🔎 GhostsGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationWord problemsSubtractionAdditionMissing addends
The Case of the Midnight Haunting
Someone is causing chaos at Spooksville Elementary after the sun goes down! Lockers are slamming, and chalkboards are writing by themselves. The Night Janitor needs the Ecto-Squad to find out which ghost is behind these scary tricks before school starts tomorrow!
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Ghost Power | Spooky Gear | Dominant Hand | Glow Color | Ghost Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stretch | wall walking | rattling chains | left handed | green ectoplasm | salt shakers |
| Myrtle | object floating | fog machine | left handed | green ectoplasm | bright flashlights |
| Slimer | wall walking | rattling chains | right handed | green ectoplasm | salt shakers |
| Inky | spooky howling | glow lantern | left handed | blue sparks | salt shakers |
| Shadow | wall walking | poltergeist dust | right handed | blue sparks | vacuum cleaners |
| Stinky | slime splashing | glow lantern | left handed | green ectoplasm | salt shakers |
| Shivers | chilly freezing | poltergeist dust | right handed | blue sparks | bright flashlights |
| Mist | wall walking | poltergeist dust | left handed | green ectoplasm | salt shakers |
| Buster | chilly freezing | glow lantern | left handed | green ectoplasm | salt shakers |
| Gloom | object floating | poltergeist dust | right handed | blue sparks | vacuum cleaners |
| Specter | slime splashing | poltergeist dust | right handed | green ectoplasm | bright flashlights |
| Spookey | slime splashing | phantom key | right handed | silver fog | vacuum cleaners |
| Casper | object floating | phantom key | right handed | green ectoplasm | salt shakers |
| Blinky | wall walking | poltergeist dust | right handed | green ectoplasm | vacuum cleaners |
| Bones | spooky howling | rattling chains | left handed | green ectoplasm | bright flashlights |
| Spooky | chilly freezing | glow lantern | left handed | silver fog | salt shakers |
| Gravely | object floating | phantom key | left handed | blue sparks | vacuum cleaners |
| Clyde | spooky howling | fog machine | left handed | green ectoplasm | salt shakers |
| Haunter | chilly freezing | rattling chains | left handed | silver fog | salt shakers |
| Pinky | chilly freezing | phantom key | right handed | blue sparks | salt shakers |
| Cobweb | wall walking | rattling chains | right handed | blue sparks | bright flashlights |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The tracker counts rows of glowing slime jars in the basement storage. If there are several shelves with the same number of jars on each, we can find the total. Solving this unlocks the first clue!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
36
35
22
72
35
10
15
T
36
56
10
22
15
2
10
T
36
7
15
22
110
10
66
T
36
22
100
72
22
49
15
T
36
56
7
15
T
36
12 × 3 =T
11 × 2 =E
7 × 7 =I
8 × 7 =D
5 × 7 =H
11 × 6 =L
10 × 11 =P
2 × 1 =N
5 × 3 =S
8 × 9 =G
10 × 10 =R
7 × 1 =U
10 × 1 =O
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
To get past the library ghost, you must solve a tricky riddle about how many spooky lanterns are hidden in the bookshelves.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
13
56
74
32
26
41
51
D
56
D
Ecto-Tracker found 5 floating keys yesterday and 8 more today. How many floating keys in all?L
There were 73 ecto-badges. 32 were used up. How many ecto-badges are left?A
There were 59 floating keys. 3 were used up. How many floating keys are left?E
Ecto-Tracker found 45 ecto-badges yesterday and 6 more today. How many ecto-badges in all?N
Ecto-Tracker found 20 ecto-badges yesterday and 6 more today. How many ecto-badges in all?H
There were 82 ecto-badges. 8 were used up. How many ecto-badges are left?F
Ecto-Tracker lined up 8 rows of 4 ecto-badges. How many ecto-badges in all?T
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
A ghost took some of our salt shakers from the supply cabinet. We started with a full crate, and now some are missing. Subtract to find how many we lost!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
624
149
607
211
149
744
285
327
273
420
A
624
744
557
420
557
327
502
502
285
209
557
117
285
541
117
327
420
557
149
327
744
209
995 - 371 =A
491 - 280 =R
692 - 365 =O
136 - 19 =H
648 - 107 =G
281 - 132 =C
588 - 168 =S
355 - 82 =F
942 - 335 =I
607 - 322 =E
805 - 303 =P
850 - 293 =T
788 - 44 =L
422 - 213 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Addition
We found a pile of dropped ecto-badges in the hallway. Let us add up the badges from the gym and the library to get our next clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
347
952
459
659
933
649
490
490
442
639
952
490
617
442
952
952
649
952
474
679
659
821
361
506
484
957
617
659
659
222 + 125 =W
344 + 305 =N
211 + 295 =A
113 + 248 =L
150 + 324 =C
212 + 427 =I
324 + 497 =P
265 + 194 =F
343 + 609 =E
268 + 216 =S
374 + 559 =U
266 + 351 =G
225 + 454 =T
206 + 453 =O
275 + 215 =D
382 + 575 =M
203 + 239 =R
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The security lock needs a total of ten power cells to open, but we only have some. Figure out the missing number of cells needed to crack the lock.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
1 + ___ = 9
8 + ___ = 20
6 + ___ = 17
7 + ___ = 14
7 + ___ = 13
9 + ___ = 13
8 + ___ = 17
3 + ___ = 6
3 + ___ = 4
2 + ___ = 4
5 + ___ = 15
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain splashed green slime all over the floor, then sprinkled sparkling poltergeist dust everywhere.
2.The villain splashed green slime all over the floor, then shook a set of heavy rattling chains.
3.The villain made the schoolbooks float in the air, then unlocked the cabinet with a phantom key.
4.The villain let out a spooky howl that shook the room, then unlocked the cabinet with a phantom key.
5.The villain splashed green slime all over the floor, then lit the way with a glow lantern.
6.The villain let out a spooky howl that shook the room, then shook a set of heavy rattling chains.
7.The villain made the schoolbooks float in the air, then disappeared into a thick fog machine cloud.
8.The villain walked right through the library wall, then shook a set of heavy rattling chains.
9.The villain froze the classroom door handle solid, then disappeared into a thick fog machine cloud.
10.The villain splashed green slime all over the floor, then disappeared into a thick fog machine cloud.
11.The villain let out a spooky howl that shook the room, then disappeared into a thick fog machine cloud.
12.The villain froze the classroom door handle solid, then lit the way with a glow lantern.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Midnight Haunting
Culprit: Stinky (slime splashing · glow lantern · left handed · green ectoplasm · salt shakers)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE GHOST DOES NOT USE POLTERGEIST DUST"12 × 3 = 36 (T) · 11 × 2 = 22 (E) · 7 × 7 = 49 (I) · 8 × 7 = 56 (D) · 5 × 7 = 35 (H) · 11 × 6 = 66 (L) · 10 × 11 = 110 (P) · 2 × 1 = 2 (N) · 5 × 3 = 15 (S) · 8 × 9 = 72 (G) · 10 × 10 = 100 (R) · 7 × 1 = 7 (U) · 10 × 1 = 10 (O)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED"Ecto-Tracker found 5 floating keys yesterday and 8 more today. How many floating keys in all? = 13 (L) · There were 73 ecto-badges. 32 were used up. How many ecto-badges are left? = 41 (A) · There were 59 floating keys. 3 were used up. How many floating keys are left? = 56 (E) · Ecto-Tracker found 45 ecto-badges yesterday and 6 more today. How many ecto-badges in all? = 51 (N) · Ecto-Tracker found 20 ecto-badges yesterday and 6 more today. How many ecto-badges in all? = 26 (H) · There were 82 ecto-badges. 8 were used up. How many ecto-badges are left? = 74 (F) · Ecto-Tracker lined up 8 rows of 4 ecto-badges. How many ecto-badges in all? = 32 (T)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "A CIRCLE OF SALT STOPPED THE GHOST COLD"995 - 371 = 624 (A) · 491 - 280 = 211 (R) · 692 - 365 = 327 (O) · 136 - 19 = 117 (H) · 648 - 107 = 541 (G) · 281 - 132 = 149 (C) · 588 - 168 = 420 (S) · 355 - 82 = 273 (F) · 942 - 335 = 607 (I) · 607 - 322 = 285 (E) · 805 - 303 = 502 (P) · 850 - 293 = 557 (T) · 788 - 44 = 744 (L) · 422 - 213 = 209 (D)
- Clue 4 (Addition): "WE FOUND DRIED GREEN ECTOPLASM GOO"222 + 125 = 347 (W) · 344 + 305 = 649 (N) · 211 + 295 = 506 (A) · 113 + 248 = 361 (L) · 150 + 324 = 474 (C) · 212 + 427 = 639 (I) · 324 + 497 = 821 (P) · 265 + 194 = 459 (F) · 343 + 609 = 952 (E) · 268 + 216 = 484 (S) · 374 + 559 = 933 (U) · 266 + 351 = 617 (G) · 225 + 454 = 679 (T) · 206 + 453 = 659 (O) · 275 + 215 = 490 (D) · 382 + 575 = 957 (M) · 203 + 239 = 442 (R)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 5) → Stinky1 + ___ = 9 = 8 · 8 + ___ = 20 = 12 · 6 + ___ = 17 = 11 · 7 + ___ = 14 = 7 · 7 + ___ = 13 = 6 · 9 + ___ = 13 = 4 · 8 + ___ = 17 = 9 · 3 + ___ = 6 = 3 · 3 + ___ = 4 = 1 · 2 + ___ = 4 = 2 · 5 + ___ = 15 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Word problems, Subtraction, Addition, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Midnight Haunting — set in Spooksville Elementary after dark
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects