Mystery at Golden Ridge Farm is a truly excellent resource for gifted middle-school youngsters. The interdisciplinary, problem-based curriculum is impressive–it is both clear and comprehensive, making it easy for a teacher to use throughout the year. A major asset is the on-going progression of assignments. The specific lesson plans, along with the well-conceived various supporting documents, are also a tremendous advantage for classroom use. 

Another plus is that the content is contemporary and appealing to contemporary students. In fact, in a short “field test,” two of my seventh-grade gifted students (a boy and a girl) gave it extremely high marks. They quickly responded to the creative premise and plot-like elements. They were eager to be detectives, defining and researching the problem. In particular, of course, they liked all the activities, from developing the board game to carefully reading the Doe Township Grapevine and its ads. From a teacher’s perspective, the smooth integration of writing, editing, and speaking requirements affords numerous opportunities for the students to refine their critical thinking and presentation skills