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Mosa Mack Science

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Recommended Ages
Younger kids can partidipate if they know how to read. Leveling is provided in all lessons through our "Inquiry Scale". This provide instruction for how to level up or level down a lesson.

4th-8th Grades

Mosa Mack Science is an award-winning, NGSS-aligned curriculum designed for grades 4–8 that engages students through engaging phenomena, animated mysteries, hands-on labs, engineering challenges, and literacy connections. Founded by a classroom teacher who wanted science to feel accessible and exciting for all learners, it has since grown into a nationwide resource used by districts of every size. Mosa Mack Science has been featured as a Common Sense Education Top Learning Selection, and has been featured in The Huffington Post and Forbes. Recognized for its innovation and impact, Mosa Mack offers built-in assessments, state test practice sets, and flexible teacher supports that make it easy to use without overwhelming. Parents love how it builds student confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking while offering strong value compared to costly alternatives. Ideal for homeschool and schools seeking an engaging, standards-based program, it’s less suited for families looking for unstructured or entertainment-only resources.

Features
LabVideo-BasedProject-BasedOnline

Mosa Mack is built for curious, hands-on learners who love to figure out how the world works. It’s perfect for students who thrive on solving real-world problems, asking “why,” and seeing science in action — not just reading about it. Whether they’re budding scientists, creative thinkers, or reluctant learners who need that spark to stay engaged, Mosa Mack captivates them with story-driven, phenomenon-based lessons that feel meaningful and exciting.

Families love it, too, because it turns science from something intimidating into something their kids look forward to every day. They see their children come home eager to share what they discovered, more confident in their thinking, and more prepared for the future — not just memorizing facts, but learning how to question, investigate, and solve problems like real scientists.

Pros

Families love it because it turns science from something intimidating into something their kids look forward to every day. They see their children come home eager to share what they discovered, more confident in their thinking, and more prepared for the future — not just memorizing facts, but learning how to question, investigate, and solve problems like real scientists.

Cons

It is not ideal for learners or families who want science to stay at the surface level — Mosa Mack pushes students to ask questions, analyze data, build models, and explain their thinking, which means it requires curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to dig deeper. For students who thrive in a lecture-based environment with minimal interaction, this program may feel too dynamic or open-ended.

Yes, we are approved for Step Up for Students and Ocean Grove Charter School

A homeschool license is $150 for two students. We also offer a teacher-only license for up to 50 students for $575.00 The value families receive is access to our over 40 standards aligned units and assessments.

Mosa Mack Science
$0.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn

Our mission

Mosa Mack’s mission is to ignite curiosity and empower every student to think like a scientist by transforming science from a subject they memorize into a real-world adventure they actively investigate. Through phenomenon-based lessons, hands-on investigations, and meaningful problem-solving, we make science accessible, engaging, and relevant for all learners. What sets us apart is our commitment to making teachers’ lives easier while inspiring students to ask deeper questions, think critically, and see themselves as capable problem-solvers who can shape the future.

Our story

Founder’s Story
A letter to science educators from Lissa Johnson

The students were silent, their eyes fixed on the grainy image of two volcanologists climbing toward an active volcano in silver suits. It was a dusty VHS tape I’d found at a local video store—a relic from the 1980s—but it held my seventh graders in a way I hadn’t seen before.

As I stood behind the television, watching their expressions, I felt a spark of hope. This is what science education could look like, I thought. A great story could bring the subject to life, pulling students into the narrative and making them care.

But here was the problem: resources like this were rare. The materials schools relied on weren’t just outdated—they were actively working against us. Lectures disguised as videos. Activities without purpose. And the scientists depicted? They were always older white men, sending subtle but powerful messages about who belonged in science.

That realization stayed with me as I started creating resources of my own. When I first tested the very first Mosa Mack mystery in a 6th-grade class in Coney Island, I felt a pang of nerves. Suddenly, I worried like a middle schooler: What would they think? Would they find it silly? Would they tune out like they did with other resources?

The mystery ended and the classroom fell silent. For a few agonizing seconds, my stomach churned. Terror and doubt filled the room. But then…it happened.

The students erupted into discussion. “It’s glucose!” one said. “No, it’s the blood cells!” another countered. They weren’t just answering questions—they were analyzing evidence, challenging each other, and thinking critically.

The next day, the teacher emailed me: “They’re still talking about it. The kids who never participate came in with new ideas. They thought about it overnight.”

That moment solidified what Mosa Mack was meant to be: a resource that didn’t just inform but transformed the way students and teachers experience science.

Today, Mosa Mack Science has grown from a handful of science mysteries into a full curriculum for grades 4–8, that’s been used in more than 7,000 schools across all 50 states. With a focus on real-world phenomena, mysteries, story-based labs, and engineering, Mosa Mack helps students see themselves as scientists while empowering teachers to foster critical thinking and problem-solving in their classrooms.

For teachers, it’s more than a resource—it’s a source of inspiration. Teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world. I remember the exhaustion I felt at the end of each day, dreading what was ahead. If I’d had Mosa Mack then, I would have been thrilled. It’s exciting to see students light up with curiosity, and it brings back the joy of teaching.

Mosa Mack Science has been part of the prestigious ImagineK12 accelerator program, recognized as Best New Educational Product by the SIIA, selected as a Common Sense Media Learning Selection, and featured in outlets like HuffPost and Forbes.

Mosa Mack Science Demo Video

Get an inside look at Mosa Mack Science

FAQ: Additional Details about Mosa Mack Science

See the invisible world of heat come alive as students explore everyday scenes through a thermal camera — glowing reds, oranges, and blues reveal hidden patterns of energy movement they’ve never noticed before.

Hear their curiosity spark as they discuss what they observe and voice their own definitions of heat, connecting what they’ve seen to how energy feels in the real world.

Feel the excitement of hands-on discovery as they conduct an investigation — fingers with and without crisco to explore heat energy transfer smelling this unique insulator — to uncover the rules of heat transfer.

Finally, they explain what they’ve discovered, using their new understanding to interpret what they saw through the thermal camera — turning abstract science into something they can see, feel, and explain with confidence.

Mosa Mack is like a science adventure your child can jump into right from home — no hours of prep required. Once you log in, your learner is greeted with a real-world mystery that sparks curiosity (“Why are frogs freezing solid and coming back to life?” or “How can we stop a city from flooding?”). From there, they investigate step by step — watching short animated stories, exploring interactive activities, analyzing real data, and solving challenges just like real scientists.

You can use Mosa Mack as a core science program or as a fun, high-impact supplement to whatever else you’re teaching. Most families spend about 30–45 minutes, two or three times a week, but you can go faster or slower depending on your schedule.

Some kids love working independently and diving into the lessons on their own, while others enjoy making it a team effort — with you asking questions, brainstorming ideas, and celebrating “aha!” moments together. Either way, Mosa Mack makes science feel easy to teach, exciting to learn, and impossible to forget.

Mosa Mack is designed to be flexible — so parent involvement can be as hands-on or hands-off as you’d like. The lessons are built to guide students step-by-step through animated mysteries, investigations, and activities, so you don’t need to be a science expert (or even remember much from your own school days!) to use it successfully.

Many families find that kids can work through most lessons independently, especially older learners, but the experience becomes even richer when parents or caregivers participate. That might mean watching the mystery video together and talking about predictions, helping gather materials for an investigation, or asking guiding questions as your child builds models or explains their thinking.

You’re not expected to act as the “teacher” — instead, think of yourself as a learning partner and facilitator. By showing curiosity, discussing real-world connections, and celebrating discoveries, you help reinforce key science skills while keeping learning fun and meaningful. And because everything is clearly laid out in the platform, you can feel confident that your child is getting a high-quality science experience — no subject-area expertise required.

No special background knowledge is required before starting Mosa Mack — the program is designed to meet students where they are. Each unit begins with a real-world phenomenon that sparks curiosity and builds understanding step by step, so even if your child is brand new to a topic, they’ll be able to jump right in and succeed.

That said, students will get the most out of the experience if they’re comfortable reading at grade level, following instructions, and discussing their ideas out loud. Because the lessons encourage students to think critically, ask questions, and explain their reasoning, a basic willingness to explore, experiment, and problem-solve goes a long way.

Mosa Mack’s active, inquiry-driven approach works well for many students with ADHD. Instead of passively reading or listening, students are asked to watch short, story-based mysteries, make predictions, conduct hands-on investigations, and interact with data — all of which help sustain attention and engagement. Because lessons are broken into clear, manageable steps, students aren’t overwhelmed by long lectures or dense text. Many families also appreciate that the real-world context of each unit captures interest quickly and keeps kids curious from start to finish.

For many students on the autism spectrum, Mosa Mack can be a strong fit — particularly for those who enjoy structured routines with visual supports. Each unit follows a predictable flow (mystery → investigation → application), and key concepts are reinforced through visual storytelling, animations, and interactive models, which can make abstract science ideas more concrete. Some students benefit from the real-world, problem-solving context, while others appreciate opportunities for independent exploration at their own pace. For children with significant social or sensory sensitivities, parents may choose to support group discussions or hands-on components with additional guidance.

Not applicable— Mosa Mack is a science program, so it’s not specifically designed to address dyscalculia. While students may interpret data or graphs, math is introduced contextually and in small, manageable ways.

Mosa Mack is often a great fit for students with dyslexia because it doesn’t rely solely on text. Core ideas are introduced through visual stories, animations, and narrated videos, so students can engage deeply with the content without needing to read lengthy passages. Investigations and discussions emphasize hands-on learning, verbal reasoning, and critical thinking, allowing students to demonstrate understanding in ways that don’t depend on heavy reading or writing. Many families use the built-in visuals and storylines as natural reading support — and pair the lessons with additional reading practice if desired.

Mosa Mack’s multi-modal design — combining visuals, audio, movement, and hands-on elements — can support many learners with sensory processing differences. Lessons are chunked into short, engaging segments rather than long lectures, which helps reduce cognitive load. However, some investigations do involve tactile exploration or collaborative discussion, so families may want to preview and adapt those activities to meet individual sensory needs.

Because Mosa Mack is built on phenomenon-based, student-centered learning, it naturally supports a wide range of learning styles. Students who struggle in traditional, text-heavy programs often thrive here because science is presented as a story to solve and a process to explore — not a chapter to memorize. The flexibility to pause, replay, revisit, or extend lessons means families can adapt the program to nearly any learning profile.

Yes — Mosa Mack is an excellent fit for many twice-exceptional learners because it balances structure with flexibility. Lessons are guided enough to support students who need scaffolding, while still offering open-ended challenges, creative investigations, and real-world problem-solving that engage advanced thinkers. Students can work at their own pace, dive deeper into phenomena that interest them, and express their understanding in multiple ways — from building models to explaining reasoning — making it a natural match for kids who are both gifted and have learning differences.

While not specifically designed for profoundly gifted students, Mosa Mack often resonates with them because of its depth, flexibility, and emphasis on scientific thinking. These students can dive far deeper into investigations, generate their own research questions, and extend lessons far beyond the provided materials. Because the curriculum is built around real-world phenomena rather than rigid textbook pacing, profoundly gifted learners can move quickly, explore advanced applications, or design their own experiments.

Mosa Mack’s active, inquiry-driven approach works well for many students with ADHD. Instead of passively reading or listening, students are asked to watch short, story-based mysteries, make predictions, conduct hands-on investigations, and interact with data — all of which help sustain attention and engagement. Because lessons are broken into clear, manageable steps, students aren’t overwhelmed by long lectures or dense text. Many families also appreciate that the real-world context of each unit captures interest quickly and keeps kids curious from start to finish.

For many students on the autism spectrum, Mosa Mack can be a strong fit — particularly for those who enjoy structured routines with visual supports. Each unit follows a predictable flow (mystery → investigation → application), and key concepts are reinforced through visual storytelling, animations, and interactive models, which can make abstract science ideas more concrete. Some students benefit from the real-world, problem-solving context, while others appreciate opportunities for independent exploration at their own pace. For children with significant social or sensory sensitivities, parents may choose to support group discussions or hands-on components with additional guidance.

Not applicable— Mosa Mack is a science program, so it’s not specifically designed to address dyscalculia. While students may interpret data or graphs, math is introduced contextually and in small, manageable ways.

Mosa Mack is often a great fit for students with dyslexia because it doesn’t rely solely on text. Core ideas are introduced through visual stories, animations, and narrated videos, so students can engage deeply with the content without needing to read lengthy passages. Investigations and discussions emphasize hands-on learning, verbal reasoning, and critical thinking, allowing students to demonstrate understanding in ways that don’t depend on heavy reading or writing. Many families use the built-in visuals and storylines as natural reading support — and pair the lessons with additional reading practice if desired.

While not designed specifically for dysgraphia, Mosa Mack’s emphasis on multiple forms of expression (e.g., oral explanations, modeling, discussion, and digital responses) means students aren’t limited to written tasks. Many activities can be completed verbally or visually, which can help students with writing challenges participate fully and confidently.

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We will gladly refund if decision is within reasonable time parameters.

Mosa Mack might not be the best fit for students who prefer passive learning or are looking for a more traditional, textbook-only science experience. Because our lessons are built around real-world phenomena, problem-solving, and hands-on investigation, kids who don’t enjoy active participation, critical thinking, or collaborative exploration may find the approach less engaging.

It’s also not ideal for learners or families who want science to stay at the surface level — Mosa Mack pushes students to ask questions, analyze data, build models, and explain their thinking, which means it requires curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to dig deeper. For students who thrive in a lecture-based environment with minimal interaction, this program may feel too dynamic or open-ended.

Apologia General Science – a well-known homeschool science textbook series.

Apologia Physical Science – print/textbook style for middle / upper grades.

Science in the Beginning – elementary science presented in textbook style (with some hands-on elements).

State Science Assessment Practice Sets and New Phenomena Lessons

The best way to get the most out of Mosa Mack is to lean into the curiosity with your child rather than rushing to the “right answer.” Ask open-ended questions during the mysteries (“What do you think is happening here?”), talk through predictions before investigations, and celebrate ideas — even the wrong ones — as part of the discovery process.

Also, don’t skip the hands-on components! Even simple experiments with household materials can transform a lesson from “interesting” to unforgettable. Finally, try connecting what your child learns to everyday life — point out convection when you’re boiling water, talk about force while pushing a swing, or discuss ecosystems on a nature walk. These small moments help them see science everywhere, and that’s when the learning really sticks.

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Meet Lissa Johnson

Mosa Mack Science was founded by Lissa Moses Johnson, a former science teacher in Harlem, New York, who was frustrated by the lack of engaging, diverse, and inquiry-based science resources available to her students. Determined to change how science was taught and to challenge outdated stereotypes about what scientists look like, Johnson envisioned a program that would captivate students through relatable mysteries while empowering teachers with tools for inquiry-based learning. Inspired by this vision, she created Mosa Mack: Science Detective — a dynamic, street-savvy animated character who sparks curiosity and leads students through real-world science investigations. Johnson left the classroom more than a decade ago to pursue this mission, building a creative team of writers from This American Life, artists from Nickelodeon, and curriculum experts from Stanford’s SCALE program. Since its classroom debut in 2013, Mosa Mack Science has grown into a nationally recognized edtech resource featured by organizations like the National Institutes of Health and the Siemens STEM Institute, and it continues to provide teachers with rigorous, inclusive, and inspiring science content designed to make students see themselves as the next generation of scientists.

Modulo's expert opinion

Our learning specialists give their honest evaluation
ManishaCEO and Founder of Modulo

Mosa Mack Science transforms science into a phenomenon-driven adventure, engaging learners through mysteries, investigations, and labs that build real scientific thinking.