🦕 DinosaursGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Golden Fossil
A rare golden dinosaur egg went missing from the Pangea Park Fossil Pit! The Head Paleontologist saw a mysterious ranger sneak out into the canyon. Check the clues, solve the math, and find out who took the egg!
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 | Fossil Gear | Dino Companion | Dominant Hand | Hairstyle | Defense Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger Grant | Bone Digger | T-Rex | Right handed brush | Slick Black Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Santos | Lava Launcher | Stegosaurus | Left handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Kayla | Sonic Roarer | Stegosaurus | Left handed brush | Braided Brown Hair | Dino Rattle |
| Ranger Ned | Jet Glider | Pterodactyl | Left handed brush | Slick Black Hair | Dino Rattle |
| Ranger Mary | Jet Glider | Stegosaurus | Left handed brush | Slick Black Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Harding | Sonic Roarer | Stegosaurus | Right handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Flashlight |
| Ranger Sattler | Lava Launcher | Triceratops | Left handed brush | Braided Brown Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Tim | Sonic Roarer | Triceratops | Right handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Dino Rattle |
| Ranger Zia | Bone Digger | T-Rex | Left handed brush | Braided Brown Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Sarah | Bone Digger | Raptor | Left handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Dino Rattle |
| Ranger Ellie | Sonic Roarer | Triceratops | Left handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Maisie | Jet Glider | Pterodactyl | Left handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Flashlight |
| Ranger Ian | Lava Launcher | Pterodactyl | Left handed brush | Slick Black Hair | Flashlight |
| Ranger Wu | Amber Scanner | T-Rex | Left handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Webb | Lava Launcher | Raptor | Left handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Owen | Amber Scanner | Stegosaurus | Right handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Lex | Bone Digger | Triceratops | Right handed brush | Slick Black Hair | Flashlight |
| Ranger Marsh | Bone Digger | Stegosaurus | Right handed brush | Slick Black Hair | Dino Rattle |
| Ranger Alan | Lava Launcher | Raptor | Right handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Mud Squirter |
| Ranger Ramsay | Bone Digger | Pterodactyl | Right handed brush | Braided Brown Hair | Dino Rattle |
| Ranger Gennaro | Amber Scanner | Pterodactyl | Left handed brush | Spiky Red Hair | Mud Squirter |
Clue 1
Place value
The lab scanner displays the fossil grid coordinates using digits and place values.
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
70
60
900
200
90
1000
1000
400
90
100
20
4000
900
3000
100
4000
T
70
800
90
20
900
400
T
70
800
90
50
900
800
400
T
70
4000
2000
3000
What is the value of the 7 in 470?T
What is the value of the 1 in 1,703?L
What is the value of the 3 in 13,752?S
What is the value of the 4 in 4,736?O
What is the value of the 5 in 151?C
What is the value of the 2 in 62,699?P
What is the value of the 1 in 197?N
What is the value of the 4 in 6,430?A
What is the value of the 2 in 727?D
What is the value of the 9 in 390?I
What is the value of the 6 in 460?H
What is the value of the 2 in 6,261?V
What is the value of the 8 in 3,856?R
What is the value of the 9 in 916?E
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Ranger Sam tallied up all the extra canteen supplies collected at the dig site.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
8302
4035
5933
7924
5397
2397
3339
7973
4035
7973
9834
2791
3116
3669
5397
5905
2397
2791
6115
3669
8656
3339
7973
3116
3669
7924
5482 + 2820 =L
2568 + 2829 =H
1676 + 721 =A
4577 + 5257 =B
1835 + 1834 =S
1671 + 2364 =E
1354 + 1762 =U
3060 + 5596 =I
5215 + 2709 =T
2184 + 3721 =M
972 + 1819 =R
3067 + 3048 =K
3872 + 2061 =F
2744 + 5229 =D
2277 + 1062 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The paleontology team subtracted broken tools from the master crate inventory.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
7756
5868
6895
8925
8358
1999
8407
5204
7540
6895
5204
S
7756
1999
4776
6176
6176
8407
5204
1999
4523
8407
1735
8925
4526
4526
8962
8925
8459
9157 - 1401 =S
9143 - 3275 =Q
9004 - 2828 =P
8778 - 1883 =U
4957 - 3222 =V
7313 - 2790 =H
7532 - 2756 =O
2386 - 387 =T
10234 - 1775 =N
12439 - 4081 =R
10607 - 3067 =M
7879 - 2675 =D
9990 - 1028 =A
7650 - 3124 =L
11531 - 2606 =I
10857 - 2450 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The search party organized fossil brushes into equal rows across the camp tables.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
60
63
72
49
33
12
16
48
100
22
72
12
14
42
11
21
48
42
21
22
14
42
S
60
S
60
72
30
12 × 5 =S
6 × 7 =O
4 × 12 =D
2 × 8 =E
11 × 1 =U
2 × 7 =F
7 × 7 =K
3 × 4 =R
7 × 9 =P
2 × 11 =A
7 × 3 =N
3 × 11 =Y
10 × 10 =H
6 × 12 =I
3 × 10 =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The chief divided the remaining trail maps equally among the rescue teams.
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
11 ÷ 1 = ?
12 ÷ 6 = ?
60 ÷ 10 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain soared overhead on the jet glider, then fled high above on a pterodactyl.
2.The villain melted dirt using the lava launcher, then guarded the cave with a stegosaurus.
3.The villain soared overhead on the jet glider, then guarded the cave with a stegosaurus.
4.The villain melted dirt using the lava launcher, then fled high above on a pterodactyl.
5.The villain dug deep trenches with the bone digger, then guarded the cave with a stegosaurus.
6.The villain melted dirt using the lava launcher, then snuck away with a loyal raptor.
7.The villain scanned the dig site with amber rays, then trampled tracks with a triceratops.
8.The villain blasted rocks with sonic roars, then guarded the cave with a stegosaurus.
9.The villain soared overhead on the jet glider, then snuck away with a loyal raptor.
10.The villain scanned the dig site with amber rays, then stole fossils beside a giant trex.
11.The villain scanned the dig site with amber rays, then fled high above on a pterodactyl.
12.The villain dug deep trenches with the bone digger, then stole fossils beside a giant trex.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Golden Fossil
Culprit: Ranger Wu (Amber Scanner · T-Rex · Left handed brush · Spiky Red Hair · Mud Squirter)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT RIDE A TRICERATOPS"What is the value of the 7 in 470? = 70 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 1,703? = 1000 (L) · What is the value of the 3 in 13,752? = 3000 (S) · What is the value of the 4 in 4,736? = 4000 (O) · What is the value of the 5 in 151? = 50 (C) · What is the value of the 2 in 62,699? = 2000 (P) · What is the value of the 1 in 197? = 100 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 6,430? = 400 (A) · What is the value of the 2 in 727? = 20 (D) · What is the value of the 9 in 390? = 90 (I) · What is the value of the 6 in 460? = 60 (H) · What is the value of the 2 in 6,261? = 200 (V) · What is the value of the 8 in 3,856? = 800 (R) · What is the value of the 9 in 916? = 900 (E)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "LEFT HANDED BRUSH MARKS IN DUST"5482 + 2820 = 8302 (L) · 2568 + 2829 = 5397 (H) · 1676 + 721 = 2397 (A) · 4577 + 5257 = 9834 (B) · 1835 + 1834 = 3669 (S) · 1671 + 2364 = 4035 (E) · 1354 + 1762 = 3116 (U) · 3060 + 5596 = 8656 (I) · 5215 + 2709 = 7924 (T) · 2184 + 3721 = 5905 (M) · 972 + 1819 = 2791 (R) · 3067 + 3048 = 6115 (K) · 3872 + 2061 = 5933 (F) · 2744 + 5229 = 7973 (D) · 2277 + 1062 = 3339 (N)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "SQUIRTED MUD STOPPED THE VILLAIN"9157 - 1401 = 7756 (S) · 9143 - 3275 = 5868 (Q) · 9004 - 2828 = 6176 (P) · 8778 - 1883 = 6895 (U) · 4957 - 3222 = 1735 (V) · 7313 - 2790 = 4523 (H) · 7532 - 2756 = 4776 (O) · 2386 - 387 = 1999 (T) · 10234 - 1775 = 8459 (N) · 12439 - 4081 = 8358 (R) · 10607 - 3067 = 7540 (M) · 7879 - 2675 = 5204 (D) · 9990 - 1028 = 8962 (A) · 7650 - 3124 = 4526 (L) · 11531 - 2606 = 8925 (I) · 10857 - 2450 = 8407 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SPIKY RED HAIR FOUND ON A FOSSIL"12 × 5 = 60 (S) · 6 × 7 = 42 (O) · 4 × 12 = 48 (D) · 2 × 8 = 16 (E) · 11 × 1 = 11 (U) · 2 × 7 = 14 (F) · 7 × 7 = 49 (K) · 3 × 4 = 12 (R) · 7 × 9 = 63 (P) · 2 × 11 = 22 (A) · 7 × 3 = 21 (N) · 3 × 11 = 33 (Y) · 10 × 10 = 100 (H) · 6 × 12 = 72 (I) · 3 × 10 = 30 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Ranger Wu11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Golden Fossil — set in Pangea Park Fossil Pit
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects