🦕 DinosaursGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Great Fossil Foil
Someone snuck into Cretaceous Valley Research Park and swapped the rare T-Rex skeleton with a plastic replica! Examine the clue files to catch the bandit.
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 Habitat | Rescue Gear | Stance | Cap Color | Snack Bait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Mary Anning | Velociraptor Track | Rope Launcher | Right Handed | Red Cap | Fern Crunch |
| Excavator Ed | Triceratops Fence | Digging Claw | Left Handed | Green Cap | Fern Crunch |
| Tracker Sam | Velociraptor Track | Radar Map | Left Handed | Green Cap | Berry Chew |
| Dr Phil Currie | Stegosaurus Pen | Digging Claw | Left Handed | Green Cap | Fern Crunch |
| Ranger Rick | Stegosaurus Pen | Laser Scope | Right Handed | Red Cap | Berry Chew |
| Dr Jack Horner | Stegosaurus Pen | Digging Claw | Left Handed | Red Cap | Berry Chew |
| Dr Xu Xing | Stegosaurus Pen | Laser Scope | Left Handed | Yellow Cap | Melon Slice |
| Dr Paul Sereno | Velociraptor Track | Laser Scope | Left Handed | Yellow Cap | Berry Chew |
| Prof Richard Owen | Triceratops Fence | Tracker Pad | Left Handed | Green Cap | Berry Chew |
| Dr Gideon Mantell | Stegosaurus Pen | Laser Scope | Right Handed | Green Cap | Melon Slice |
| Dr Luis Chiappe | Triceratops Fence | Rope Launcher | Left Handed | Yellow Cap | Melon Slice |
| Dr Karen Chin | Ankylosaurus Zone | Digging Claw | Right Handed | Red Cap | Melon Slice |
| Dr Angela Milner | Velociraptor Track | Digging Claw | Right Handed | Red Cap | Berry Chew |
| Fossil Fiona | Stegosaurus Pen | Radar Map | Right Handed | Red Cap | Melon Slice |
| Dino Dave | Ankylosaurus Zone | Rope Launcher | Left Handed | Red Cap | Berry Chew |
| Dr Roy Chapman | Triceratops Fence | Rope Launcher | Right Handed | Red Cap | Berry Chew |
| Dino Dan | Ankylosaurus Zone | Radar Map | Right Handed | Red Cap | Berry Chew |
| Scout Harper | Velociraptor Track | Tracker Pad | Right Handed | Red Cap | Fern Crunch |
| Dr Bob Bakker | Velociraptor Track | Digging Claw | Right Handed | Yellow Cap | Berry Chew |
| Professor Rex | Stegosaurus Pen | Radar Map | Right Handed | Red Cap | Berry Chew |
| Dr Nizar Ibrahim | T Rex Area | Digging Claw | Left Handed | Yellow Cap | Berry Chew |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Ranger Sam found rows of fossil crates stacked outside the camp and multiplied the rows to get the total.
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
36
40
18
66
132
18
28
60
144
3
11
70
70
28
11
132
45
32
18
66
132
32
T
36
30
66
18
28
70
28
66
18
84
66
49
32
8
18
9 × 4 =T
4 × 2 =P
12 × 11 =N
10 × 7 =L
1 × 11 =I
4 × 7 =A
2 × 9 =E
7 × 7 =C
1 × 3 =V
5 × 9 =D
6 × 5 =U
12 × 7 =R
12 × 12 =Y
4 × 8 =O
5 × 8 =H
12 × 5 =K
6 × 11 =S
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The dig site radar scanner only gives rounded estimates of distance to nearby targets.
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
40
5000
900
8000
9000
8000
80
900
30
T
40
90
3000
7000
4000
900
200
90
300
T
40
5000
T
40
5000
900
300
7000
7000
300
800
5000
T
40
5000
20
600
200
Round 42 to the nearest tenT
Round 9,203 to the nearest thousandU
Round 3,041 to the nearest thousandO
Round 4,891 to the nearest thousandH
Round 931 to the nearest hundredE
Round 341 to the nearest hundredI
Round 29 to the nearest tenC
Round 8,136 to the nearest thousandS
Round 813 to the nearest hundredG
Round 77 to the nearest tenP
Round 597 to the nearest hundredN
Round 86 to the nearest tenW
Round 3,765 to the nearest thousandK
Round 239 to the nearest hundredD
Round 6,874 to the nearest thousandR
Round 24 to the nearest tenA
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
Fossil Fiona tallied up all the extra bone fragments found along the mud 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.
T
859
341
759
674
573
488
434
967
T
859
886
356
797
894
434
488
356
T
859
517
759
928
967
928
T
859
674
759
517
517
371
886
341
759
203
674
573
967
T
859
402 + 457 =T
546 + 348 =L
562 + 405 =I
210 + 363 =A
170 + 201 =Y
398 + 530 =S
405 + 269 =B
124 + 79 =W
339 + 420 =E
269 + 219 =N
143 + 198 =H
180 + 337 =R
143 + 291 =D
617 + 269 =C
530 + 267 =U
207 + 149 =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
Tracker Sam subtracted the stolen tools from the camp supply list to see what was missing.
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
387
237
228
759
820
A
387
573
596
A
387
858
759
237
370
573
573
228
759
330
228
A
387
237
781
214
228
759
169
330
370
781
237
A
387
820
599
858
755 - 368 =A
1001 - 181 =C
560 - 332 =E
818 - 37 =T
401 - 71 =N
862 - 266 =W
942 - 183 =D
895 - 322 =P
357 - 143 =H
503 - 133 =O
281 - 44 =R
320 - 151 =I
984 - 126 =S
837 - 238 =K
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The team split the mystery footprints into equal search zones for each ranger.
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
16 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
88 ÷ 8 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain marched past the Triceratops fence, then scaled the gate with a rope launcher.
2.The villain swung past the Stegosaurus pen, then checked the path with a radar map.
3.The villain dashed past the Velociraptor paddock, then scraped the dirt with a digging claw.
4.The villain dashed past the Velociraptor paddock, then checked the path with a radar map.
5.The villain swung past the Stegosaurus pen, then scaled the gate with a rope launcher.
6.The villain marched past the Triceratops fence, then aimed around with a laser scope.
7.The villain stamped past the T-Rex habitat, then scraped the dirt with a digging claw.
8.The villain stamped past the T-Rex habitat, then scanned the mud with a tracker pad.
9.The villain stamped past the T-Rex habitat, then aimed around with a laser scope.
10.The villain crawled past the Ankylosaurus exhibit, then checked the path with a radar map.
11.The villain marched past the Triceratops fence, then scanned the mud with a tracker pad.
12.The villain crawled past the Ankylosaurus exhibit, then scanned the mud with a tracker pad.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Fossil Foil
Culprit: Dr Roy Chapman (Triceratops Fence · Rope Launcher · Right Handed · Red Cap · Berry Chew)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SNEAKY VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A LASER SCOPE"9 × 4 = 36 (T) · 4 × 2 = 8 (P) · 12 × 11 = 132 (N) · 10 × 7 = 70 (L) · 1 × 11 = 11 (I) · 4 × 7 = 28 (A) · 2 × 9 = 18 (E) · 7 × 7 = 49 (C) · 1 × 3 = 3 (V) · 5 × 9 = 45 (D) · 6 × 5 = 30 (U) · 12 × 7 = 84 (R) · 12 × 12 = 144 (Y) · 4 × 8 = 32 (O) · 5 × 8 = 40 (H) · 12 × 5 = 60 (K) · 6 × 11 = 66 (S)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT WORKED WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"Round 42 to the nearest ten = 40 (T) · Round 9,203 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (U) · Round 3,041 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (O) · Round 4,891 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H) · Round 931 to the nearest hundred = 900 (E) · Round 341 to the nearest hundred = 300 (I) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (C) · Round 8,136 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (S) · Round 813 to the nearest hundred = 800 (G) · Round 77 to the nearest ten = 80 (P) · Round 597 to the nearest hundred = 600 (N) · Round 86 to the nearest ten = 90 (W) · Round 3,765 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (K) · Round 239 to the nearest hundred = 200 (D) · Round 6,874 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (R) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (A)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE BANDIT COULD NOT RESIST BERRY CHEW BAIT"402 + 457 = 859 (T) · 546 + 348 = 894 (L) · 562 + 405 = 967 (I) · 210 + 363 = 573 (A) · 170 + 201 = 371 (Y) · 398 + 530 = 928 (S) · 405 + 269 = 674 (B) · 124 + 79 = 203 (W) · 339 + 420 = 759 (E) · 269 + 219 = 488 (N) · 143 + 198 = 341 (H) · 180 + 337 = 517 (R) · 143 + 291 = 434 (D) · 617 + 269 = 886 (C) · 530 + 267 = 797 (U) · 207 + 149 = 356 (O)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A RED CAP WAS DROPPED NEAR THE DINO TRACKS"755 - 368 = 387 (A) · 1001 - 181 = 820 (C) · 560 - 332 = 228 (E) · 818 - 37 = 781 (T) · 401 - 71 = 330 (N) · 862 - 266 = 596 (W) · 942 - 183 = 759 (D) · 895 - 322 = 573 (P) · 357 - 143 = 214 (H) · 503 - 133 = 370 (O) · 281 - 44 = 237 (R) · 320 - 151 = 169 (I) · 984 - 126 = 858 (S) · 837 - 238 = 599 (K)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Dr Roy Chapman16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Fossil Foil — set in Cretaceous Valley Research Park
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects