⛏️ MinecraftGrade 2Reading: grades 1-2Place valueAdditionSubtractionSkip countingMissing addends
The Great Block Bandit
A sneaky thief took the golden trophy from the village square! Solve the clues to catch the block thief before they escape.
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 | Main Tool | Block Stash | Grip Hand | Helmet Color | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravel Greg | Gold Shovel | Emerald Gems | Right Handed | Blue Helmet | Baked Potato |
| Rune Ruby | Iron Sword | Redstone Dust | Right Handed | Green Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Steve Craft | Iron Sword | Lapis Lumps | Left Handed | Green Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Redstone Rita | Iron Sword | Redstone Dust | Left Handed | Green Helmet | Baked Potato |
| Grid Gabe | Nether Axe | Obsidian Blocks | Left Handed | Red Helmet | Tame Wolf |
| Cobble Sam | Iron Sword | Obsidian Blocks | Left Handed | Red Helmet | Baked Potato |
| Diamond Dan | Gold Shovel | Emerald Gems | Left Handed | Green Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Ender Ella | Stone Hoe | Emerald Gems | Right Handed | Blue Helmet | Tame Wolf |
| Quartz Quinn | Stone Hoe | Redstone Dust | Left Handed | Green Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Oakley Owen | Gold Shovel | Redstone Dust | Left Handed | Red Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Piston Pam | Diamond Pick | Lapis Lumps | Left Handed | Green Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Torch Tim | Iron Sword | Glowstone Dust | Right Handed | Green Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Beacon Ben | Iron Sword | Redstone Dust | Left Handed | Blue Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Alex Block | Gold Shovel | Emerald Gems | Right Handed | Red Helmet | Baked Potato |
| Creeper Carl | Diamond Pick | Redstone Dust | Left Handed | Blue Helmet | Baked Potato |
| Lava Lucy | Gold Shovel | Obsidian Blocks | Right Handed | Green Helmet | Tame Wolf |
| TNT Tina | Nether Axe | Glowstone Dust | Right Handed | Red Helmet | Tame Wolf |
| Builder Bobbie | Iron Sword | Redstone Dust | Left Handed | Blue Helmet | Tame Wolf |
| Pixel Pete | Iron Sword | Glowstone Dust | Right Handed | Green Helmet | Tame Wolf |
| Lapis Luke | Nether Axe | Glowstone Dust | Right Handed | Green Helmet | Golden Apple |
| Miner Max | Stone Hoe | Lapis Lumps | Left Handed | Green Helmet | Golden Apple |
Clue 1
Place value
Check the place value block on the beacon to decode the first clue.
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
22
17
55
36
93
53
53
23
93
27
62
90
55
63
27
90
T
22
17
23
36
55
55
25
55
97
23
53
62
58
55
25
63
What number has 2 tens and 2 ones?T
What number has 9 tens and 0 ones?O
What number has 9 tens and 7 ones?R
What number has 5 tens and 8 ones?G
What number has 6 tens and 3 ones?S
What number has 2 tens and 5 ones?M
What number has 5 tens and 3 ones?L
What number has 5 tens and 5 ones?E
What number has 3 tens and 6 ones?V
What number has 2 tens and 7 ones?N
What number has 9 tens and 3 ones?I
What number has 2 tens and 3 ones?A
What number has 6 tens and 2 ones?D
What number has 1 ten and 7 ones?H
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Add up all the iron ingots in the chest to find the next lead.
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
59
75
76
38
90
63
63
63
46
W
59
80
90
72
76
92
46
38
87
90
87
65
80
95
34
51
27
80
46
34
90
84
90
38
76
27 + 32 =W
48 + 42 =E
27 + 49 =T
33 + 47 =L
47 + 45 =H
48 + 39 =D
28 + 18 =A
15 + 36 =K
13 + 21 =C
42 + 30 =F
19 + 19 =N
47 + 28 =I
13 + 14 =P
18 + 45 =S
38 + 27 =B
38 + 46 =M
43 + 52 =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Take away the broken planks from the stack to reveal a note.
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
35
89
51
37
74
58
38
A
35
19
19
37
58
72
A
35
60
37
58
15
79
A
35
79
79
23
58
60
67
58
38
58
48 - 13 =A
85 - 6 =T
106 - 34 =W
97 - 23 =D
33 - 14 =P
121 - 32 =G
61 - 1 =S
44 - 21 =H
27 - 12 =F
47 - 9 =N
97 - 30 =C
88 - 30 =E
91 - 40 =O
70 - 33 =L
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Skip counting
Count the torch posts by twos along the trail to uncover the secret.
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
15
30
50
16
16
18
33
16
70
6
16
39
21
A
15
55
70
16
110
39
26
18
39
33
16
110
12
50
16
55
39
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21A
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10M
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90L
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45T
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27W
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30I
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39H
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130F
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ___, 21, 24N
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ___, 14, 16O
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65S
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70R
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20E
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50G
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Find the missing number of bricks to finish the wall and unlock the clue.
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
10 + ___ = 21
9 + ___ = 19
4 + ___ = 9
6 + ___ = 9
2 + ___ = 3
2 + ___ = 14
8 + ___ = 15
3 + ___ = 11
3 + ___ = 5
4 + ___ = 10
10 + ___ = 19
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain chopped with a nether axe, then grabbed emerald gems.
2.The villain dug with a gold shovel, then pocketed lapis lumps.
3.The villain dug with a gold shovel, then grabbed emerald gems.
4.The villain slashed with an iron sword, then pocketed lapis lumps.
5.The villain scraped with a stone hoe, then took redstone dust.
6.The villain slashed with an iron sword, then took redstone dust.
7.The villain chopped with a nether axe, then pocketed lapis lumps.
8.The villain swung a diamond pick, then snatched glowstone dust.
9.The villain chopped with a nether axe, then stole obsidian blocks.
10.The villain scraped with a stone hoe, then pocketed lapis lumps.
11.The villain swung a diamond pick, then pocketed lapis lumps.
12.The villain chopped with a nether axe, then snatched glowstone dust.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Block Bandit
Culprit: Steve Craft (Iron Sword · Lapis Lumps · Left Handed · Green Helmet · Golden Apple)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE EMERALD GEMS"What number has 2 tens and 2 ones? = 22 (T) · What number has 9 tens and 0 ones? = 90 (O) · What number has 9 tens and 7 ones? = 97 (R) · What number has 5 tens and 8 ones? = 58 (G) · What number has 6 tens and 3 ones? = 63 (S) · What number has 2 tens and 5 ones? = 25 (M) · What number has 5 tens and 3 ones? = 53 (L) · What number has 5 tens and 5 ones? = 55 (E) · What number has 3 tens and 6 ones? = 36 (V) · What number has 2 tens and 7 ones? = 27 (N) · What number has 9 tens and 3 ones? = 93 (I) · What number has 2 tens and 3 ones? = 23 (A) · What number has 6 tens and 2 ones? = 62 (D) · What number has 1 ten and 7 ones? = 17 (H)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "WITNESS SAW LEFT HANDED BLOCK PLACEMENT"27 + 32 = 59 (W) · 48 + 42 = 90 (E) · 27 + 49 = 76 (T) · 33 + 47 = 80 (L) · 47 + 45 = 92 (H) · 48 + 39 = 87 (D) · 28 + 18 = 46 (A) · 15 + 36 = 51 (K) · 13 + 21 = 34 (C) · 42 + 30 = 72 (F) · 19 + 19 = 38 (N) · 47 + 28 = 75 (I) · 13 + 14 = 27 (P) · 18 + 45 = 63 (S) · 38 + 27 = 65 (B) · 38 + 46 = 84 (M) · 43 + 52 = 95 (O)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "A GOLDEN APPLE WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE"48 - 13 = 35 (A) · 85 - 6 = 79 (T) · 106 - 34 = 72 (W) · 97 - 23 = 74 (D) · 33 - 14 = 19 (P) · 121 - 32 = 89 (G) · 61 - 1 = 60 (S) · 44 - 21 = 23 (H) · 27 - 12 = 15 (F) · 47 - 9 = 38 (N) · 97 - 30 = 67 (C) · 88 - 30 = 58 (E) · 91 - 40 = 51 (O) · 70 - 33 = 37 (L)
- Clue 4 (Skip counting): "A GREEN HELMET WAS LEFT IN THE FOREST"Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21 = 15 (A) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (M) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90 = 70 (L) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (T) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27 = 21 (W) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30 = 26 (I) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39 = 33 (H) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130 = 110 (F) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ___, 21, 24 = 18 (N) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ___, 14, 16 = 12 (O) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65 = 55 (S) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70 = 50 (R) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20 = 16 (E) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50 = 30 (G)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 4) → Steve Craft10 + ___ = 21 = 11 · 9 + ___ = 19 = 10 · 4 + ___ = 9 = 5 · 6 + ___ = 9 = 3 · 2 + ___ = 3 = 1 · 2 + ___ = 14 = 12 · 8 + ___ = 15 = 7 · 3 + ___ = 11 = 8 · 3 + ___ = 5 = 2 · 4 + ___ = 10 = 6 · 10 + ___ = 19 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 2 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Skip counting, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Great Block Bandit — set in Crafty Canyon
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects