🦕 DinosaursGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionRoundingSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Great Fossil Mystery
A rare golden T-rex skull has disappeared from the camp. You must analyze clues left around the dig site to catch the sneaky 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 | Dino Power | Special Gear | Footprint Tell | Feather Color | Tricked By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Jensen | TAIL SWIPE | WING GLIDE | RIGHT FOOTED | RED FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Lindsay Zanno | TAIL SWIPE | ARMORED HIDE | RIGHT FOOTED | RED FEATHERS | LOUD WHISTLE |
| Paul Sereno | GROUND STOMP | NIGHT VISION | RIGHT FOOTED | BLUE FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Ellie Sattler | GROUND STOMP | ARMORED HIDE | LEFT FOOTED | GOLD FEATHERS | SMELLY CHEESE |
| Kristi Curry | AMBER SHIELD | NIGHT VISION | RIGHT FOOTED | RED FEATHERS | SMELLY CHEESE |
| Cathy Forster | SONIC ROAR | ARMORED HIDE | RIGHT FOOTED | BLUE FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Mary Anning | AMBER SHIELD | SWIFT DASH | RIGHT FOOTED | RED FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Rodolfo Coria | AMBER SHIELD | NIGHT VISION | RIGHT FOOTED | GOLD FEATHERS | LOUD WHISTLE |
| Barnum Brown | GROUND STOMP | CAMOUFLAGE | RIGHT FOOTED | BLUE FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Karen Chin | LAVA BLAST | NIGHT VISION | RIGHT FOOTED | GOLD FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Jack Horner | TAIL SWIPE | SWIFT DASH | LEFT FOOTED | GOLD FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Phil Currie | TAIL SWIPE | NIGHT VISION | LEFT FOOTED | GOLD FEATHERS | SMELLY CHEESE |
| Patricia Vickers | GROUND STOMP | ARMORED HIDE | LEFT FOOTED | GOLD FEATHERS | LOUD WHISTLE |
| Othniel Marsh | GROUND STOMP | CAMOUFLAGE | LEFT FOOTED | RED FEATHERS | SMELLY CHEESE |
| Paul Barrett | GROUND STOMP | NIGHT VISION | RIGHT FOOTED | GOLD FEATHERS | SMELLY CHEESE |
| Alan Grant | GROUND STOMP | ARMORED HIDE | RIGHT FOOTED | BLUE FEATHERS | SMELLY CHEESE |
| Luis Chiappe | TAIL SWIPE | WING GLIDE | RIGHT FOOTED | BLUE FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Nizar Ibrahim | LAVA BLAST | ARMORED HIDE | RIGHT FOOTED | BLUE FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Edward Cope | TAIL SWIPE | WING GLIDE | LEFT FOOTED | GOLD FEATHERS | LOUD WHISTLE |
| Sue Hendrickson | GROUND STOMP | ARMORED HIDE | LEFT FOOTED | BLUE FEATHERS | BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT |
| Roy Chapman | GROUND STOMP | WING GLIDE | RIGHT FOOTED | RED FEATHERS | LOUD WHISTLE |
Clue 1
Addition
You tally up all the extra fossil brushes collected from the camp supply tent to unlock the first clue 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.
T
7417
2180
2738
T
7417
2180
4759
2738
5236
6861
7219
2738
9630
6694
7219
T
7417
3261
9630
2738
7907
6454
4120
7219
3261
5236
5191
6454
8231
2738
2699 + 4718 =T
5535 + 2696 =G
3902 + 2552 =A
1173 + 1565 =E
3629 + 4278 =C
2808 + 1312 =M
4211 + 2650 =D
1248 + 932 =H
3194 + 1997 =L
1244 + 2017 =U
3787 + 5843 =S
1888 + 3348 =F
2675 + 2084 =I
3374 + 3320 =N
4101 + 3118 =O
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The camp radar screen rounds all distant jungle movements to the nearest ten meters to display the second 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.
T
30
230
130
20
90
200
3700
110
2300
4300
2000
200
5000
1100
500
130
5000
2900
130
430
1300
230
3700
3000
5000
T
30
1700
1100
1100
T
30
9000
230
3700
110
T
30
Round 26 to the nearest tenT
Round 4,272 to the nearest hundredU
Round 4,559 to the nearest thousandH
Round 212 to the nearest hundredS
Round 232 to the nearest tenR
Round 8,581 to the nearest thousandP
Round 2,336 to the nearest hundredM
Round 17 to the nearest tenC
Round 434 to the nearest tenV
Round 1,120 to the nearest hundredO
Round 3,655 to the nearest hundredI
Round 1,705 to the nearest hundredF
Round 131 to the nearest tenA
Round 1,320 to the nearest hundredY
Round 2,123 to the nearest thousandD
Round 459 to the nearest hundredW
Round 91 to the nearest tenK
Round 3,097 to the nearest thousandG
Round 2,881 to the nearest hundredE
Round 114 to the nearest tenN
0/20 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
You calculate how many amber gems are missing from the storage chest to reveal the third secret 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.
T
2291
1905
2395
T
2291
1905
5956
2395
8287
2562
5311
8299
8299
1158
5311
5150
2395
2592
4747
7995
5311
4747
5150
5956
8082
1905
T
2291
8287
2959
5311
8299
1905
2959
5956
8082
1905
T
2291
6511 - 4220 =T
4848 - 101 =B
4233 - 1641 =D
6619 - 3660 =L
8402 - 115 =F
4523 - 3365 =C
3630 - 1725 =H
9212 - 1217 =Y
6380 - 424 =I
4688 - 2293 =E
8515 - 3365 =R
9420 - 4109 =A
11970 - 3671 =S
6311 - 3749 =W
9177 - 1095 =G
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
You count the rows and columns of dig grid squares across the valley floor to solve the fourth 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.
W
99
72
24
96
28
120
27
42
90
11
120
77
49
50
28
72
24
72
6
121
90
72
80
42
6
121
121
90
72
42
88
72
120
72
9 × 11 =W
11 × 8 =C
12 × 8 =O
4 × 6 =F
5 × 10 =L
11 × 1 =I
10 × 8 =R
11 × 11 =T
6 × 7 =S
7 × 7 =B
6 × 12 =E
11 × 7 =Y
7 × 4 =U
10 × 9 =H
2 × 3 =A
10 × 12 =N
9 × 3 =D
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
You divide the heavy plaster casts equally into supply crates to decode the final 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
42 ÷ 6 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
10 ÷ 5 = ?
15 ÷ 3 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain knocked over the bone display, then glided off the high cliff.
2.The villain stole the raptor claw, then shielded from falling rocks.
3.The villain took the T-rex skull, then shielded from falling rocks.
4.The villain smashed the amber case, then shielded from falling rocks.
5.The villain stole the raptor claw, then snapped night vision goggles on.
6.The villain swiped the fossil map, then shielded from falling rocks.
7.The villain knocked over the bone display, then shielded from falling rocks.
8.The villain smashed the amber case, then snapped night vision goggles on.
9.The villain swiped the fossil map, then snapped night vision goggles on.
10.The villain stole the raptor claw, then glided off the high cliff.
11.The villain smashed the amber case, then vanished into thin air.
12.The villain smashed the amber case, then glided off the high cliff.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Fossil Mystery
Culprit: Luis Chiappe (TAIL SWIPE · WING GLIDE · RIGHT FOOTED · BLUE FEATHERS · BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE CAMOUFLAGE"2699 + 4718 = 7417 (T) · 5535 + 2696 = 8231 (G) · 3902 + 2552 = 6454 (A) · 1173 + 1565 = 2738 (E) · 3629 + 4278 = 7907 (C) · 2808 + 1312 = 4120 (M) · 4211 + 2650 = 6861 (D) · 1248 + 932 = 2180 (H) · 3194 + 1997 = 5191 (L) · 1244 + 2017 = 3261 (U) · 3787 + 5843 = 9630 (S) · 1888 + 3348 = 5236 (F) · 2675 + 2084 = 4759 (I) · 3374 + 3320 = 6694 (N) · 4101 + 3118 = 7219 (O)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "TRACKS IN MUD SHOW A HEAVY RIGHT FOOT PRINT"Round 26 to the nearest ten = 30 (T) · Round 4,272 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (U) · Round 4,559 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H) · Round 212 to the nearest hundred = 200 (S) · Round 232 to the nearest ten = 230 (R) · Round 8,581 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (P) · Round 2,336 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (M) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (C) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (V) · Round 1,120 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (O) · Round 3,655 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (I) · Round 1,705 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (F) · Round 131 to the nearest ten = 130 (A) · Round 1,320 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (Y) · Round 2,123 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (D) · Round 459 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (K) · Round 3,097 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (G) · Round 2,881 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (E) · Round 114 to the nearest ten = 110 (N)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF WAS SCARED BY A BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT"6511 - 4220 = 2291 (T) · 4848 - 101 = 4747 (B) · 4233 - 1641 = 2592 (D) · 6619 - 3660 = 2959 (L) · 8402 - 115 = 8287 (F) · 4523 - 3365 = 1158 (C) · 3630 - 1725 = 1905 (H) · 9212 - 1217 = 7995 (Y) · 6380 - 424 = 5956 (I) · 4688 - 2293 = 2395 (E) · 8515 - 3365 = 5150 (R) · 9420 - 4109 = 5311 (A) · 11970 - 3671 = 8299 (S) · 6311 - 3749 = 2562 (W) · 9177 - 1095 = 8082 (G)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND SHINY BLUE FEATHERS AT THE SCENE"9 × 11 = 99 (W) · 11 × 8 = 88 (C) · 12 × 8 = 96 (O) · 4 × 6 = 24 (F) · 5 × 10 = 50 (L) · 11 × 1 = 11 (I) · 10 × 8 = 80 (R) · 11 × 11 = 121 (T) · 6 × 7 = 42 (S) · 7 × 7 = 49 (B) · 6 × 12 = 72 (E) · 11 × 7 = 77 (Y) · 7 × 4 = 28 (U) · 10 × 9 = 90 (H) · 2 × 3 = 6 (A) · 10 × 12 = 120 (N) · 9 × 3 = 27 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Luis Chiappe42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 15 ÷ 3 = 5 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Rounding, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Fossil Mystery — set in Cretaceous Creek Dig Site
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects