A.F.R.O.P Review for the Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC)!
Rating: 🥥🥥🥥🥥🥥 (5/5 Coconuts!)
My wife and I decided to take the twins to the Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) here in Sacramento this past weekend. EJ was hanging out at a friend’s house, so it was a special outing for just the younger two. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but let me tell you: Both twins gave it a 5 out of 5 coconuts.
And honestly? So did I.
This place had active brains and bodies all over the place. Every exhibit was interactive—and not in that cheesy, “press a button and watch lights flash” kind of way. It was thoughtful, engaging, and totally on topic.
Here is the official MetaCocoMom AFROP Rating breakdown of our visit:
A for Active Brains (5/5)
How well does it stimulate the brain?
This category gets a perfect score. The Nature Detectives exhibit was a standout. They had this incredible setup with a video camera and a screen that showed different animals and how they move. It directs the kids to move like that specific animal and then records them in slow motion.
It is genuinely fun to watch them watch themselves! It connects the physical movement to the mental concept of animal biology in such a smart way. The kids weren’t just running around; they were analyzing movement and mimicking nature.
F for Focused Art (5/5)
Is it Afrofuturist?
I found a deep connection to creativity here. I loved the Nature Detectives exhibit for another reason: the drawing station. It broke down how to draw a newt, an owl, and a butterfly into 3 easy steps. I followed the guide and drew the best picture of an owl—my spirit animal—that I have ever drawn in my life!
But beyond just drawing, I’m giving this a 5 for Focused Art because of the opportunity it gave the kids to build and problem-solve in creative ways. To me, that is very Afrofuturist—using imagination to engineer solutions and build new worlds. The creative application of science here is exactly the kind of future-forward thinking we love.
R for Real Experiences (5/5)
Does it offer a chance to be immersed?
We gave this a 5 for the Powering Change exhibit alone. Both twins thoroughly enjoyed the interactive games, and my wife and I even joined in the fun.
One of the games tasked us with identifying ways to cool down the city of Sacramento (which we all know is a real-life necessity!). We were virtually planting green spaces and replacing dark rooftops to lower the heat. It was a “real” experience because it dealt with real local issues in a way that felt empowering rather than scary.
O for Opportunities (5/5)
Do we get to apply new knowledge?
The whole 2nd floor is dedicated to expression and exploration, and it is a massive 5 for Opportunity. The open space really empowered both twins to go off on their own—separately and together—to check out the stations.
AJ specifically loves wind turbines (he points them out whenever we drive past them), so he was in heaven. He learned through actual trial and error that triangle blades produce faster turbines than rectangle blades—thanks for helping us out with that experiment, Jace!
As a parent, this floor was a dream. There are helpful, friendly, and easy-to-identify staff everywhere, which meant my wife and I could actually sit down and let the boys do their thing safely.
P for Practicalities (5/5)
What is the cost?
A note on the price tag: It is expensive. However, like many museums across the country, MOSAC recognizes that cost can be a barrier and they are part of the Museums for All program.
This is a huge deal. If you have an EBT card, you can get in for a significantly reduced price (usually between free and $5 per person depending on the venue). Look into the Museums for All discounts in your area—you might be surprised at what you have access to. It makes a world-class science center accessible to the community, and we love to see it.
The Verdict: MOSAC is MetaCocoMom approved! If you are in the Sacramento area, grab the kids and go cool down the city or build a turbine. You won’t regret it.
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