Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingBar modelsSkip countingPlace valueMissing addends
The Golden Idol Swindle
A sneaky snatcher snuck into the jungle camp and snatched the ancient golden idol! Explorer Pip needs your detective skills to clear the innocent expedition members and catch the thief.
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 | Escape Gear | Jungle Tool | Dominant Hand | Hair Style | Tricked By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace | Rope Ladder | Flashlight | Left Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Bright Light |
| Sam | Smoke Bomb | Map Scroll | Right Handed | Spiky Black Hair | Bright Light |
| Chloe | Rope Ladder | Flashlight | Right Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Squeaky Toy |
| Ruby | Smoke Bomb | Flashlight | Left Handed | Curly Red Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Zoe | Grappling Hook | Flashlight | Right Handed | Spiky Black Hair | Squeaky Toy |
| Lily | Boomerang | Magnifying Glass | Right Handed | Spiky Black Hair | Bright Light |
| Caleb | Grappling Hook | Flashlight | Right Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Ella | Glider Wings | Map Scroll | Left Handed | Curly Red Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Lucas | Boomerang | Binoculars | Left Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Ava | Rope Ladder | Binoculars | Right Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Bright Light |
| Oliver | Smoke Bomb | Magnifying Glass | Left Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Mason | Glider Wings | Map Scroll | Left Handed | Curly Red Hair | Squeaky Toy |
| Maya | Rope Ladder | Flashlight | Left Handed | Spiky Black Hair | Bright Light |
| Noah | Grappling Hook | Magnifying Glass | Right Handed | Spiky Black Hair | Bright Light |
| Henry | Grappling Hook | Map Scroll | Right Handed | Curly Red Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Wyatt | Smoke Bomb | Compass | Left Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Mia | Boomerang | Compass | Left Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Jack | Smoke Bomb | Binoculars | Left Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Ethan | Rope Ladder | Map Scroll | Right Handed | Spiky Black Hair | Sneeze Powder |
| Sofia | Rope Ladder | Magnifying Glass | Left Handed | Braided Blonde Hair | Bright Light |
| Isla | Rope Ladder | Binoculars | Left Handed | Spiky Black Hair | Sneeze Powder |
Clue 1
Rounding
Explorer Pip compares supply crates using bar models to see who carried away extra gear.
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
60
90
800
3000
5000
500
500
70
5000
9000
7000
6000
800
400
9000
6000
T
60
900
400
800
70
20
70
8000
9000
5000
40
300
5000
9000
8000
8000
500
70
400
400
Round 62 to the nearest tenT
Round 7,125 to the nearest thousandD
Round 93 to the nearest tenH
Round 22 to the nearest tenM
Round 36 to the nearest tenF
Round 6,377 to the nearest thousandO
Round 2,907 to the nearest thousandV
Round 8,035 to the nearest thousandG
Round 351 to the nearest hundredS
Round 8,841 to the nearest thousandN
Round 494 to the nearest hundredL
Round 5,143 to the nearest thousandI
Round 942 to the nearest hundredU
Round 336 to the nearest hundredY
Round 72 to the nearest tenA
Round 825 to the nearest hundredE
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Bar model word problems
The camp radar rounds path distances to the nearest ten to map the runaway footprints.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
54
57
16
7
49
60
27
D
57
D
There were 84 golden coins in all. 30 golden coins were used. How many golden coins are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→L
Explorer Pip shares 180 coconut canteens equally among 3 teams. How many coconut canteens does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
Explorer Pip has 228 coconut canteens, packed 4 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→E
Explorer Pip shares 54 golden coins equally among 2 teams. How many golden coins does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→N
Explorer Pip shares 70 ruby gems equally among 10 teams. How many ruby gems does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
Explorer Pip shares 196 ruby gems equally among 4 teams. How many ruby gems does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→H
Explorer Pip has 48 jungle maps, packed 3 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→F
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Skip counting
Pip skip counts vine markings along the muddy riverbank to follow the escape trail.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
50
12
30
30
10
30
26
39
70
20
30
140
42
25
20
30
36
14
30
130
21
110
110
25
21
12
20
140
39
26
36
14
30
42
25
26
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, ___, 55, 60S
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18H
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35A
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160R
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30P
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48M
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45O
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ___, 35, 40E
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ___, 14, 16N
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130L
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90W
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27I
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42T
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14Z
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150V
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30D
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Place value
The scout reads place value blocks carved on the temple stone to break the mystery code.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
70
300
90
7000
20
100
20
B
70
1000
3000
60
20
100
9000
90
7000
300
30
90
600
400
90
50
800
9000
40
3000
60
90
B
70
300
90
60
400
9000
What is the value of the 7 in 375?B
What is the value of the 5 in 354?U
What is the value of the 8 in 864?G
What is the value of the 3 in 4,738?W
What is the value of the 6 in 867?N
What is the value of the 3 in 355?R
What is the value of the 6 in 641?S
What is the value of the 3 in 3,465?O
What is the value of the 1 in 194?E
What is the value of the 4 in 466?C
What is the value of the 9 in 4,792?A
What is the value of the 2 in 925?D
What is the value of the 9 in 9,412?H
What is the value of the 7 in 87,968?I
What is the value of the 4 in 641?T
What is the value of the 1 in 1,959?L
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Pip counts coin piles and solves missing addends to calculate the missing treasure.
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
5 + ___ = 14
5 + ___ = 16
7 + ___ = 12
5 + ___ = 11
1 + ___ = 4
3 + ___ = 5
8 + ___ = 20
4 + ___ = 8
4 + ___ = 11
4 + ___ = 5
9 + ___ = 17
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain dropped a rope ladder, then shone a flashlight.
2.The villain swung on a grappling hook, then checked a compass.
3.The villain threw a smoke bomb, then shone a flashlight.
4.The villain soared on glider wings, then used a magnifying glass.
5.The villain threw a smoke bomb, then checked a compass.
6.The villain threw a smoke bomb, then used a magnifying glass.
7.The villain soared on glider wings, then unrolled a map scroll.
8.The villain swung on a grappling hook, then looked through binoculars.
9.The villain threw a smoke bomb, then looked through binoculars.
10.The villain tossed a boomerang, then checked a compass.
11.The villain tossed a boomerang, then looked through binoculars.
12.The villain dropped a rope ladder, then unrolled a map scroll.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Idol Swindle
Culprit: Mia (Boomerang · Compass · Left Handed · Braided Blonde Hair · Sneeze Powder)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A MAGNIFYING GLASS"Round 62 to the nearest ten = 60 (T) · Round 7,125 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (D) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (H) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (M) · Round 36 to the nearest ten = 40 (F) · Round 6,377 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (O) · Round 2,907 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (V) · Round 8,035 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (G) · Round 351 to the nearest hundred = 400 (S) · Round 8,841 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (N) · Round 494 to the nearest hundred = 500 (L) · Round 5,143 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (I) · Round 942 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 336 to the nearest hundred = 300 (Y) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (A) · Round 825 to the nearest hundred = 800 (E)
- Clue 2 (Bar model word problems): "LEFT HANDED"There were 84 golden coins in all. 30 golden coins were used. How many golden coins are left? = 54 (L) · Explorer Pip shares 180 coconut canteens equally among 3 teams. How many coconut canteens does each team get? = 60 (A) · Explorer Pip has 228 coconut canteens, packed 4 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 57 (E) · Explorer Pip shares 54 golden coins equally among 2 teams. How many golden coins does each team get? = 27 (N) · Explorer Pip shares 70 ruby gems equally among 10 teams. How many ruby gems does each team get? = 7 (T) · Explorer Pip shares 196 ruby gems equally among 4 teams. How many ruby gems does each team get? = 49 (H) · Explorer Pip has 48 jungle maps, packed 3 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 16 (F)
- Clue 3 (Skip counting): "SNEEZE POWDER MADE THE VILLAIN DROP THE MAP"Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, ___, 55, 60 = 50 (S) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18 = 14 (H) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (A) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160 = 140 (R) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30 = 26 (P) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48 = 42 (M) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (O) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ___, 35, 40 = 30 (E) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ___, 14, 16 = 12 (N) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130 = 110 (L) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90 = 70 (W) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27 = 21 (I) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (T) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14 = 10 (Z) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150 = 130 (V) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30 = 20 (D)
- Clue 4 (Place value): "BRAIDED BLONDE HAIR WAS CAUGHT ON A BRANCH"What is the value of the 7 in 375? = 70 (B) · What is the value of the 5 in 354? = 50 (U) · What is the value of the 8 in 864? = 800 (G) · What is the value of the 3 in 4,738? = 30 (W) · What is the value of the 6 in 867? = 60 (N) · What is the value of the 3 in 355? = 300 (R) · What is the value of the 6 in 641? = 600 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,465? = 3000 (O) · What is the value of the 1 in 194? = 100 (E) · What is the value of the 4 in 466? = 400 (C) · What is the value of the 9 in 4,792? = 90 (A) · What is the value of the 2 in 925? = 20 (D) · What is the value of the 9 in 9,412? = 9000 (H) · What is the value of the 7 in 87,968? = 7000 (I) · What is the value of the 4 in 641? = 40 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 1,959? = 1000 (L)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 10) → Mia5 + ___ = 14 = 9 · 5 + ___ = 16 = 11 · 7 + ___ = 12 = 5 · 5 + ___ = 11 = 6 · 1 + ___ = 4 = 3 · 3 + ___ = 5 = 2 · 8 + ___ = 20 = 12 · 4 + ___ = 8 = 4 · 4 + ___ = 11 = 7 · 4 + ___ = 5 = 1 · 9 + ___ = 17 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Bar models, Skip counting, Place value, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Idol Swindle — set in Emerald Canopy Jungle
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects