The Case of the Missing Golden Yarn
The legendary Golden Yarn Ball has been swiped from the Grand Meow Museum! A sneaky cat has left paw prints all over the scene. We must help the Golden Yarn Keeper find the thief.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Super Skill | Secret Gadget | Dominant Paw | Fur Pattern | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield | Quick Dash | Laser Pointer | Right Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Warm Sunbeam |
| Toulouse | Quick Dash | Laser Pointer | Right Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Crinkly Paper |
| Felix | Super Purr | Squeaky Mouse | Left Pawed | Solid Orange | Crinkly Paper |
| Snowball | Silent Prowl | Squeaky Mouse | Right Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Warm Sunbeam |
| Sylvester | Super Purr | Feather Wand | Right Pawed | Solid Orange | Can Opener Sound |
| Salem | Wall Climb | Squeaky Mouse | Left Pawed | Solid Orange | Warm Sunbeam |
| Nala | High Jump | Fish Treat Launcher | Right Pawed | Calico Patches | Warm Sunbeam |
| Berlioz | High Jump | Laser Pointer | Left Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Warm Sunbeam |
| Simba | High Jump | Fish Treat Launcher | Right Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Crinkly Paper |
| Morris | High Jump | Catnip Bomb | Right Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Crinkly Paper |
| Marie | Super Purr | Feather Wand | Right Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Warm Sunbeam |
| Boots | Wall Climb | Feather Wand | Right Pawed | Calico Patches | Warm Sunbeam |
| Duchess | Quick Dash | Catnip Bomb | Left Pawed | Solid Orange | Crinkly Paper |
| Socks | Quick Dash | Fish Treat Launcher | Left Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Warm Sunbeam |
| Whiskers | Quick Dash | Fish Treat Launcher | Right Pawed | Calico Patches | Warm Sunbeam |
| Heathcliff | High Jump | Laser Pointer | Left Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Crinkly Paper |
| Figaro | Silent Prowl | Catnip Bomb | Right Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Warm Sunbeam |
| Mittens | Wall Climb | Squeaky Mouse | Left Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Can Opener Sound |
| Tom | Wall Climb | Fish Treat Launcher | Right Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Warm Sunbeam |
| Chloe | Silent Prowl | Squeaky Mouse | Left Pawed | Solid Orange | Can Opener Sound |
| Grumpy Cat | Silent Prowl | Squeaky Mouse | Left Pawed | Tabby Stripes | Can Opener Sound |
Addition
The museum guards are counting the missing fish treats to find a clue. Let us add up their tallies.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Word problems
The clever cat detective needs to solve a tricky word puzzle left behind near the empty pedestal.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Rounding
The security radar has scanned the getaway route, but the distance readings are all rounded 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.
Subtraction
We are checking the remaining inventory. Subtract the leftover yarn balls from the total to see what is missing.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The local kittens need to split the leftover milk cartons equally to figure out where the thief went.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Yarn
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF DOES NOT CARRY A FEATHER WAND"2656 + 3773 = 6429 (T) · 3129 + 3155 = 6284 (R) · 4168 + 4597 = 8765 (D) · 2453 + 1546 = 3999 (N) · 3442 + 1494 = 4936 (F) · 2091 + 1893 = 3984 (A) · 4469 + 2379 = 6848 (W) · 1939 + 2750 = 4689 (S) · 2538 + 1341 = 3879 (I) · 2687 + 1258 = 3945 (Y) · 1872 + 1251 = 3123 (C) · 5769 + 3158 = 8927 (H) · 3548 + 3118 = 6666 (O) · 3779 + 5890 = 9669 (E)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "RIGHT PAWED"Captain Whiskers found 9 milk bowls yesterday and 29 more today. How many milk bowls in all? = 38 (R) · Captain Whiskers found 26 milk bowls yesterday and 47 more today. How many milk bowls in all? = 73 (G) · There were 88 fish treats. 25 were used up. How many fish treats are left? = 63 (I) · Captain Whiskers lined up 5 rows of 11 yarn balls. How many yarn balls in all? = 55 (A) · Captain Whiskers found 22 milk bowls yesterday and 36 more today. How many milk bowls in all? = 58 (P) · Captain Whiskers lined up 10 rows of 5 fish treats. How many fish treats in all? = 50 (H) · Captain Whiskers found 9 fish treats yesterday and 70 more today. How many fish treats in all? = 79 (T)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "WE SAW THE FOE NAPPING IN A WARM SUNBEAM"Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (W) · Round 1,068 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (A) · Round 112 to the nearest ten = 110 (M) · Round 272 to the nearest hundred = 300 (H) · Round 734 to the nearest hundred = 700 (T) · Round 166 to the nearest ten = 170 (R) · Round 4,638 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (E) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (N) · Round 289 to the nearest ten = 290 (O) · Round 4,269 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (B) · Round 500 to the nearest hundred = 500 (F) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (I) · Round 220 to the nearest hundred = 200 (G) · Round 16 to the nearest ten = 20 (P) · Round 3,715 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (U) · Round 2,907 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (S)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "WE SPOTTED TABBY STRIPES ON THE CAMERA"6191 - 2810 = 3381 (W) · 8459 - 4544 = 3915 (S) · 3404 - 1482 = 1922 (C) · 7657 - 817 = 6840 (B) · 5162 - 1888 = 3274 (I) · 12132 - 3776 = 8356 (H) · 9659 - 3380 = 6279 (M) · 7435 - 2386 = 5049 (O) · 12551 - 4327 = 8224 (D) · 8988 - 3285 = 5703 (N) · 7596 - 1422 = 6174 (P) · 6413 - 431 = 5982 (E) · 12662 - 4147 = 8515 (R) · 8760 - 758 = 8002 (T) · 12150 - 4532 = 7618 (Y) · 8774 - 828 = 7946 (A)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Garfield18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 22 ÷ 2 = 11 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Word problems, Rounding, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Yarn — set in The Grand Meow Museum
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects
