Learn about leadership, business, science and technology
A 21st century curriculum designed to introduce pre-teens (ages 9-12) to the ideas and concepts they will need to make sense of a rapidly changing world. A set of 15 episodes that branch from the main storyline draw on the characters, events and environments to sketch scenarios for introducing the topics. Using the Harvard Case Study method, these topics, often considered too complex to explain to children, are made presented in a natural, practical and relatable manner.
Video lessons
Learn about leadership, business, science and technology.
The Mzansi Four’s mission to Mars sets the stage for introducing and connecting a broad set of topics across leadership, business, science and technology to 9 to 12 year old children and helping them develop a world view for making sense of a rapidly changing world.
The 15 main story episodes form a linear narrative arc, while an additional 15 learning episodes branch out from the story context to explore curriculum-aligned themes in a more focused way. Each learning episode is short, engaging, and built to be modular for easy integration into classrooms. The learning episodes are not standalone lessons but micro-narratives or character-driven explorations that use elements of the story’s world to make academic content tangible, relatable, and cross-curricular.
Integration with the Series
The 15 main story episodes form a linear narrative arc, while an additional 15 learning episodes branch out from the story context to explore curriculum-aligned themes in a more focused way. Each learning episode is short, engaging, and built to be modular for easy integration into classrooms. The learning episodes are not standalone lessons but micro-narratives or character-driven explorations that use elements of the story’s world to make academic content tangible, relatable, and cross-curricular.
Curriculum
The series places an equal emphasis on leadership and business as it does on science and technology, reflecting the real-world demands of the 21st-century learner. In the storyline, the characters don’t just face scientific or technical challenges—they must also navigate questions of right and wrong, personal responsibility, resource management, team dynamics, and even corporate accountability. These challenges offer authentic opportunities to explore leadership and business concepts in a way that feels natural, relevant, and engaging to students.
Episodes focusing on leadership explore personal identity, the power of habits, ethical decision-making, and the different forms of leadership needed in uncertain environments. Business-focused episodes introduce learners to foundational concepts such as entrepreneurship, contracts and legal agreements, investment and budgeting, and branding and communication—all through the lens of the characters’ real-world problem-solving on Mars and back on Earth.
By embedding these themes into the same story universe as science and technology, Mzansi Four helps learners develop an integrated worldview—one where innovation, ethics, leadership, and systems thinking are deeply interconnected. This holistic approach prepares learners not just for school, but for life, leadership, and meaningful participation in South Africa’s future economy.
Leadership
L1 - Personality and Identity
L2 - Power of Habits
L3 - Leadership
L4 - Ethics​
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Science & Technology
S1 - Biology
S2 - Chemistry
S3 - Physics
S4 - Space​​​
Business
B1 - Entrepreneurship
B2 - The Law and Contracts
B3 - Finance and Investments
B4 - Marketing​​
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Coding & Robotics
C1 - Coding
C2 - Robotics
C3 - Design Thinking
C4 - Problem Solving
Lesson format
The 15 main story episodes form a linear narrative arc, while an additional 15 learning episodes branch out from the story context to explore curriculum-aligned themes in a more focused way. Each learning episode is short, engaging, and built to be modular for easy integration into classrooms. The learning episodes are not standalone lessons but micro-narratives or character-driven explorations that use elements of the story’s world to make academic content tangible, relatable, and cross-curricular.
Instructional Design
Explore some of the principles that we applied in the design of the story lessons
21st Century curriculum
A broad and current curriculum designed to expose 9-12 year olds to topics in leadership, business, science and technology and help them develop a world view for making sense of the present and future.
Positive picture of the future
The story sketches an aspirational picture of future South Africa in 2035 and a credible narrative of the economic, social and other factors that led to it.
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Rich real life context
The story episodes and Challenges are rich with credible but fictional background, events, information and documentation to provide a realistic context for the learning and opportunity to explore.
Scenario based role play
Drawing on the Harvard case study method, learners are presented with a scenarios involving the characters and challenge they need to solve.
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Integrated and concrete learning
The television episodes and all the Challenges share the same context. This provides a common framework for attaching, integrating and discussing different learning domains.
Relatable voice
Learners participate in the adventures of four kids their own age in a South African setting. The thoughts, behaviour and conversations of the characters provide a unique opportunity for learning and reflection.