Mystery at Golden Ridge Farm: An Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning Unit / Grades 5-8, English Language Arts

Mystery at Golden Ridge Farm, an interdisciplinary problem-based learning unit for gifted students, is open-ended and subject to various interpretations. A local, community-supported agricultural farm has noted a mysterious lack of produce for a number of consecutive years. Unable to explain why or how the produce is disappearing, the farm owners ask the students of a local school for help in solving the mystery of the missing produce. Students work in collaboration with the farm as they assume the role of detectives and investigate the problem from every angle. Along the way, they are required to conduct independent research, evaluate their research with classmates, develop logical theories, create solutions, and prepare a formal presentation of their findings to present to a panel of judges and audience of family members and school administrators. This unit is appropriate for grades 5–8.