🔎 Monkey and PencilsGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionRoundingMultiplicationDivision
The Great Pencil Caper of Jungle School
Someone snuck into the Canopy Art Studio and swiped the golden eraser! The suspect left behind messy doodles and jungle tracks. Match the clues to catch the mischievous monkey 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 | Pencil Type | Jungle Gear | Eyewear | Fur Color | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penny Pad | colored pencil | banana launcher | wears goggles | dark brown fur | squeaky toy |
| Pip Primate | hb lead pencil | coconuts mortar | wears visor | dark brown fur | bright flashlight |
| Professor Paws | colored pencil | treehouse glider | wears visor | dark brown fur | bright flashlight |
| Graffy Gorilla | mechanical pencil | banana launcher | wears visor | silver fur | loud whistle |
| Ellie Etch | carpenter pencil | treehouse glider | wears goggles | dark brown fur | bright flashlight |
| Buster Brush | colored pencil | coconuts mortar | wears visor | dark brown fur | bright flashlight |
| Dexter Draw | charcoal pencil | treehouse glider | wears visor | dark brown fur | bright flashlight |
| Gizmo Baboon | colored pencil | vine lasso | wears visor | dark brown fur | bright flashlight |
| Felix Canvas | carpenter pencil | vine lasso | wears visor | golden fur | bright flashlight |
| Momo Scribbles | hb lead pencil | banana launcher | wears goggles | golden fur | bright flashlight |
| Leonardo Lemur | mechanical pencil | banana launcher | wears goggles | dark brown fur | squeaky toy |
| Vincent Vole | colored pencil | vine lasso | wears visor | silver fur | bright flashlight |
| Frida Tail | carpenter pencil | banana launcher | wears goggles | dark brown fur | bright flashlight |
| Darwin Doodle | hb lead pencil | banana launcher | wears visor | dark brown fur | squeaky toy |
| Artie Capuchin | colored pencil | coconuts mortar | wears visor | golden fur | loud whistle |
| Sammy Eraser | charcoal pencil | jungle scooter | wears visor | silver fur | bright flashlight |
| Pablo Pencils | colored pencil | jungle scooter | wears visor | golden fur | bright flashlight |
| Gigi Graphite | charcoal pencil | vine lasso | wears visor | dark brown fur | bright flashlight |
| Coco Sketcher | carpenter pencil | banana launcher | wears goggles | silver fur | bright flashlight |
| Barnaby Beak | charcoal pencil | jungle scooter | wears visor | dark brown fur | squeaky toy |
| Cleo Crayon | charcoal pencil | treehouse glider | wears visor | silver fur | bright flashlight |
Clue 1
Addition
Inspector Chimp adds up all the stray sketchbooks found on the classroom floor to find 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
214
935
661
785
429
725
725
423
429
864
682
862
661
220
864
862
T
214
962
220
661
423
T
214
379
661
661
935
862
962
220
661
930
725
429
682
661
379
138 + 76 =T
509 + 453 =U
569 + 366 =H
236 + 143 =R
524 + 340 =N
148 + 275 =A
363 + 362 =L
554 + 308 =O
356 + 574 =G
243 + 542 =V
406 + 255 =E
116 + 104 =S
238 + 444 =D
255 + 174 =I
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
The detective counts the remaining erasers after subtracting the missing ones to uncover another hint.
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
261
268
277
829
594
829
169
277
449
T
261
172
143
829
172
277
143
525
512
700
718
143
829
594
700
272
512
829
275
525
453 - 192 =T
529 - 4 =R
612 - 18 =U
861 - 349 =I
674 - 225 =C
289 - 12 =E
407 - 139 =H
998 - 298 =N
455 - 180 =O
232 - 63 =P
264 - 121 =A
343 - 171 =W
727 - 9 =G
552 - 280 =V
1072 - 243 =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
A digital pencil counter on the wall rounds the nearby headcount to the nearest ten.
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
90
6000
700
9000
80
3000
800
7000
50
A
90
900
3000
50
9000
80
3000
800
900
800
60
2000
2000
300
200
800
3000
300
600
9000
50
50
A
90
9000
70
Round 94 to the nearest tenA
Round 46 to the nearest tenL
Round 83 to the nearest tenG
Round 5,998 to the nearest thousandB
Round 74 to the nearest tenN
Round 610 to the nearest hundredV
Round 319 to the nearest hundredE
Round 179 to the nearest hundredD
Round 834 to the nearest hundredT
Round 2,983 to the nearest thousandH
Round 9,432 to the nearest thousandI
Round 878 to the nearest hundredS
Round 1,552 to the nearest thousandP
Round 690 to the nearest hundredR
Round 59 to the nearest tenO
Round 6,780 to the nearest thousandF
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The team inspects four equal rows of colored pencils lined up on the art table.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
D
81
56
77
121
80
77
55
72
22
6
4
77
72
56
44
9
48
6
25
22
48
56
77
25
20
48
D
81
48
44
121
9 × 9 =D
11 × 4 =S
2 × 11 =N
8 × 7 =A
5 × 11 =O
6 × 1 =F
7 × 11 =R
5 × 5 =T
9 × 1 =L
8 × 6 =E
11 × 11 =K
2 × 10 =H
1 × 4 =U
12 × 6 =W
10 × 8 =B
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Inspector Chimp divides a large box of jumbo markers equally among the art tables to spot the final lead.
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
2 ÷ 2 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
15 ÷ 3 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
8 ÷ 1 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
108 ÷ 12 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain draws giant doodles, then fires coconut shells.
2.The villain scribbles blue lines, then launches banana peels.
3.The villain draws giant doodles, then zooms off on a glider.
4.The villain scribbles blue lines, then fires coconut shells.
5.The villain scribbles blue lines, then zooms off on a glider.
6.The villain scribbles blue lines, then swings on jungle vines.
7.The villain draws giant doodles, then swings on jungle vines.
8.The villain shades dark shadows, then zooms off on a glider.
9.The villain draws giant doodles, then zips around on a scooter.
10.The villain shades dark shadows, then zips around on a scooter.
11.The villain shades dark shadows, then swings on jungle vines.
12.The villain sketches secret maps, then fires coconut shells.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Pencil Caper of Jungle School
Culprit: Buster Brush (colored pencil · coconuts mortar · wears visor · dark brown fur · bright flashlight)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A TREEHOUSE GLIDER"138 + 76 = 214 (T) · 509 + 453 = 962 (U) · 569 + 366 = 935 (H) · 236 + 143 = 379 (R) · 524 + 340 = 864 (N) · 148 + 275 = 423 (A) · 363 + 362 = 725 (L) · 554 + 308 = 862 (O) · 356 + 574 = 930 (G) · 243 + 542 = 785 (V) · 406 + 255 = 661 (E) · 116 + 104 = 220 (S) · 238 + 444 = 682 (D) · 255 + 174 = 429 (I)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT WAS WEARING A SUN VISOR"453 - 192 = 261 (T) · 529 - 4 = 525 (R) · 612 - 18 = 594 (U) · 861 - 349 = 512 (I) · 674 - 225 = 449 (C) · 289 - 12 = 277 (E) · 407 - 139 = 268 (H) · 998 - 298 = 700 (N) · 455 - 180 = 275 (O) · 232 - 63 = 169 (P) · 264 - 121 = 143 (A) · 343 - 171 = 172 (W) · 727 - 9 = 718 (G) · 552 - 280 = 272 (V) · 1072 - 243 = 829 (S)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "A BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT STOPPED THE VILLAIN"Round 94 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 46 to the nearest ten = 50 (L) · Round 83 to the nearest ten = 80 (G) · Round 5,998 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (B) · Round 74 to the nearest ten = 70 (N) · Round 610 to the nearest hundred = 600 (V) · Round 319 to the nearest hundred = 300 (E) · Round 179 to the nearest hundred = 200 (D) · Round 834 to the nearest hundred = 800 (T) · Round 2,983 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 9,432 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (I) · Round 878 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 1,552 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (P) · Round 690 to the nearest hundred = 700 (R) · Round 59 to the nearest ten = 60 (O) · Round 6,780 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (F)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "DARK BROWN FUR WAS LEFT NEAR THE DESK"9 × 9 = 81 (D) · 11 × 4 = 44 (S) · 2 × 11 = 22 (N) · 8 × 7 = 56 (A) · 5 × 11 = 55 (O) · 6 × 1 = 6 (F) · 7 × 11 = 77 (R) · 5 × 5 = 25 (T) · 9 × 1 = 9 (L) · 8 × 6 = 48 (E) · 11 × 11 = 121 (K) · 2 × 10 = 20 (H) · 1 × 4 = 4 (U) · 12 × 6 = 72 (W) · 10 × 8 = 80 (B)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Buster Brush2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 15 ÷ 3 = 5 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Pencil Caper of Jungle School — set in Canopy Art Studio
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects