🔎 ParrotsGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionRoundingSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Sunflower Seed
Someone snuck into the high-canopy aviary and snatched the famous Golden Sunflower Seed right before showtime! Detective, solve the math clues to track down the culprit before they escape the sanctuary.
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 | Special Skill | Escape Gear | Dominant Foot | Feather Crest | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jax Jingle | Nut Cracking | Mirror Shield | Right Footed | Golden Yellow Tuft | Mango Slices |
| Skyler Soar | Mimic Echo | Rope Swinger | Left Footed | Neon Green Plume | Shiny Mirrors |
| Penny Parrot | Seed Bombing | Smoke Bomb | Right Footed | Neon Green Plume | Soft Whistling |
| Polly Flutter | Wing Flapping | Smoke Bomb | Left Footed | Golden Yellow Tuft | Soft Whistling |
| Pipkin Plume | Loud Squawking | Glider Pack | Left Footed | Neon Green Plume | Soft Whistling |
| Kiwi Katy | Seed Bombing | Rope Swinger | Right Footed | Golden Yellow Tuft | Soft Whistling |
| Rico Crest | Seed Bombing | Rope Swinger | Left Footed | Neon Green Plume | Shiny Mirrors |
| Bella Feathers | Nut Cracking | Glider Pack | Left Footed | Bright Red Crest | Shiny Mirrors |
| Buster Beak | Mimic Echo | Glider Pack | Right Footed | Neon Green Plume | Shiny Mirrors |
| Pip Squawker | Mimic Echo | Rope Swinger | Left Footed | Bright Red Crest | Mango Slices |
| Ruby Talon | Loud Squawking | Flash Beacon | Left Footed | Neon Green Plume | Soft Whistling |
| Ziggy Wing | Loud Squawking | Rope Swinger | Left Footed | Bright Red Crest | Soft Whistling |
| Mango Mike | Seed Bombing | Smoke Bomb | Left Footed | Neon Green Plume | Soft Whistling |
| Fiona Feather | Mimic Echo | Flash Beacon | Right Footed | Golden Yellow Tuft | Soft Whistling |
| Chirpy Charlie | Seed Bombing | Glider Pack | Left Footed | Bright Red Crest | Mango Slices |
| Barnaby Birb | Wing Flapping | Glider Pack | Right Footed | Bright Red Crest | Shiny Mirrors |
| Captain Macaw | Nut Cracking | Smoke Bomb | Right Footed | Golden Yellow Tuft | Mango Slices |
| Toco Toucan | Mimic Echo | Flash Beacon | Left Footed | Neon Green Plume | Shiny Mirrors |
| Cleo Perch | Wing Flapping | Mirror Shield | Left Footed | Neon Green Plume | Soft Whistling |
| Felix Flapp | Loud Squawking | Glider Pack | Right Footed | Bright Red Crest | Soft Whistling |
| Sunny Skylark | Mimic Echo | Mirror Shield | Left Footed | Neon Green Plume | Soft Whistling |
Clue 1
Addition
We counted all the scattered birdseed packets along the aviary path to trace the thief.
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
6895
3279
5300
4025
5523
5300
6677
6353
6832
T
6895
3279
7377
5300
6315
3654
2023
5300
4025
5523
2023
T
6895
7095
4025
5300
6677
4575
2051
7377
3654
5300
8642
4929
6677
8265
6353
3890 + 3005 =T
1624 + 2030 =D
4248 + 2847 =U
2220 + 3080 =E
1818 + 3705 =N
1168 + 855 =O
2443 + 2132 =G
4650 + 2727 =I
1580 + 3349 =P
5209 + 3433 =R
1051 + 1000 =L
2978 + 3375 =K
1591 + 2434 =S
2296 + 983 =H
2880 + 3797 =A
3295 + 4970 =C
2838 + 3994 =Y
3989 + 2326 =F
0/18 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The aviary security sensor rounded the visitor count 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.
T
3000
370
230
T
3000
370
50
230
110
30
4300
700
T
3000
500
370
230
2000
T
3000
370
230
30
230
230
2000
70
50
T
3000
370
130
230
110
T
3000
110
5000
5000
T
3000
Round 3,415 to the nearest thousandT
Round 66 to the nearest tenW
Round 132 to the nearest tenL
Round 49 to the nearest tenI
Round 734 to the nearest hundredA
Round 234 to the nearest tenE
Round 2,030 to the nearest thousandD
Round 109 to the nearest tenF
Round 489 to the nearest hundredC
Round 370 to the nearest tenH
Round 4,269 to the nearest hundredN
Round 27 to the nearest tenS
Round 4,966 to the nearest thousandO
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
We checked how many mango snacks were missing from the feeding tray.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
H
4543
2256
8988
6437
2889
1593
1042
8988
1430
H
4543
2889
1774
8581
8218
2256
5830
8988
2020
2256
8581
H
4543
2256
8581
H
4543
2889
2256
4176
H
4543
8988
8218
8581
7915 - 3372 =H
6087 - 4657 =W
2611 - 1018 =N
2747 - 727 =D
8133 - 3957 =F
5103 - 4061 =G
13559 - 4571 =A
2369 - 595 =S
13181 - 4963 =L
5195 - 2939 =E
13578 - 4997 =T
8696 - 2259 =R
3196 - 307 =I
10384 - 4554 =M
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The roosting perches were arranged in equal rows to count the flock.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
G
54
45
22
22
121
15
96
24
30
22
42
22
56
28
49
22
45
3
14
22
45
22
96
22
42
28
56
28
28
49
22
3
48
22
121
22
6 × 9 =G
3 × 5 =P
3 × 1 =S
7 × 2 =W
8 × 6 =C
7 × 8 =A
7 × 7 =H
11 × 11 =N
12 × 2 =U
7 × 6 =F
6 × 5 =M
7 × 4 =T
8 × 12 =L
9 × 5 =R
2 × 11 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We shared the recovered sunflower seeds equally among the hungry macaws.
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
66 ÷ 6 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
8 ÷ 1 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
30 ÷ 6 = ?
9 ÷ 3 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain flapped wings fast, then tossed a smoke bomb.
2.The villain flapped wings fast, then raised a mirror shield.
3.The villain flapped wings fast, then zoomed away on a glider.
4.The villain squawked very loudly, then raised a mirror shield.
5.The villain mimicked the keeper, then lit a bright flash beacon.
6.The villain cracked a hard nut, then lit a bright flash beacon.
7.The villain squawked very loudly, then lit a bright flash beacon.
8.The villain cracked a hard nut, then tossed a smoke bomb.
9.The villain flapped wings fast, then swung on a vine rope.
10.The villain cracked a hard nut, then swung on a vine rope.
11.The villain mimicked the keeper, then raised a mirror shield.
12.The villain dropped seed bombs, then tossed a smoke bomb.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Sunflower Seed
Culprit: Mango Mike (Seed Bombing · Smoke Bomb · Left Footed · Neon Green Plume · Soft Whistling)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SNEAKY THIEF DOES NOT USE A GLIDER PACK"3890 + 3005 = 6895 (T) · 1624 + 2030 = 3654 (D) · 4248 + 2847 = 7095 (U) · 2220 + 3080 = 5300 (E) · 1818 + 3705 = 5523 (N) · 1168 + 855 = 2023 (O) · 2443 + 2132 = 4575 (G) · 4650 + 2727 = 7377 (I) · 1580 + 3349 = 4929 (P) · 5209 + 3433 = 8642 (R) · 1051 + 1000 = 2051 (L) · 2978 + 3375 = 6353 (K) · 1591 + 2434 = 4025 (S) · 2296 + 983 = 3279 (H) · 2880 + 3797 = 6677 (A) · 3295 + 4970 = 8265 (C) · 2838 + 3994 = 6832 (Y) · 3989 + 2326 = 6315 (F)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE THIEF SNATCHED THE SEED WITH LEFT FOOT"Round 3,415 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (T) · Round 66 to the nearest ten = 70 (W) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (L) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (I) · Round 734 to the nearest hundred = 700 (A) · Round 234 to the nearest ten = 230 (E) · Round 2,030 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (D) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (F) · Round 489 to the nearest hundred = 500 (C) · Round 370 to the nearest ten = 370 (H) · Round 4,269 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (N) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (S) · Round 4,966 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (O)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "HEARING A WHISTLE MADE THE THIEF HALT"7915 - 3372 = 4543 (H) · 6087 - 4657 = 1430 (W) · 2611 - 1018 = 1593 (N) · 2747 - 727 = 2020 (D) · 8133 - 3957 = 4176 (F) · 5103 - 4061 = 1042 (G) · 13559 - 4571 = 8988 (A) · 2369 - 595 = 1774 (S) · 13181 - 4963 = 8218 (L) · 5195 - 2939 = 2256 (E) · 13578 - 4997 = 8581 (T) · 8696 - 2259 = 6437 (R) · 3196 - 307 = 2889 (I) · 10384 - 4554 = 5830 (M)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "GREEN PLUME FEATHERS WERE LEFT AT THE SCENE"6 × 9 = 54 (G) · 3 × 5 = 15 (P) · 3 × 1 = 3 (S) · 7 × 2 = 14 (W) · 8 × 6 = 48 (C) · 7 × 8 = 56 (A) · 7 × 7 = 49 (H) · 11 × 11 = 121 (N) · 12 × 2 = 24 (U) · 7 × 6 = 42 (F) · 6 × 5 = 30 (M) · 7 × 4 = 28 (T) · 8 × 12 = 96 (L) · 9 × 5 = 45 (R) · 2 × 11 = 22 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Mango Mike66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Rounding, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Sunflower Seed — set in Parrot Perch Sanctuary
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects