🦕 DinosaursGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Great Dino Fossil Heist
Someone stole the priceless golden T-Rex footprint right out of the canyon lab! Detective, use your math skills to narrow down the clues and reveal the villain among the fossil park crew.
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 Gear | Dino Ride | Dominant Hand | Outfit | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Fossil | Net Launcher | Raptor Scout | Right Handed | Green Scale Coat | Bright Flashlight |
| Claire Dearing | Sound Whistle | Ankylosaurus Crusher | Right Handed | Red Parka | Bright Flashlight |
| Hunter Stone | Roar Megaphone | Triceratops Cart | Left Handed | Red Parka | Loud Air Horn |
| Alan Dino | Fossil Scanner | Raptor Scout | Left Handed | Green Scale Coat | Bright Flashlight |
| Eli Boulder | Net Launcher | Raptor Scout | Right Handed | Red Parka | Loud Air Horn |
| Bone Ranger | Sound Whistle | Raptor Scout | Right Handed | Green Scale Coat | Loud Air Horn |
| Ruby Amber | Fossil Scanner | Triceratops Cart | Left Handed | Green Scale Coat | Loud Air Horn |
| Leo Ridge | Sound Whistle | Stegosaurus Loader | Left Handed | Green Scale Coat | Loud Air Horn |
| Rex Tracker | Amber Goggles | Pterodactyl Glider | Left Handed | Red Parka | Bright Flashlight |
| Dr. Sam Grant | Amber Goggles | Pterodactyl Glider | Left Handed | Green Scale Coat | Loud Air Horn |
| Ian Malcolm | Net Launcher | Stegosaurus Loader | Right Handed | Brown Leather Vest | Bright Flashlight |
| Chloe Spire | Net Launcher | Triceratops Cart | Right Handed | Brown Leather Vest | Bright Flashlight |
| Tara Raptor | Amber Goggles | Triceratops Cart | Left Handed | Red Parka | Smoky Flare |
| Ellie Sattler | Sound Whistle | Pterodactyl Glider | Left Handed | Green Scale Coat | Loud Air Horn |
| Owen Grady | Sound Whistle | Ankylosaurus Crusher | Left Handed | Red Parka | Loud Air Horn |
| Ivy Crest | Fossil Scanner | Ankylosaurus Crusher | Left Handed | Green Scale Coat | Smoky Flare |
| Wyatt Strata | Roar Megaphone | Triceratops Cart | Right Handed | Red Parka | Bright Flashlight |
| Zack Quarry | Fossil Scanner | Raptor Scout | Left Handed | Brown Leather Vest | Smoky Flare |
| Maya Canopy | Sound Whistle | Ankylosaurus Crusher | Left Handed | Green Scale Coat | Loud Air Horn |
| Nico Talon | Sound Whistle | Pterodactyl Glider | Right Handed | Red Parka | Bright Flashlight |
| Dakota Diggs | Amber Goggles | Pterodactyl Glider | Left Handed | Brown Leather Vest | Smoky Flare |
Clue 1
Rounding
The motion sensor on the dig site fence only shows rounded counts of footsteps.
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
7000
370
2000
300
2900
300
110
2000
1700
T
7000
1100
500
2000
300
170
500
T
7000
2900
300
2000
T
7000
4300
30
1700
2000
4300
1300
T
7000
500
110
300
1700
1300
4300
T
7000
Round 7,361 to the nearest thousandT
Round 4,292 to the nearest hundredR
Round 170 to the nearest tenN
Round 109 to the nearest tenP
Round 30 to the nearest tenI
Round 293 to the nearest hundredS
Round 1,943 to the nearest thousandE
Round 1,103 to the nearest hundredD
Round 1,681 to the nearest hundredC
Round 372 to the nearest tenH
Round 537 to the nearest hundredO
Round 2,898 to the nearest hundredU
Round 1,251 to the nearest hundredA
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We tallied all the fossil brushes and chisels found at the base camp.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
6961
4073
5056
2696
2947
4342
9430
2049
4073
2049
5056
2498
2498
2696
9009
3916
5323
9430
2696
2706
2294
4073
3916
4073
9430
4073
4342
3916
2696
2947
4073
2049
5323
9326
3224 + 3737 =L
1214 + 835 =D
1707 + 791 =O
1465 + 2608 =E
848 + 1858 =S
3314 + 1742 =F
1265 + 1431 =T
3246 + 2077 =I
948 + 1346 =W
6481 + 2845 =G
4233 + 4776 =P
1299 + 2617 =R
1922 + 2420 =A
6385 + 3045 =N
1960 + 987 =H
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Comparing the glowing amber stones before and after the theft shows the missing count.
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
6522
5980
8911
5126
5113
2404
2404
5339
5113
5762
4104
5339
3017
3017
3542
5339
1821
8911
6162
1605
7671
2404
3950
2179
6162
5339
5113
1821
5980
3950
1821
5762
8333 - 1811 =T
7190 - 3086 =W
3550 - 1729 =R
4623 - 1081 =C
8172 - 3046 =V
11283 - 2372 =E
6758 - 4354 =L
9065 - 2903 =D
5589 - 2572 =S
10859 - 4879 =H
8342 - 4392 =O
7378 - 1616 =N
6206 - 1093 =I
6441 - 4836 =B
8606 - 935 =Y
5619 - 3440 =U
5389 - 50 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The raptor crates are stored in equal rows inside the supply tent.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
G
36
54
14
14
64
22
9
18
144
14
9
4
18
27
27
56
54
14
18
1
22
144
14
49
27
4
64
18
50
120
22
56
12 × 3 =G
6 × 9 =R
7 × 7 =F
9 × 1 =C
5 × 10 =B
8 × 8 =N
1 × 4 =O
3 × 9 =T
2 × 11 =S
1 × 1 =D
7 × 2 =E
12 × 12 =L
8 × 7 =H
3 × 6 =A
12 × 10 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We must split the dinosaur treat bags equally among the feeding stations.
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
3 ÷ 3 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
108 ÷ 12 = ?
44 ÷ 4 = ?
40 ÷ 10 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
5 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blew a loud sound whistle, then soared away on a pterodactyl glider.
2.The villain adjusted amber goggles, then soared away on a pterodactyl glider.
3.The villain blew a loud sound whistle, then rammed past on an ankylosaurus crusher.
4.The villain scanned the mud for footprints, then escaped on a raptor scout.
5.The villain scanned the mud for footprints, then drove off in a triceratops cart.
6.The villain adjusted amber goggles, then rammed past on an ankylosaurus crusher.
7.The villain shouted through a roar megaphone, then soared away on a pterodactyl glider.
8.The villain scanned the mud for footprints, then soared away on a pterodactyl glider.
9.The villain blew a loud sound whistle, then hailed a stegosaurus loader.
10.The villain blew a loud sound whistle, then drove off in a triceratops cart.
11.The villain shouted through a roar megaphone, then escaped on a raptor scout.
12.The villain fired a heavy net launcher, then hailed a stegosaurus loader.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Dino Fossil Heist
Culprit: Dr. Sam Grant (Amber Goggles · Pterodactyl Glider · Left Handed · Green Scale Coat · Loud Air Horn)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE TRICERATOPS CART"Round 7,361 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (T) · Round 4,292 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (R) · Round 170 to the nearest ten = 170 (N) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (P) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (I) · Round 293 to the nearest hundred = 300 (S) · Round 1,943 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (E) · Round 1,103 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (D) · Round 1,681 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (C) · Round 372 to the nearest ten = 370 (H) · Round 537 to the nearest hundred = 500 (O) · Round 2,898 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (U) · Round 1,251 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (A)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "LEFT HANDED FOOTPRINTS WERE NEAR THE DIG"3224 + 3737 = 6961 (L) · 1214 + 835 = 2049 (D) · 1707 + 791 = 2498 (O) · 1465 + 2608 = 4073 (E) · 848 + 1858 = 2706 (S) · 3314 + 1742 = 5056 (F) · 1265 + 1431 = 2696 (T) · 3246 + 2077 = 5323 (I) · 948 + 1346 = 2294 (W) · 6481 + 2845 = 9326 (G) · 4233 + 4776 = 9009 (P) · 1299 + 2617 = 3916 (R) · 1922 + 2420 = 4342 (A) · 6385 + 3045 = 9430 (N) · 1960 + 987 = 2947 (H)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN WAS SCARED BY LOUD AIR HORN"8333 - 1811 = 6522 (T) · 7190 - 3086 = 4104 (W) · 3550 - 1729 = 1821 (R) · 4623 - 1081 = 3542 (C) · 8172 - 3046 = 5126 (V) · 11283 - 2372 = 8911 (E) · 6758 - 4354 = 2404 (L) · 9065 - 2903 = 6162 (D) · 5589 - 2572 = 3017 (S) · 10859 - 4879 = 5980 (H) · 8342 - 4392 = 3950 (O) · 7378 - 1616 = 5762 (N) · 6206 - 1093 = 5113 (I) · 6441 - 4836 = 1605 (B) · 8606 - 935 = 7671 (Y) · 5619 - 3440 = 2179 (U) · 5389 - 50 = 5339 (A)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "GREEN SCALE COAT THREADS LEFT ON A BUSH"12 × 3 = 36 (G) · 6 × 9 = 54 (R) · 7 × 7 = 49 (F) · 9 × 1 = 9 (C) · 5 × 10 = 50 (B) · 8 × 8 = 64 (N) · 1 × 4 = 4 (O) · 3 × 9 = 27 (T) · 2 × 11 = 22 (S) · 1 × 1 = 1 (D) · 7 × 2 = 14 (E) · 12 × 12 = 144 (L) · 8 × 7 = 56 (H) · 3 × 6 = 18 (A) · 12 × 10 = 120 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Dr. Sam Grant3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 40 ÷ 10 = 4 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Dino Fossil Heist — set in Fossil Canyon Research Park
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects