🦕 DinosaursGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRoundingDivision
The Fossil Ridge Heist
A priceless Spinosaurus skull has disappeared from the main tent at Bone Ridge Paleontology Camp. You must use your deduction skills and math logs to track down the thief before the convoy leaves.
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 | Excavation Tool | Field Gear | Handedness | Hair Color | Distraction Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prof Mary Anning | Brush Kit | Duster | Right Handed | Sandy Blond | Bright Flash |
| Dr Xu Xing | Chisel Set | Magnifier | Left Handed | Auburn Brown | Water Splash |
| Dr Louis Leakey | Brush Kit | Duster | Left Handed | Dusty Black | Water Splash |
| Dr Angela Milner | Rock Hammer | Drone Cam | Right Handed | Auburn Brown | Water Splash |
| Dr Gideon Mantell | Hand Scanner | Magnifier | Left Handed | Dusty Black | Water Splash |
| Dr Kristi Curry | Pickaxe | Magnifier | Right Handed | Auburn Brown | Loud Whistle |
| Dr Patricia Vickers | Pickaxe | GPS Tracker | Left Handed | Auburn Brown | Bright Flash |
| Dr Edward Cope | Hand Scanner | Drone Cam | Right Handed | Dusty Black | Loud Whistle |
| Dr Roy Chapman | Brush Kit | GPS Tracker | Left Handed | Auburn Brown | Water Splash |
| Dr Dong Zhiming | Rock Hammer | Headlamp | Left Handed | Auburn Brown | Loud Whistle |
| Dr Jack Horner | Rock Hammer | GPS Tracker | Left Handed | Dusty Black | Water Splash |
| Dr Phil Currie | Hand Scanner | Duster | Right Handed | Auburn Brown | Bright Flash |
| Dr Alan Grant | Brush Kit | Headlamp | Left Handed | Auburn Brown | Water Splash |
| Dr Nizar Ibrahim | Hand Scanner | Duster | Left Handed | Sandy Blond | Loud Whistle |
| Dr Lindsay Zanno | Rock Hammer | Duster | Left Handed | Auburn Brown | Water Splash |
| Dr Richard Owen | Pickaxe | Headlamp | Left Handed | Sandy Blond | Water Splash |
| Dr Rodolfo Coria | Chisel Set | Magnifier | Left Handed | Dusty Black | Loud Whistle |
| Dr Thomas Holtz | Chisel Set | Headlamp | Left Handed | Sandy Blond | Water Splash |
| Dr Steve Brusatte | Rock Hammer | Magnifier | Left Handed | Auburn Brown | Water Splash |
| Dr Robert Bakker | Rock Hammer | Drone Cam | Left Handed | Dusty Black | Bright Flash |
| Dr Paul Sereno | Pickaxe | Drone Cam | Right Handed | Auburn Brown | Bright Flash |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
You inspect the dig site supply grid where fossil crates are stacked in equal rows across the excavation tents.
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
20
121
15
32
56
70
70
49
56
30
5
99
15
9
30
99
T
20
14
9
15
49
5
14
9
T
20
15
8
2 × 10 =T
11 × 11 =H
1 × 8 =R
7 × 10 =L
7 × 7 =A
3 × 3 =S
3 × 5 =E
4 × 8 =V
1 × 5 =D
11 × 9 =O
2 × 7 =U
6 × 5 =N
7 × 8 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
To decipher the footprint map you calculate the fraction of mapped tracks that point toward the canyon.
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
20
29
19
12
7
10
10
17
7
9
29
19
10
26
T
20
29
19
T
20
4
4
10
7
9
T
20
29
19
7
11
10
19
31
T
20
29
17
9
26
1/3 of 60 =T
1/3 of 12 =O
1/5 of 155 =F
2/10 of 60 =V
5/6 of 12 =L
5/10 of 18 =N
1/3 of 51 =A
1/8 of 56 =I
1/6 of 156 =D
4/8 of 58 =H
1/2 of 22 =R
1/6 of 114 =E
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
Analyzing the field sensor logs requires evaluating multistep equations to uncover hidden coordinates.
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
65
7
44
40
11
50
50
73
11
19
51
73
53
53
T
65
62
15
15
44
79
10
32
73
51
73
T
65
44
64
53
15
50
73
53
7
50 + 3 × 5 =T
45 + 4 × 2 =S
17 + 3 × 9 =E
1 + 2 × 3 =H
11 × 6 - 4 =O
30 + 5 × 2 =V
1 + 2 × 7 =P
9 × 8 - 22 =L
7 × 12 - 20 =R
1 + 2 × 5 =I
3 + 8 × 6 =W
48 + 5 × 5 =A
4 + 5 × 3 =N
24 + 4 × 2 =Y
7 + 9 × 8 =D
1 + 3 × 3 =B
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The digital fossil scanner displays rough mass estimates that need to be rounded to the nearest hundred kilograms.
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
2000
3000
70
3000
30
300
70
30
430
290
300
500
A
2000
170
30
290
A
2000
1700
50
430
3000
300
3700
300
2300
A
2000
30
370
500
2300
50
430
1700
1700
170
1100
Round 1,793 to the nearest thousandA
Round 335 to the nearest hundredN
Round 294 to the nearest tenW
Round 2,340 to the nearest hundredE
Round 369 to the nearest tenT
Round 433 to the nearest tenO
Round 537 to the nearest hundredH
Round 48 to the nearest tenF
Round 1,092 to the nearest hundredL
Round 34 to the nearest tenR
Round 3,673 to the nearest hundredD
Round 174 to the nearest tenI
Round 3,494 to the nearest thousandU
Round 73 to the nearest tenB
Round 1,731 to the nearest hundredS
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
You sort the recovered bone fragments by dividing them equally into labeled specimen containers.
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
54 ÷ 6 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
35 ÷ 5 = ?
88 ÷ 8 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
56 ÷ 7 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swept using a brush kit, then tracked location using a gps tracker.
2.The villain chipped away with a chisel set, then tracked location using a gps tracker.
3.The villain swept using a brush kit, then shone a headlamp.
4.The villain swung a pickaxe, then shone a headlamp.
5.The villain swung a pickaxe, then examined through a magnifier.
6.The villain chipped away with a chisel set, then flew a drone cam.
7.The villain swung a pickaxe, then dusted with a duster.
8.The villain tapped with a rock hammer, then tracked location using a gps tracker.
9.The villain chipped away with a chisel set, then examined through a magnifier.
10.The villain tapped with a rock hammer, then examined through a magnifier.
11.The villain scanned with a hand scanner, then shone a headlamp.
12.The villain chipped away with a chisel set, then shone a headlamp.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Fossil Ridge Heist
Culprit: Dr Steve Brusatte (Rock Hammer · Magnifier · Left Handed · Auburn Brown · Water Splash)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A DUSTER"2 × 10 = 20 (T) · 11 × 11 = 121 (H) · 1 × 8 = 8 (R) · 7 × 10 = 70 (L) · 7 × 7 = 49 (A) · 3 × 3 = 9 (S) · 3 × 5 = 15 (E) · 4 × 8 = 32 (V) · 1 × 5 = 5 (D) · 11 × 9 = 99 (O) · 2 × 7 = 14 (U) · 6 × 5 = 30 (N) · 7 × 8 = 56 (I)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN HELD THE TOOL IN THEIR LEFT HAND"1/3 of 60 = 20 (T) · 1/3 of 12 = 4 (O) · 1/5 of 155 = 31 (F) · 2/10 of 60 = 12 (V) · 5/6 of 12 = 10 (L) · 5/10 of 18 = 9 (N) · 1/3 of 51 = 17 (A) · 1/8 of 56 = 7 (I) · 1/6 of 156 = 26 (D) · 4/8 of 58 = 29 (H) · 1/2 of 22 = 11 (R) · 1/6 of 114 = 19 (E)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN WAS STOPPED BY A WATER SPLASH"50 + 3 × 5 = 65 (T) · 45 + 4 × 2 = 53 (S) · 17 + 3 × 9 = 44 (E) · 1 + 2 × 3 = 7 (H) · 11 × 6 - 4 = 62 (O) · 30 + 5 × 2 = 40 (V) · 1 + 2 × 7 = 15 (P) · 9 × 8 - 22 = 50 (L) · 7 × 12 - 20 = 64 (R) · 1 + 2 × 5 = 11 (I) · 3 + 8 × 6 = 51 (W) · 48 + 5 × 5 = 73 (A) · 4 + 5 × 3 = 19 (N) · 24 + 4 × 2 = 32 (Y) · 7 + 9 × 8 = 79 (D) · 1 + 3 × 3 = 10 (B)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "AUBURN BROWN HAIR WAS FOUND NEAR THE FOSSIL"Round 1,793 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A) · Round 335 to the nearest hundred = 300 (N) · Round 294 to the nearest ten = 290 (W) · Round 2,340 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (E) · Round 369 to the nearest ten = 370 (T) · Round 433 to the nearest ten = 430 (O) · Round 537 to the nearest hundred = 500 (H) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (F) · Round 1,092 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (L) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (R) · Round 3,673 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (D) · Round 174 to the nearest ten = 170 (I) · Round 3,494 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (U) · Round 73 to the nearest ten = 70 (B) · Round 1,731 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (S)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Dr Steve Brusatte54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 35 ÷ 5 = 7 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Fossil Ridge Heist — set in Bone Ridge Paleontology Camp
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects