to her teacher at the horse riding lessons who is not a Muslim, and in fact when she asked her to read about what Islaam says about Horses, Maimoonah had asked her would you like to learn more about Islaam, if so please come home Ummi will teach you! Alhamdulillaah Dawah!

Taking care of the Horses and Grooming them! She in fact had a live grooming lesson at the class, after she did the Lapbook!

Horse Marking! The Horseshoe and the Kufr involved in some people's belief in it. 

Division practice!

This was a nice experience as she was able to do the lapbook while she was exposed to real horses!

Nature Challenge - March 2014 & Keep it Green Family Day

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The topic for the month of March - Nature Challenge conducted by Tasawory (Qatar Museum Authority) was Wild Animals of Qatar. We did not have any books on this so we looked up on the internet and Maimoonah came up with this poem and submitted.

Wild Animals of Qatar

Brown long sand snakes
moves through the sand dunes,
looking for its prey.

Fork Tongue Desert Monitor,
a metre long aggressive lizard,
ready to eat with a bite.

Ethiopian Hedgehog,
hiding in the rocks,
ready to fight a big snake.

Arabian Gazelle,
with a long pair of horns,
shows its thin frame.

A Kangaroo Cat,
comes out in the night,
to throw sand at the enemy.

Nocturnal Fox,
with bat like ears,
roaming the dunes in the dark.

Lonely Sand Cats,
living in the sand caves,
dig deep into the dunes for prey

One day I hope to see them all,
and praise the Lord of all.

With this the Nature Challenge Contest ended. They organized a wonderful Keep it Green Family event at  one of the beautiful parks in Qatar - MIA Park and held some activities for kids. They also handed over the prizes for the winning contestants.

The winning entries were displayed!

At the Family day they had three stations, one was planting a seed and watching it grow. they were asked to decorate their plastic bottle pots and plant a seed, take it home and see it grow.

 

They were also given a small activity pack at this station by the Quraanic Botanical Gardens - Doha which had details about the trees mentioned in the Qur'aan and some fun matching, finding the difference, finding the way activities and a puzzle.

 

The next station was doing some crafts using recycled paper and materials and storytelling at the Mangroves.

The final station had a sensory activity. Exploring the under water shore animals. There was a sand box in which some sea creatures were buried under the sand and the kids were asked to find them.

Finally Maimoonah picked up her prize and certificates. Alhamdulillaah, they were very well thoughtfully chosen valuable gifts for these winning entries, Baarakallaah Feeha

Winning Poetry Entries

The Gift pack had a set to plant seeds and watch them grow.

A Junior snorkeling set!

A beautiful huge kite!

And the most valuable of all I guess a set of Qatar Nature Explorers Encyclopedia. They are so wonderful!

 

 

 

 

We thank the Qatar Museum Authority and Ms. Angela Ruggles for such a wonderful initiative and providing our kids a great opportunity to contribute for this. We hope they would continue to have many such challenges and events Inshaa Allaah.