🔎 PumpkinsGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationAdditionSubtractionRoundingMissing addends

The Great Pumpkin Caper

The legendary Giant Prize Pumpkin has vanished from the festival pedestal right before the big weigh-in! We must search the patch, gather clues, and find the culprit before sunset.

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	Pumpkin Power	Special Skill	Handedness	Stem Style	Sore Spot
Wendy Witch	Spiced Smelling	Leaf Whistling	Left Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Salty Water
Cindy Squash	Vine Tangling	Stem Snapping	Right Handed	Green Vine Hair	Pie Scooper
Sally Seed	Vine Tangling	Leaf Whistling	Left Handed	Orange Silk Hair	Pie Scooper
Tom Thomas	Gourd Growing	Pie Throwing	Left Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Salty Water
Benny Baker	Vine Tangling	Leaf Whistling	Right Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Salty Water
Steve Scarecrow	Gourd Growing	Seed Spitting	Left Handed	Green Vine Hair	Bright Sun
Penny Pumpkin	Vine Tangling	Pie Throwing	Left Handed	Orange Silk Hair	Salty Water
Gail Gourd	Glow Shining	Seed Spitting	Left Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Salty Water
Spiced Sam	Glow Shining	Pie Throwing	Left Handed	Orange Silk Hair	Pie Scooper
Pippa Pie	Vine Tangling	Stem Snapping	Left Handed	Green Vine Hair	Salty Water
Hayden Hay	Seed Blasting	Pie Throwing	Left Handed	Orange Silk Hair	Bright Sun
Jack Lantern	Glow Shining	Stem Snapping	Right Handed	Orange Silk Hair	Pie Scooper
Vinnie Vine	Spiced Smelling	Pumpkin Carving	Left Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Bright Sun
Carver Kyle	Spiced Smelling	Stem Snapping	Right Handed	Orange Silk Hair	Bright Sun
Patty Patch	Seed Blasting	Seed Spitting	Right Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Pie Scooper
Billy Baker	Gourd Growing	Stem Snapping	Left Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Salty Water
Autumn Orange	Glow Shining	Pumpkin Carving	Left Handed	Green Vine Hair	Bright Sun
Gordon Gourd	Glow Shining	Stem Snapping	Right Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Salty Water
Sienna Seed	Vine Tangling	Pie Throwing	Right Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Bright Sun
Rusty Rake	Seed Blasting	Leaf Whistling	Left Handed	Brown Stem Hair	Salty Water
Pippin Patch	Glow Shining	Pumpkin Carving	Right Handed	Green Vine Hair	Salty Water

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We found rows of ruined pumpkin beds. The thief ran down several rows, stomping the same number of pumpkins in each row. Let us multiply the rows to find how many pumpkins were crushed.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

120

7 × 10 =T

9 × 3 =S

8 × 5 =D

11 × 7 =E

10 × 12 =P

7 × 1 =F

9 × 7 =N

5 × 10 =H

1 × 10 =I

9 × 4 =O

0/10 letters found

Clue 2

Addition

The bakery needs more pumpkin spice for the festival pies. Let us add up all the jars left in the pantry to see if we have enough to keep baking.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

637

589

244

635

624

936

865

624

404

362

865

366

635

244

831

596

624

637

589

637

589

244

936

244

316

637

589

865

404

507

236 + 401 =T

242 + 393 =V

210 + 152 =C

239 + 357 =W

225 + 141 =R

370 + 219 =H

96 + 220 =F

639 + 297 =L

200 + 307 =D

86 + 158 =E

587 + 278 =A

260 + 364 =I

458 + 373 =S

246 + 158 =N

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Subtraction

A squirrel took some of our prized seeds from the supply sack. Subtract the seeds we have left from the total we started with to find out how many are 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.

444

378

446

444

378

430

446

431

729

277

282

277

236

277

285

431

729

772

644

417

277

331

444

285

236

277

444

446

729

743 - 299 =T

834 - 62 =O

682 - 252 =I

780 - 334 =E

323 - 38 =Y

331 - 95 =W

738 - 9 =R

424 - 142 =N

607 - 229 =H

565 - 234 =L

824 - 180 =M

623 - 346 =A

754 - 323 =F

554 - 137 =S

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Rounding

The digital scale at the weigh-in station is slightly broken. It only shows the weight rounded to the nearest ten pounds. Let us round the true weight to get the scale reading.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

6000

4000

9000

8000

3000

9000

600

400

6000

3000

400

5000

6000

600

6000

Round 92 to the nearest tenW

Round 6,343 to the nearest thousandE

Round 38 to the nearest tenB

Round 27 to the nearest tenM

Round 605 to the nearest hundredS

Round 18 to the nearest tenR

Round 3,969 to the nearest thousandF

Round 4,812 to the nearest thousandH

Round 71 to the nearest tenN

Round 7,606 to the nearest thousandU

Round 3,076 to the nearest thousandA

Round 8,519 to the nearest thousandO

Round 59 to the nearest tenC

Round 353 to the nearest hundredT

Round 51 to the nearest tenD

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Missing addends — the last clue

We need a certain number of orange ribbons to decorate the main tent. We have some ribbons already, but we need to find how many more we must buy to reach our target.

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

8 + ___ = 10

7 + ___ = 11

1 + ___ = 4

5 + ___ = 17

7 + ___ = 12

9 + ___ = 18

5 + ___ = 6

6 + ___ = 12

4 + ___ = 15

3 + ___ = 11

4 + ___ = 14

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain tangles the paths with thick green vines, then carves scary faces into nearby squashes.

2.The villain grows massive gourds to block the road, then snaps dry pumpkin stems along the trail.

3.The villain grows massive gourds to block the road, then throws fresh pumpkin pies at the guards.

4.The villain fills the air with sweet pumpkin spice scent, then whistles a spooky tune through dry autumn leaves.

5.The villain fills the air with sweet pumpkin spice scent, then spits giant slippery seeds onto the floor.

6.The villain lights up the dark with a jackolantern face, then whistles a spooky tune through dry autumn leaves.

7.The villain blasts sticky pumpkin seeds everywhere, then whistles a spooky tune through dry autumn leaves.

8.The villain lights up the dark with a jackolantern face, then spits giant slippery seeds onto the floor.

9.The villain blasts sticky pumpkin seeds everywhere, then snaps dry pumpkin stems along the trail.

10.The villain blasts sticky pumpkin seeds everywhere, then carves scary faces into nearby squashes.

11.The villain blasts sticky pumpkin seeds everywhere, then spits giant slippery seeds onto the floor.

12.The villain tangles the paths with thick green vines, then spits giant slippery seeds onto the floor.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Great Pumpkin Caper

Culprit: Rusty Rake (Seed Blasting · Leaf Whistling · Left Handed · Brown Stem Hair · Salty Water)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT SPIT SEEDS"
7 × 10 = 70 (T) · 9 × 3 = 27 (S) · 8 × 5 = 40 (D) · 11 × 7 = 77 (E) · 10 × 12 = 120 (P) · 7 × 1 = 7 (F) · 9 × 7 = 63 (N) · 5 × 10 = 50 (H) · 1 × 10 = 10 (I) · 9 × 4 = 36 (O)
Clue 2 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN CARVES WITH THE LEFT HAND"
236 + 401 = 637 (T) · 242 + 393 = 635 (V) · 210 + 152 = 362 (C) · 239 + 357 = 596 (W) · 225 + 141 = 366 (R) · 370 + 219 = 589 (H) · 96 + 220 = 316 (F) · 639 + 297 = 936 (L) · 200 + 307 = 507 (D) · 86 + 158 = 244 (E) · 587 + 278 = 865 (A) · 260 + 364 = 624 (I) · 458 + 373 = 831 (S) · 246 + 158 = 404 (N)
Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF RAN AWAY FROM SALTY WATER"
743 - 299 = 444 (T) · 834 - 62 = 772 (O) · 682 - 252 = 430 (I) · 780 - 334 = 446 (E) · 323 - 38 = 285 (Y) · 331 - 95 = 236 (W) · 738 - 9 = 729 (R) · 424 - 142 = 282 (N) · 607 - 229 = 378 (H) · 565 - 234 = 331 (L) · 824 - 180 = 644 (M) · 623 - 346 = 277 (A) · 754 - 323 = 431 (F) · 554 - 137 = 417 (S)
Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND A BROWN STEM AT THE SCENE"
Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (W) · Round 6,343 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (E) · Round 38 to the nearest ten = 40 (B) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (M) · Round 605 to the nearest hundred = 600 (S) · Round 18 to the nearest ten = 20 (R) · Round 3,969 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (F) · Round 4,812 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (N) · Round 7,606 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (U) · Round 3,076 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (A) · Round 8,519 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (O) · Round 59 to the nearest ten = 60 (C) · Round 353 to the nearest hundred = 400 (T) · Round 51 to the nearest ten = 50 (D)
Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 7) → Rusty Rake
8 + ___ = 10 = 2 · 7 + ___ = 11 = 4 · 1 + ___ = 4 = 3 · 5 + ___ = 17 = 12 · 7 + ___ = 12 = 5 · 9 + ___ = 18 = 9 · 5 + ___ = 6 = 1 · 6 + ___ = 12 = 6 · 4 + ___ = 15 = 11 · 3 + ___ = 11 = 8 · 4 + ___ = 14 = 10

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 3 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Missing addends
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Great Pumpkin Caper — set in Gourd Valley Patch
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math cases

3rd grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Multiplication worksheets Rounding worksheets Missing addends worksheets All worksheets →

The Mystery of the Rainbow Reef Trophy

Grade 3

The Mystery of the Missing Golden Trophy

Grade 3

The Mystery of the Missing Golden Trophy

Grade 3

Mystery of the Cloud Island Map

Grade 3