🦕 DinosaursGrade 6Reading: grades 3-4Fractions of a numberBar modelsPercentagesExponents
The Mystery of the Fossil Thief
Someone snuck into the dig tent and swiped the golden T-Rex tooth! Follow the clues around the fossil site to catch 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 Tag | Dominant Hand | Hat Color | Dino Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chisel Charlie | Plaster Mold | Velociraptor | Right Handed | Green Sun Visor | Berry Scent |
| Geologist Gabe | Rock Hammer | Ankylosaurus | Left Handed | Green Sun Visor | Flashlight Beam |
| Fossil Fiona | Plaster Mold | Velociraptor | Right Handed | Green Sun Visor | Flashlight Beam |
| Digging Dan | Sonic Scanner | Triceratops | Right Handed | Green Sun Visor | Flashlight Beam |
| Picks Parker | Sonic Scanner | Stegosaurus | Left Handed | Green Sun Visor | Squeaky Toy |
| Brisk Bruno | Laser Chisel | Triceratops | Left Handed | Tan Bucket Hat | Squeaky Toy |
| Trench Toby | Dusting Brush | Triceratops | Left Handed | Tan Bucket Hat | Berry Scent |
| Prof Roy | Rock Hammer | Triceratops | Left Handed | Red Baseball Cap | Berry Scent |
| Dr Grant | Plaster Mold | Triceratops | Left Handed | Tan Bucket Hat | Squeaky Toy |
| Scout Maya | Laser Chisel | Stegosaurus | Left Handed | Green Sun Visor | Berry Scent |
| Saurian Sue | Laser Chisel | Brachiosaurus | Left Handed | Tan Bucket Hat | Berry Scent |
| Dusty Sam | Laser Chisel | Ankylosaurus | Right Handed | Tan Bucket Hat | Flashlight Beam |
| Dr Ellie | Rock Hammer | Brachiosaurus | Right Handed | Green Sun Visor | Flashlight Beam |
| T Rex Tina | Dusting Brush | Brachiosaurus | Right Handed | Red Baseball Cap | Berry Scent |
| Shovel Sadie | Rock Hammer | Triceratops | Right Handed | Red Baseball Cap | Flashlight Beam |
| Mary Anning | Laser Chisel | Stegosaurus | Left Handed | Green Sun Visor | Squeaky Toy |
| Dino Dave | Plaster Mold | Triceratops | Left Handed | Red Baseball Cap | Flashlight Beam |
| Excavator Eva | Laser Chisel | Velociraptor | Left Handed | Green Sun Visor | Berry Scent |
| Tracker Jack | Sonic Scanner | Ankylosaurus | Right Handed | Green Sun Visor | Squeaky Toy |
| Gideon Mantell | Plaster Mold | Triceratops | Right Handed | Green Sun Visor | Flashlight Beam |
| Dr Barnum | Laser Chisel | Triceratops | Right Handed | Green Sun Visor | Flashlight Beam |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
Compare the length of the dig trenches on the bar chart to find the first hidden 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
33
6
13
15
35
18
26
16
21
T
33
27
14
13
11
29
14
T
33
19
13
39
16
39
9
13
18
14
15
21
16
39
26
T
33
14
16
T
33
39
37
3/5 of 55 =T
1/2 of 70 =U
1/2 of 42 =I
1/8 of 48 =H
4/10 of 45 =L
4/5 of 20 =R
3/6 of 74 =G
2/8 of 108 =D
1/2 of 28 =O
1/4 of 44 =S
1/8 of 152 =W
2/10 of 130 =P
3/10 of 30 =V
1/6 of 174 =N
4/8 of 30 =C
3/10 of 130 =A
4/8 of 26 =E
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Bar model word problems
Look at the fraction of fossil crates unpacked today to decode the next secret message.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
11
75
79
25
91
25
34
31
D
E
D
There were 18 dino teeth in all. 7 dino teeth were used. How many dino teeth are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→R
The red team has 48 sample jars and the blue team has 23 sample jars. How many more sample jars does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→H
There were 93 dino teeth in all. 2 dino teeth were used. How many dino teeth are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
One group collected 30 dino teeth and another group collected 1 dino teeth. How many dino teeth in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→N
Paleontologist has 237 fossil brushes, packed 3 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→G
The red team has 90 magnifying glasses and the blue team has 15 magnifying glasses. How many more magnifying glasses does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→I
The red team has 68 rock hammers and the blue team has 34 rock hammers. How many more rock hammers does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Percentages
Check the percentage of cleaned bones on the lab report to reveal another 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
4
19
9
37
11
9
38
22
37
T
4
27
18
37
T
4
27
8
27
27
22
38
T
4
38
35
8
38
37
19
8
30
6
19
T
4
43
9
38
36
5% of 80 =T
50% of 38 =H
75% of 48 =M
25% of 152 =A
5% of 540 =O
60% of 30 =P
10% of 80 =L
50% of 60 =I
40% of 55 =K
50% of 70 =F
5% of 860 =B
25% of 44 =N
50% of 18 =E
40% of 15 =G
20% of 185 =S
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Exponents
Solve the power equation on the generator display to unlock the clue stored inside.
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
169
144
64
343
343
100
216
9
100
27
125
216
32
64
121
A
169
216
8
343
256
324
225
36
324
25
343
256
32
216
216
125
8
13^2 =A
6^2 =Y
2^5 =O
11^2 =W
3^3 =V
18^2 =T
4^4 =F
3^2 =U
5^3 =I
7^3 =E
15^2 =B
6^3 =S
4^3 =R
12^2 =G
5^2 =H
2^3 =L
10^2 =N
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
Calculate the fraction of footprint tracks cataloged to find the final piece of evidence.
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
5/10 of 14 = ?
6/10 of 5 = ?
4/8 of 16 = ?
1/6 of 72 = ?
2/10 of 5 = ?
3/6 of 8 = ?
1/10 of 100 = ?
2/4 of 12 = ?
5/10 of 4 = ?
2/4 of 22 = ?
5/6 of 6 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain brushed away the sand, then stuck a brachiosaurus decal.
2.The villain cut through the shale, then stuck a brachiosaurus decal.
3.The villain scanned the stone layer, then left a triceratops badge.
4.The villain brushed away the sand, then stamped a stegosaurus mark.
5.The villain cut through the shale, then attached an ankylosaurus patch.
6.The villain scanned the stone layer, then attached an ankylosaurus patch.
7.The villain cut through the shale, then left a triceratops badge.
8.The villain chipped the ancient rock, then stuck a brachiosaurus decal.
9.The villain poured quick plaster, then left a triceratops badge.
10.The villain cut through the shale, then stamped a stegosaurus mark.
11.The villain poured quick plaster, then attached an ankylosaurus patch.
12.The villain brushed away the sand, then dropped a velociraptor pin.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Fossil Thief
Culprit: Gideon Mantell (Plaster Mold · Triceratops · Right Handed · Green Sun Visor · Flashlight Beam)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE CULPRIT DOES NOT WEAR A VELOCIRAPTOR TAG"3/5 of 55 = 33 (T) · 1/2 of 70 = 35 (U) · 1/2 of 42 = 21 (I) · 1/8 of 48 = 6 (H) · 4/10 of 45 = 18 (L) · 4/5 of 20 = 16 (R) · 3/6 of 74 = 37 (G) · 2/8 of 108 = 27 (D) · 1/2 of 28 = 14 (O) · 1/4 of 44 = 11 (S) · 1/8 of 152 = 19 (W) · 2/10 of 130 = 26 (P) · 3/10 of 30 = 9 (V) · 1/6 of 174 = 29 (N) · 4/8 of 30 = 15 (C) · 3/10 of 130 = 39 (A) · 4/8 of 26 = 13 (E)
- Clue 2 (Bar model word problems): "RIGHT HANDED"There were 18 dino teeth in all. 7 dino teeth were used. How many dino teeth are left? = 11 (R) · The red team has 48 sample jars and the blue team has 23 sample jars. How many more sample jars does the red team have? = 25 (H) · There were 93 dino teeth in all. 2 dino teeth were used. How many dino teeth are left? = 91 (T) · One group collected 30 dino teeth and another group collected 1 dino teeth. How many dino teeth in all? = 31 (N) · Paleontologist has 237 fossil brushes, packed 3 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 79 (G) · The red team has 90 magnifying glasses and the blue team has 15 magnifying glasses. How many more magnifying glasses does the red team have? = 75 (I) · The red team has 68 rock hammers and the blue team has 34 rock hammers. How many more rock hammers does the red team have? = 34 (A)
- Clue 3 (Percentages): "THE SNEAK STOPS TO LOOK AT A FLASHLIGHT BEAM"5% of 80 = 4 (T) · 50% of 38 = 19 (H) · 75% of 48 = 36 (M) · 25% of 152 = 38 (A) · 5% of 540 = 27 (O) · 60% of 30 = 18 (P) · 10% of 80 = 8 (L) · 50% of 60 = 30 (I) · 40% of 55 = 22 (K) · 50% of 70 = 35 (F) · 5% of 860 = 43 (B) · 25% of 44 = 11 (N) · 50% of 18 = 9 (E) · 40% of 15 = 6 (G) · 20% of 185 = 37 (S)
- Clue 4 (Exponents): "A GREEN SUN VISOR WAS LEFT BY THE FOSSIL"13^2 = 169 (A) · 6^2 = 36 (Y) · 2^5 = 32 (O) · 11^2 = 121 (W) · 3^3 = 27 (V) · 18^2 = 324 (T) · 4^4 = 256 (F) · 3^2 = 9 (U) · 5^3 = 125 (I) · 7^3 = 343 (E) · 15^2 = 225 (B) · 6^3 = 216 (S) · 4^3 = 64 (R) · 12^2 = 144 (G) · 5^2 = 25 (H) · 2^3 = 8 (L) · 10^2 = 100 (N)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 9) → Gideon Mantell5/10 of 14 = 7 · 6/10 of 5 = 3 · 4/8 of 16 = 8 · 1/6 of 72 = 12 · 2/10 of 5 = 1 · 3/6 of 8 = 4 · 1/10 of 100 = 10 · 2/4 of 12 = 6 · 5/10 of 4 = 2 · 2/4 of 22 = 11 · 5/6 of 6 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Bar models, Percentages, Exponents
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Fossil Thief — set in Saurian Valley Research Camp
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects