🦕 DinosaursGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRounding
The Great Amber Egg Heist
A priceless glowing amber egg disappeared from the central lab vault overnight. Five field teams spotted distinct dinosaur-suited suspects near the scene. Solve the math clues to uncover the thief before the prehistoric relic leaves the canyon!
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 | Dino Suit | Field Tool | Watch Location | Crest Type | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Barnum Brown | Stegosaurus Plates | Geode Chisel | Left Wrist Watch | Gold Scaled Horn | Flashing Light Beam |
| Dr Kristi Curry | Stegosaurus Plates | Sonar Scanner | Left Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Dr Paul Sereno | Raptor Suit | Geode Chisel | Left Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Strong Dust Blast |
| Dr Angela Milner | Stegosaurus Plates | GPS Tracker | Left Wrist Watch | Gold Scaled Horn | Strong Dust Blast |
| Dr Nizar Ibrahim | Triceratops Armor | Geode Chisel | Left Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Dr Xing Xu | Triceratops Armor | Geode Chisel | Left Wrist Watch | Bright Red Spines | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Prof Lawrence Lambe | Ankylosaurus Shell | GPS Tracker | Left Wrist Watch | Gold Scaled Horn | Strong Dust Blast |
| Dr Anusuya Chinsamy | Ankylosaurus Shell | GPS Tracker | Left Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Dr Patricia Vickers | Stegosaurus Plates | Sonar Scanner | Left Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Flashing Light Beam |
| Dr Victoria Arbour | Stegosaurus Plates | Sonar Scanner | Left Wrist Watch | Bright Red Spines | Flashing Light Beam |
| Dr Lindsay Zanno | Raptor Suit | Night Vision Goggles | Right Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Flashing Light Beam |
| Dr Luis Chiappe | Stegosaurus Plates | Rope Launcher | Right Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Flashing Light Beam |
| Dr Jack Horner | Triceratops Armor | Rope Launcher | Left Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Dr Othniel Marsh | Pterodactyl Wings | Night Vision Goggles | Left Wrist Watch | Bright Red Spines | Flashing Light Beam |
| Dr Karen Chin | Triceratops Armor | Rope Launcher | Right Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Dr Rodolfo Coria | Ankylosaurus Shell | Geode Chisel | Right Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Prof Edward Cope | Pterodactyl Wings | Geode Chisel | Right Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Dr Mary Anning | Stegosaurus Plates | Night Vision Goggles | Right Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Strong Dust Blast |
| Dr Steve Brusatte | Ankylosaurus Shell | Night Vision Goggles | Left Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Loud Whistle Sound |
| Dr Paul Barrett | Pterodactyl Wings | Night Vision Goggles | Left Wrist Watch | Green Feather Crest | Strong Dust Blast |
| Dr Roy Chapman | Raptor Suit | Rope Launcher | Left Wrist Watch | Gold Scaled Horn | Loud Whistle Sound |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The security team organized fossil sample crates into equal rows to tally the inventory.
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
25
21
15
36
99
121
121
44
99
14
40
110
15
120
14
110
T
25
6
120
15
14
99
16
21
T
25
36
99
120
99
110
14
16
110
16
16
121
15
120
5 × 5 =T
1 × 6 =U
6 × 6 =V
5 × 3 =E
11 × 10 =O
9 × 11 =I
10 × 4 =D
4 × 4 =G
7 × 3 =H
4 × 11 =A
12 × 10 =S
11 × 11 =L
7 × 2 =N
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
The chief curator calculated what fraction of the dig site grids were fully searched.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
29
16
28
3
27
35
35
35
31
W
29
W
29
31
28
7
23
35
28
8
31
24
24
27
26
38
3
39
27
4
28
W
29
8
16
35
28
1/6 of 174 =W
2/4 of 6 =N
2/5 of 65 =D
6/10 of 45 =E
7/10 of 50 =S
6/8 of 32 =P
1/10 of 40 =F
2/3 of 57 =O
2/4 of 46 =H
2/10 of 155 =A
1/8 of 128 =I
1/2 of 14 =C
3/5 of 65 =L
2/6 of 24 =R
4/10 of 70 =T
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The lab computer followed a strict sequence of calculations to process rock density measurements.
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
19
54
7
44
52
57
57
61
52
41
66
61
41
21
66
33
48
61
57
33
59
16
71
54
52
6
T
19
57
7
6
33
59
41
16
1 + 2 × 9 =T
8 × 6 - 7 =N
1 + 2 × 3 =E
11 × 6 - 7 =U
9 + 9 × 5 =H
3 + 6 × 9 =L
9 × 6 - 2 =I
9 + 2 × 6 =F
9 × 4 - 20 =D
7 × 6 - 9 =O
51 + 3 × 5 =R
47 + 3 × 8 =W
4 × 7 - 22 =S
13 + 6 × 8 =A
16 + 8 × 4 =M
24 + 4 × 5 =V
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The station radar dish automatically rounded distance readings to the nearest hundred meters.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
I
430
2300
130
50
200
290
I
430
70
1300
290
1700
4300
300
1700
370
2300
3700
1300
70
4300
50
50
2300
300
50
1300
290
30
50
4300
7000
4300
50
200
290
Round 432 to the nearest tenI
Round 48 to the nearest tenE
Round 290 to the nearest tenT
Round 222 to the nearest hundredS
Round 4,341 to the nearest hundredR
Round 3,669 to the nearest hundredD
Round 348 to the nearest hundredF
Round 2,272 to the nearest hundredN
Round 1,671 to the nearest hundredO
Round 27 to the nearest tenH
Round 373 to the nearest tenU
Round 1,313 to the nearest hundredA
Round 70 to the nearest tenG
Round 6,854 to the nearest thousandC
Round 129 to the nearest tenV
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
The tracker determined what fraction of the total footprint trackway was left undisturbed.
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
1/5 of 20 = ?
3/8 of 8 = ?
3/6 of 22 = ?
2/8 of 48 = ?
2/10 of 5 = ?
2/5 of 25 = ?
2/6 of 15 = ?
1/6 of 36 = ?
1/3 of 24 = ?
6/8 of 12 = ?
2/4 of 14 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swung a heavy clubbed tail, then scaled the canyon wall.
2.The villain stomped through the mud, then chipped away the stone lock.
3.The villain bashed open the vault door, then scanned the rock layers.
4.The villain stomped through the mud, then scaled the canyon wall.
5.The villain stomped through the mud, then scanned the rock layers.
6.The villain sprinted across the ridge, then tracked the security guard.
7.The villain bashed open the vault door, then tracked the security guard.
8.The villain bashed open the vault door, then scaled the canyon wall.
9.The villain sprinted across the ridge, then scanned the rock layers.
10.The villain glided down from the cliff, then scanned the rock layers.
11.The villain swung a heavy clubbed tail, then tracked the security guard.
12.The villain stomped through the mud, then tracked the security guard.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Amber Egg Heist
Culprit: Dr Nizar Ibrahim (Triceratops Armor · Geode Chisel · Left Wrist Watch · Green Feather Crest · Loud Whistle Sound)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE NIGHT VISION GOGGLES"5 × 5 = 25 (T) · 1 × 6 = 6 (U) · 6 × 6 = 36 (V) · 5 × 3 = 15 (E) · 11 × 10 = 110 (O) · 9 × 11 = 99 (I) · 10 × 4 = 40 (D) · 4 × 4 = 16 (G) · 7 × 3 = 21 (H) · 4 × 11 = 44 (A) · 12 × 10 = 120 (S) · 11 × 11 = 121 (L) · 7 × 2 = 14 (N)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "WITNESS SAW WATCH STRAPPED ON LEFT WRIST"1/6 of 174 = 29 (W) · 2/4 of 6 = 3 (N) · 2/5 of 65 = 26 (D) · 6/10 of 45 = 27 (E) · 7/10 of 50 = 35 (S) · 6/8 of 32 = 24 (P) · 1/10 of 40 = 4 (F) · 2/3 of 57 = 38 (O) · 2/4 of 46 = 23 (H) · 2/10 of 155 = 31 (A) · 1/8 of 128 = 16 (I) · 1/2 of 14 = 7 (C) · 3/5 of 65 = 39 (L) · 2/6 of 24 = 8 (R) · 4/10 of 70 = 28 (T)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN RAN FROM A LOUD WHISTLE SOUND"1 + 2 × 9 = 19 (T) · 8 × 6 - 7 = 41 (N) · 1 + 2 × 3 = 7 (E) · 11 × 6 - 7 = 59 (U) · 9 + 9 × 5 = 54 (H) · 3 + 6 × 9 = 57 (L) · 9 × 6 - 2 = 52 (I) · 9 + 2 × 6 = 21 (F) · 9 × 4 - 20 = 16 (D) · 7 × 6 - 9 = 33 (O) · 51 + 3 × 5 = 66 (R) · 47 + 3 × 8 = 71 (W) · 4 × 7 - 22 = 6 (S) · 13 + 6 × 8 = 61 (A) · 16 + 8 × 4 = 48 (M) · 24 + 4 × 5 = 44 (V)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "INVESTIGATOR FOUND A GREEN FEATHER CREST"Round 432 to the nearest ten = 430 (I) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (E) · Round 290 to the nearest ten = 290 (T) · Round 222 to the nearest hundred = 200 (S) · Round 4,341 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (R) · Round 3,669 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (D) · Round 348 to the nearest hundred = 300 (F) · Round 2,272 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (N) · Round 1,671 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (O) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (H) · Round 373 to the nearest ten = 370 (U) · Round 1,313 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (A) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (G) · Round 6,854 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (C) · Round 129 to the nearest ten = 130 (V)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 2) → Dr Nizar Ibrahim1/5 of 20 = 4 · 3/8 of 8 = 3 · 3/6 of 22 = 11 · 2/8 of 48 = 12 · 2/10 of 5 = 1 · 2/5 of 25 = 10 · 2/6 of 15 = 5 · 1/6 of 36 = 6 · 1/3 of 24 = 8 · 6/8 of 12 = 9 · 2/4 of 14 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Great Amber Egg Heist — set in Cretaceous Canyon Research Station
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects