🔎 Christianity DO NOT INCLUDE Grade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionRoundingDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Censer
A priceless golden censer disappeared from the abbey library during morning prayers. Detective Ezra needs your math skills to narrow down the suspects and recover the artifact.
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 | Abbey Role | Carried Item | Ring Hand | Hair Style | Known Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gideon | Scroll Keeper | Bronze Bell | Left Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Bees |
| Ezra | Olive Grower | Clay Jar | Right Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Heights |
| Priscilla | Harp Player | Bronze Bell | Right Handed Ring | Short Hair | Fear of Dogs |
| Jude | Harp Player | Silver Chalice | Right Handed Ring | Wavy Hair | Fear of Heights |
| Lydia | Olive Grower | Clay Jar | Left Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Heights |
| Caleb | Harp Player | Bronze Bell | Right Handed Ring | Wavy Hair | Fear of Dogs |
| Hannah | Scroll Keeper | Clay Jar | Right Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Heights |
| Anna | Scroll Keeper | Wooden Staff | Right Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Bees |
| Silas | Scroll Keeper | Clay Jar | Right Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Dogs |
| Asher | Olive Grower | Clay Jar | Left Handed Ring | Wavy Hair | Fear of Bees |
| Martha | Harp Player | Flax Banner | Right Handed Ring | Short Hair | Fear of Dogs |
| Ruth | Lantern Bearer | Flax Banner | Right Handed Ring | Wavy Hair | Fear of Bees |
| Samuel | Scroll Keeper | Clay Jar | Left Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Bees |
| Naomi | Olive Grower | Flax Banner | Right Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Heights |
| Tabitha | Olive Grower | Bronze Bell | Right Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Dogs |
| Deborah | Harp Player | Clay Jar | Left Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Heights |
| Jonah | Harp Player | Clay Jar | Right Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Heights |
| Miriam | Harp Player | Silver Chalice | Right Handed Ring | Braided Hair | Fear of Heights |
| Titus | Trumpet Blower | Clay Jar | Left Handed Ring | Wavy Hair | Fear of Dogs |
| Phoebe | Olive Grower | Bronze Bell | Left Handed Ring | Short Hair | Fear of Dogs |
| Noah | Scroll Keeper | Wooden Staff | Right Handed Ring | Short Hair | Fear of Dogs |
Clue 1
Place value
Ezra examines the numbered scroll catalog to read the digits of the room seal
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
70
900
500
10
400
1000
1000
8000
400
80
60
3000
500
9000
80
3000
T
70
4000
8000
20
20
7000
8000
50
1000
8000
700
200
8000
80
80
500
20
What is the value of the 7 in 4,871?T
What is the value of the 7 in 6,739?X
What is the value of the 2 in 726?R
What is the value of the 3 in 23,948?O
What is the value of the 7 in 57,348?Y
What is the value of the 4 in 495?I
What is the value of the 8 in 989?N
What is the value of the 5 in 3,541?E
What is the value of the 9 in 5,984?H
What is the value of the 1 in 714?V
What is the value of the 2 in 211?B
What is the value of the 4 in 64,718?C
What is the value of the 1 in 51,978?L
What is the value of the 9 in 9,220?S
What is the value of the 8 in 38,342?A
What is the value of the 5 in 356?F
What is the value of the 6 in 2,863?D
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Miriam adds up the supply crates brought into the courtyard this morning
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
8641
7094
6697
2647
9707
2647
5557
6697
7779
T
8641
6192
9526
7018
6697
5836
7018
4613
4788
7094
T
8641
7094
5836
6339
4794
6697
4794
7018
4613
6339
4788
3534 + 5107 =T
3744 + 2595 =N
6490 + 3217 =U
2655 + 2902 =P
2133 + 2655 =G
3690 + 3328 =R
1846 + 2948 =D
5392 + 4134 =O
2575 + 3617 =W
3321 + 3376 =E
1344 + 1303 =S
5052 + 2727 =C
2547 + 4547 =H
1961 + 3875 =A
2986 + 1627 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Silas subtracts the missing oil lamps from the total recorded in the ledger
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
4074
6483
6590
2712
2061
2712
5440
6590
3871
T
4074
4530
2712
2410
3071
6351
2410
4530
4419
8048
3071
T
4074
2410
1719
1719
6483
6590
4530
6985
6483
T
4074
2712
8233 - 4159 =T
4153 - 282 =C
3105 - 1386 =L
4950 - 2889 =U
7810 - 1220 =E
5455 - 1036 =D
12754 - 4706 =O
2535 - 125 =A
8422 - 1939 =H
3525 - 813 =S
3967 - 896 =F
9691 - 2706 =G
10997 - 4646 =R
5694 - 1164 =I
7434 - 1994 =P
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
Hannah looks at the sun dial counter which rounds the hour total to the nearest ten
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
300
3700
370
A
300
2000
430
4300
430
290
A
300
2000
370
50
2300
370
A
300
1700
430
110
A
300
50
1100
200
70
1700
430
200
1700
A
300
50
7000
370
200
900
900
Round 342 to the nearest hundredA
Round 1,974 to the nearest thousandI
Round 908 to the nearest hundredL
Round 431 to the nearest tenD
Round 4,336 to the nearest hundredE
Round 292 to the nearest tenH
Round 53 to the nearest tenS
Round 3,748 to the nearest hundredB
Round 2,265 to the nearest hundredT
Round 1,676 to the nearest hundredN
Round 73 to the nearest tenU
Round 206 to the nearest hundredO
Round 106 to the nearest tenW
Round 7,025 to the nearest thousandC
Round 374 to the nearest tenR
Round 1,072 to the nearest hundredF
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Caleb splits the bread loaves equally into baskets for the garden workers
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
88 ÷ 8 = ?
30 ÷ 10 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
42 ÷ 7 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sounded the silver trumpet, then carried the heavy clay jar.
2.The villain lit the bright lantern, then carried the heavy clay jar.
3.The villain played the brass harp, then carried the heavy clay jar.
4.The villain harvested the olive trees, then snatched the silver chalice.
5.The villain played the brass harp, then snatched the silver chalice.
6.The villain lit the bright lantern, then rang the small bronze bell.
7.The villain played the brass harp, then rang the small bronze bell.
8.The villain unrolled the ancient scroll, then carried the heavy clay jar.
9.The villain harvested the olive trees, then rang the small bronze bell.
10.The villain unrolled the ancient scroll, then snatched the silver chalice.
11.The villain harvested the olive trees, then carried the heavy clay jar.
12.The villain unrolled the ancient scroll, then leaned on the wooden staff.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Censer
Culprit: Miriam (Harp Player · Silver Chalice · Right Handed Ring · Braided Hair · Fear of Heights)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT CARRY A FLAX BANNER"What is the value of the 7 in 4,871? = 70 (T) · What is the value of the 7 in 6,739? = 700 (X) · What is the value of the 2 in 726? = 20 (R) · What is the value of the 3 in 23,948? = 3000 (O) · What is the value of the 7 in 57,348? = 7000 (Y) · What is the value of the 4 in 495? = 400 (I) · What is the value of the 8 in 989? = 80 (N) · What is the value of the 5 in 3,541? = 500 (E) · What is the value of the 9 in 5,984? = 900 (H) · What is the value of the 1 in 714? = 10 (V) · What is the value of the 2 in 211? = 200 (B) · What is the value of the 4 in 64,718? = 4000 (C) · What is the value of the 1 in 51,978? = 1000 (L) · What is the value of the 9 in 9,220? = 9000 (S) · What is the value of the 8 in 38,342? = 8000 (A) · What is the value of the 5 in 356? = 50 (F) · What is the value of the 6 in 2,863? = 60 (D)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT WORE A RIGHT HANDED RING"3534 + 5107 = 8641 (T) · 3744 + 2595 = 6339 (N) · 6490 + 3217 = 9707 (U) · 2655 + 2902 = 5557 (P) · 2133 + 2655 = 4788 (G) · 3690 + 3328 = 7018 (R) · 1846 + 2948 = 4794 (D) · 5392 + 4134 = 9526 (O) · 2575 + 3617 = 6192 (W) · 3321 + 3376 = 6697 (E) · 1344 + 1303 = 2647 (S) · 5052 + 2727 = 7779 (C) · 2547 + 4547 = 7094 (H) · 1961 + 3875 = 5836 (A) · 2986 + 1627 = 4613 (I)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT IS AFRAID OF TALL HEIGHTS"8233 - 4159 = 4074 (T) · 4153 - 282 = 3871 (C) · 3105 - 1386 = 1719 (L) · 4950 - 2889 = 2061 (U) · 7810 - 1220 = 6590 (E) · 5455 - 1036 = 4419 (D) · 12754 - 4706 = 8048 (O) · 2535 - 125 = 2410 (A) · 8422 - 1939 = 6483 (H) · 3525 - 813 = 2712 (S) · 3967 - 896 = 3071 (F) · 9691 - 2706 = 6985 (G) · 10997 - 4646 = 6351 (R) · 5694 - 1164 = 4530 (I) · 7434 - 1994 = 5440 (P)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A BRAIDED HAIR STRAND WAS FOUND ON A SCROLL"Round 342 to the nearest hundred = 300 (A) · Round 1,974 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (I) · Round 908 to the nearest hundred = 900 (L) · Round 431 to the nearest ten = 430 (D) · Round 4,336 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (E) · Round 292 to the nearest ten = 290 (H) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (S) · Round 3,748 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (B) · Round 2,265 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (T) · Round 1,676 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (N) · Round 73 to the nearest ten = 70 (U) · Round 206 to the nearest hundred = 200 (O) · Round 106 to the nearest ten = 110 (W) · Round 7,025 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (C) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (R) · Round 1,072 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Miriam88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Censer — set in An ancient sunlit abbey library in Jerusalem
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects