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.