🦕 DinosaursGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Great Fossil Park Mystery
Someone snuck into Palaeo Peak Dig Site and stole the glowing T-Rex skull! The junior detective squad must solve math clues to unmask the culprit.
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 | Dig Tool | Dino Snack | Strap Color | Cap Style | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Quartz | Rock Hammer | Melon Slice | Red Strap | Sun Hat | Squeaky Toy |
| Sandy Stone | Rock Hammer | Fern Leaf | Blue Strap | Baseball Cap | Loud Whistle |
| Tracker Tim | Dust Brush | Seed Biscuit | Blue Strap | Pith Helmet | Squeaky Toy |
| Boulder Bill | Dust Brush | Seed Biscuit | Blue Strap | Baseball Cap | Squeaky Toy |
| Prof Amber | Magnifier | Seed Biscuit | Blue Strap | Baseball Cap | Squeaky Toy |
| Cliff Ridge | Sifter | Seed Biscuit | Blue Strap | Sun Hat | Flashlight Beam |
| Terra Green | Sifter | Melon Slice | Blue Strap | Sun Hat | Squeaky Toy |
| Penny Dust | Sifter | Melon Slice | Blue Strap | Pith Helmet | Squeaky Toy |
| Scout Sam | Magnifier | Melon Slice | Blue Strap | Pith Helmet | Squeaky Toy |
| Pete Clay | Dust Brush | Berry Crunch | Red Strap | Pith Helmet | Squeaky Toy |
| Canyon Cole | Magnifier | Fern Leaf | Blue Strap | Sun Hat | Squeaky Toy |
| Digging Dan | Chisel | Fern Leaf | Blue Strap | Pith Helmet | Squeaky Toy |
| Fossil Frank | Dust Brush | Melon Slice | Blue Strap | Pith Helmet | Squeaky Toy |
| Flint Spark | Dust Brush | Fern Leaf | Blue Strap | Pith Helmet | Flashlight Beam |
| Dino Daisy | Rock Hammer | Tree Bark | Red Strap | Pith Helmet | Loud Whistle |
| Basalt Bob | Magnifier | Seed Biscuit | Red Strap | Sun Hat | Flashlight Beam |
| Ruby Ridge | Chisel | Melon Slice | Red Strap | Sun Hat | Squeaky Toy |
| Gravel Greg | Rock Hammer | Seed Biscuit | Blue Strap | Sun Hat | Flashlight Beam |
| Dr Bone | Chisel | Berry Crunch | Blue Strap | Baseball Cap | Loud Whistle |
| Maya Mud | Rock Hammer | Fern Leaf | Blue Strap | Pith Helmet | Flashlight Beam |
| Dr Rex | Sifter | Melon Slice | Red Strap | Sun Hat | Loud Whistle |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To find the first footprint trail, count the total fossil teeth arranged in equal rows on the display tray.
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
9
49
108
45
20
55
55
33
20
4
110
20
110
4
12
T
9
108
33
T
9
33
4
66
96
108
108
110
70
20
96
18
121
20
T
9
1 × 9 =T
10 × 7 =B
1 × 12 =O
11 × 3 =A
3 × 6 =C
12 × 8 =S
9 × 5 =V
7 × 7 =H
12 × 9 =E
2 × 2 =N
10 × 2 =I
11 × 11 =U
11 × 5 =L
11 × 10 =D
11 × 6 =Y
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The dig site radar shows fuzzy distance numbers. Round the distance to the nearest ten to decode the direction.
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
3000
700
200
300
4000
T
3000
800
200
400
400
400
70
500
T
3000
T
3000
200
600
80
400
T
3000
50
80
70
500
900
6000
2000
8000
200
Round 2,772 to the nearest thousandT
Round 171 to the nearest hundredE
Round 48 to the nearest tenR
Round 346 to the nearest hundredW
Round 582 to the nearest hundredD
Round 881 to the nearest hundredF
Round 8,243 to the nearest thousandU
Round 744 to the nearest hundredH
Round 384 to the nearest hundredS
Round 4,373 to the nearest thousandI
Round 83 to the nearest tenA
Round 5,987 to the nearest thousandB
Round 2,466 to the nearest thousandL
Round 491 to the nearest hundredO
Round 74 to the nearest tenP
Round 848 to the nearest hundredN
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
Tally up all the amber stones collected in the morning and afternoon to open the supply crate.
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
393
550
510
T
393
550
363
510
511
231
865
727
865
978
865
399
511
231
570
706
865
302
542
259
510
865
764
399
T
393
570
399
154 + 239 =T
241 + 465 =M
298 + 272 =O
211 + 188 =Y
324 + 440 =K
331 + 180 =F
338 + 172 =E
108 + 123 =R
309 + 241 =H
109 + 193 =S
418 + 309 =N
382 + 596 =W
477 + 388 =A
224 + 318 =Q
172 + 87 =U
131 + 232 =I
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
Subtract the damaged camp shovels from the original total to reveal the hidden code on the locker.
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
400
524
A
400
387
858
559
406
659
524
524
345
892
378
345
659
892
345
788
659
A
400
402
406
378
559
387
406
402
659
714 - 314 =A
643 - 265 =M
428 - 22 =I
723 - 321 =N
745 - 186 =P
1016 - 357 =T
1128 - 340 =F
875 - 351 =H
1056 - 198 =D
651 - 306 =E
1245 - 353 =L
419 - 32 =R
0/12 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Split the heavy bone sample jars equally among the team packs to unlock the main research lab.
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
24 ÷ 2 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
36 ÷ 4 = ?
12 ÷ 6 = ?
42 ÷ 7 = ?
132 ÷ 12 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
12 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scraped the mud with a chisel, then munching a fresh fern leaf.
2.The villain sifted the gravel with a mesh screen, then nibbling a baked seed biscuit.
3.The villain chipped the stone with a rock hammer, then eating a big melon slice.
4.The villain inspected the bone with a magnifier, then eating a big melon slice.
5.The villain swept the dust with a brush, then eating a big melon slice.
6.The villain inspected the bone with a magnifier, then munching a fresh fern leaf.
7.The villain scraped the mud with a chisel, then chewing on a piece of tree bark.
8.The villain scraped the mud with a chisel, then nibbling a baked seed biscuit.
9.The villain chipped the stone with a rock hammer, then munching a fresh fern leaf.
10.The villain scraped the mud with a chisel, then eating a big melon slice.
11.The villain chipped the stone with a rock hammer, then crunching a sweet berry snack.
12.The villain sifted the gravel with a mesh screen, then eating a big melon slice.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Fossil Park Mystery
Culprit: Fossil Frank (Dust Brush · Melon Slice · Blue Strap · Pith Helmet · Squeaky Toy)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DID NOT EAT ANY SEED BISCUIT"1 × 9 = 9 (T) · 10 × 7 = 70 (B) · 1 × 12 = 12 (O) · 11 × 3 = 33 (A) · 3 × 6 = 18 (C) · 12 × 8 = 96 (S) · 9 × 5 = 45 (V) · 7 × 7 = 49 (H) · 12 × 9 = 108 (E) · 2 × 2 = 4 (N) · 10 × 2 = 20 (I) · 11 × 11 = 121 (U) · 11 × 5 = 55 (L) · 11 × 10 = 110 (D) · 11 × 6 = 66 (Y)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE WITNESS SPOTTED A STRAP OF BLUE"Round 2,772 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (T) · Round 171 to the nearest hundred = 200 (E) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (R) · Round 346 to the nearest hundred = 300 (W) · Round 582 to the nearest hundred = 600 (D) · Round 881 to the nearest hundred = 900 (F) · Round 8,243 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (U) · Round 744 to the nearest hundred = 700 (H) · Round 384 to the nearest hundred = 400 (S) · Round 4,373 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (I) · Round 83 to the nearest ten = 80 (A) · Round 5,987 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (B) · Round 2,466 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (L) · Round 491 to the nearest hundred = 500 (O) · Round 74 to the nearest ten = 70 (P) · Round 848 to the nearest hundred = 800 (N)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE THIEF RAN AWAY FROM A SQUEAKY TOY"154 + 239 = 393 (T) · 241 + 465 = 706 (M) · 298 + 272 = 570 (O) · 211 + 188 = 399 (Y) · 324 + 440 = 764 (K) · 331 + 180 = 511 (F) · 338 + 172 = 510 (E) · 108 + 123 = 231 (R) · 309 + 241 = 550 (H) · 109 + 193 = 302 (S) · 418 + 309 = 727 (N) · 382 + 596 = 978 (W) · 477 + 388 = 865 (A) · 224 + 318 = 542 (Q) · 172 + 87 = 259 (U) · 131 + 232 = 363 (I)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A HARD PITH HELMET LEFT AN IMPRINT"714 - 314 = 400 (A) · 643 - 265 = 378 (M) · 428 - 22 = 406 (I) · 723 - 321 = 402 (N) · 745 - 186 = 559 (P) · 1016 - 357 = 659 (T) · 1128 - 340 = 788 (F) · 875 - 351 = 524 (H) · 1056 - 198 = 858 (D) · 651 - 306 = 345 (E) · 1245 - 353 = 892 (L) · 419 - 32 = 387 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Fossil Frank24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Fossil Park Mystery — set in Palaeo Peak Dig Site
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects