🚀 SpaceGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationWord problemsPlace valueRoundingMissing addends
The Moon Base Crystal Caper
A rogue star thief sneaked into Moon Base Orion and stole the Astro Crystal. Help Cadet Leo solve the clues and find 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 | Space Weapon | Flight Gear | Dominant Hand | Headgear | Cosmic Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mae Jemison | Starlight Shield | Thruster Pack | Right Handed | Gold Goggles | Solar Flares |
| Buzz Aldrin | Plasma Beam | Orbital Drone | Left Handed | Neon Visor | Space Dust |
| Bernard Harris | Laser Blast | Orbital Drone | Right Handed | Neon Visor | Magnet Pulse |
| Michael Collins | Starlight Shield | Rocket Boots | Right Handed | Neon Visor | Solar Flares |
| Sunita Williams | Laser Blast | Thruster Pack | Right Handed | Silver Helmet | Space Dust |
| Christina Koch | Laser Blast | Solar Panel | Left Handed | Silver Helmet | Solar Flares |
| Yuri Gagarin | Laser Blast | Rocket Boots | Right Handed | Gold Goggles | Magnet Pulse |
| Ellison Onizuka | Cosmic Wave | Solar Panel | Right Handed | Gold Goggles | Magnet Pulse |
| John Glenn | Starlight Shield | Orbital Drone | Right Handed | Silver Helmet | Magnet Pulse |
| Chris Hadfield | Plasma Beam | Rocket Boots | Right Handed | Silver Helmet | Space Dust |
| Judith Resnik | Gravity Field | Thruster Pack | Right Handed | Gold Goggles | Magnet Pulse |
| Stephanie Wilson | Plasma Beam | Solar Panel | Right Handed | Silver Helmet | Solar Flares |
| Valentina Tereshkova | Plasma Beam | Solar Panel | Left Handed | Gold Goggles | Magnet Pulse |
| Jessica Meir | Cosmic Wave | Orbital Drone | Right Handed | Gold Goggles | Magnet Pulse |
| Alan Shepard | Plasma Beam | Thruster Pack | Right Handed | Gold Goggles | Magnet Pulse |
| Eileen Collins | Gravity Field | Thruster Pack | Left Handed | Neon Visor | Space Dust |
| Peggy Whitson | Plasma Beam | Rocket Boots | Left Handed | Silver Helmet | Solar Flares |
| Kalpana Chawla | Gravity Field | Solar Panel | Left Handed | Neon Visor | Magnet Pulse |
| Neil Armstrong | Plasma Beam | Thruster Pack | Left Handed | Neon Visor | Space Dust |
| Jim Lovell | Starlight Shield | Solar Panel | Left Handed | Gold Goggles | Magnet Pulse |
| Sally Ride | Cosmic Wave | Solar Panel | Right Handed | Silver Helmet | Solar Flares |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Cadet Leo counts the solar panels arrayed in equal rows across the launchpad.
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
88
70
42
1
28
99
99
49
28
33
144
96
42
5
33
96
T
88
84
5
42
63
96
60
8
42
T
88
25
96
96
T
88
5
8 × 11 =T
12 × 8 =O
12 × 12 =D
6 × 7 =E
3 × 11 =N
4 × 7 =I
12 × 5 =C
7 × 10 =H
5 × 1 =S
7 × 12 =U
1 × 1 =V
5 × 5 =B
11 × 9 =L
9 × 7 =R
7 × 7 =A
8 × 1 =K
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
Commander Vance reviews the flight logs to trace the thief energy usage.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
107
88
83
101
9
101
106
27
D
E
D
There were 123 moon rocks. 16 were used up. How many moon rocks are left?R
Cadet Nova found 34 star maps yesterday and 67 more today. How many star maps in all?H
There were 30 space crystals. 3 were used up. How many space crystals are left?N
Cadet Nova found 11 rocket boosters yesterday and 72 more today. How many rocket boosters in all?G
Cadet Nova lined up 11 rows of 8 rocket boosters. How many rocket boosters in all?I
Cadet Nova lined up 3 rows of 3 moon rocks. How many moon rocks in all?T
Cadet Nova found 7 star maps yesterday and 99 more today. How many star maps in all?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Place value
The station computer displays digit codes from the airlock sensor log.
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
50
70
40
500
4000
800
800
900
4000
90
700
900
400
400
T
50
10
90
90
40
3000
7000
300
900
60
900
2000
90
40
T
50
8000
10
800
400
40
What is the value of the 5 in 274,158?T
What is the value of the 5 in 337,501?V
What is the value of the 4 in 74,570?I
What is the value of the 9 in 184,901?A
What is the value of the 9 in 563,290?N
What is the value of the 3 in 423,584?D
What is the value of the 3 in 55,370?Y
What is the value of the 8 in 458,510?P
What is the value of the 4 in 88,431?S
What is the value of the 8 in 67,815?L
What is the value of the 7 in 61,716?W
What is the value of the 7 in 111,676?H
What is the value of the 4 in 537,342?E
What is the value of the 1 in 83,212?U
What is the value of the 2 in 542,346?G
What is the value of the 7 in 57,135?B
What is the value of the 6 in 240,863?M
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The radar screen rounds the distance numbers to the nearest hundred kilometers.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
G
370
500
700
1700
G
370
500
G
370
G
370
700
3000
5000
700
3000
1300
20
5000
430
300
200
20
430
170
3000
5000
500
2900
20
170
3000
430
200
2900
500
90
900
Round 370 to the nearest tenG
Round 1,705 to the nearest hundredD
Round 434 to the nearest tenC
Round 889 to the nearest hundredY
Round 299 to the nearest hundredR
Round 22 to the nearest tenT
Round 214 to the nearest hundredA
Round 89 to the nearest tenP
Round 4,778 to the nearest thousandS
Round 1,333 to the nearest hundredF
Round 452 to the nearest hundredO
Round 728 to the nearest hundredL
Round 169 to the nearest tenH
Round 2,934 to the nearest hundredN
Round 2,633 to the nearest thousandE
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Leo checks the fuel gauges to see how much energy is missing from the tank.
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
17 + ___ = 28
39 + ___ = 42
33 + ___ = 45
40 + ___ = 47
15 + ___ = 19
19 + ___ = 20
3 + ___ = 13
30 + ___ = 39
24 + ___ = 30
19 + ___ = 21
7 + ___ = 12
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain raised a starlight shield, then deployed an orbital drone.
2.The villain fired a laser blast, then deployed an orbital drone.
3.The villain sent a cosmic wave, then deployed an orbital drone.
4.The villain raised a starlight shield, then trailed a bright comet tail.
5.The villain fired a laser blast, then fled with a thruster pack.
6.The villain raised a starlight shield, then fled with a thruster pack.
7.The villain fired a laser blast, then zoomed away on rocket boots.
8.The villain warped the gravity field, then fled with a thruster pack.
9.The villain sent a cosmic wave, then fled with a thruster pack.
10.The villain warped the gravity field, then charged up a solar panel.
11.The villain sent a cosmic wave, then charged up a solar panel.
12.The villain shot a plasma beam, then fled with a thruster pack.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Moon Base Crystal Caper
Culprit: Judith Resnik (Gravity Field · Thruster Pack · Right Handed · Gold Goggles · Magnet Pulse)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE ROCKET BOOTS"8 × 11 = 88 (T) · 12 × 8 = 96 (O) · 12 × 12 = 144 (D) · 6 × 7 = 42 (E) · 3 × 11 = 33 (N) · 4 × 7 = 28 (I) · 12 × 5 = 60 (C) · 7 × 10 = 70 (H) · 5 × 1 = 5 (S) · 7 × 12 = 84 (U) · 1 × 1 = 1 (V) · 5 × 5 = 25 (B) · 11 × 9 = 99 (L) · 9 × 7 = 63 (R) · 7 × 7 = 49 (A) · 8 × 1 = 8 (K)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "RIGHT HANDED"There were 123 moon rocks. 16 were used up. How many moon rocks are left? = 107 (R) · Cadet Nova found 34 star maps yesterday and 67 more today. How many star maps in all? = 101 (H) · There were 30 space crystals. 3 were used up. How many space crystals are left? = 27 (N) · Cadet Nova found 11 rocket boosters yesterday and 72 more today. How many rocket boosters in all? = 83 (G) · Cadet Nova lined up 11 rows of 8 rocket boosters. How many rocket boosters in all? = 88 (I) · Cadet Nova lined up 3 rows of 3 moon rocks. How many moon rocks in all? = 9 (T) · Cadet Nova found 7 star maps yesterday and 99 more today. How many star maps in all? = 106 (A)
- Clue 3 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN WAS STUNNED BY A MAGNET PULSE"What is the value of the 5 in 274,158? = 50 (T) · What is the value of the 5 in 337,501? = 500 (V) · What is the value of the 4 in 74,570? = 4000 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 184,901? = 900 (A) · What is the value of the 9 in 563,290? = 90 (N) · What is the value of the 3 in 423,584? = 3000 (D) · What is the value of the 3 in 55,370? = 300 (Y) · What is the value of the 8 in 458,510? = 8000 (P) · What is the value of the 4 in 88,431? = 400 (S) · What is the value of the 8 in 67,815? = 800 (L) · What is the value of the 7 in 61,716? = 700 (W) · What is the value of the 7 in 111,676? = 70 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 537,342? = 40 (E) · What is the value of the 1 in 83,212? = 10 (U) · What is the value of the 2 in 542,346? = 2000 (G) · What is the value of the 7 in 57,135? = 7000 (B) · What is the value of the 6 in 240,863? = 60 (M)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "GOLD GOGGLES LEFT SCRATCHES ON THE CANOPY"Round 370 to the nearest ten = 370 (G) · Round 1,705 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (D) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (C) · Round 889 to the nearest hundred = 900 (Y) · Round 299 to the nearest hundred = 300 (R) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (T) · Round 214 to the nearest hundred = 200 (A) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (P) · Round 4,778 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (S) · Round 1,333 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (F) · Round 452 to the nearest hundred = 500 (O) · Round 728 to the nearest hundred = 700 (L) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (H) · Round 2,934 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (N) · Round 2,633 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (E)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 8) → Judith Resnik17 + ___ = 28 = 11 · 39 + ___ = 42 = 3 · 33 + ___ = 45 = 12 · 40 + ___ = 47 = 7 · 15 + ___ = 19 = 4 · 19 + ___ = 20 = 1 · 3 + ___ = 13 = 10 · 30 + ___ = 39 = 9 · 24 + ___ = 30 = 6 · 19 + ___ = 21 = 2 · 7 + ___ = 12 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Word problems, Place value, Rounding, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Moon Base Crystal Caper — set in Moon Base Orion
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects