🔎 InsectsGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionRoundingDivision
The Mystery of the Missing Chrysalis
Someone snuck into the Meadow Insect Observatory and stole the rare Golden Chrysalis! Solve the math clues to uncover who did it.
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 | Special Ability | Bug Gear | Dominant Hand | Antenna Style | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonie Leeuwenhoek | acid sting | bug net | left handed | fuzzy antenna | bright light |
| Alice Eastwood | sonic chirp | pollen bomb | left handed | feathery antenna | bright light |
| Anna Comstock | sonic chirp | dew goggles | left handed | striped antenna | citrus spray |
| Edward Wilson | pincer grip | bug net | right handed | fuzzy antenna | citrus spray |
| Edith Patch | venom spray | bug net | right handed | feathery antenna | citrus spray |
| Jane Colden | web shooter | pollen bomb | left handed | fuzzy antenna | citrus spray |
| Maria Merian | web shooter | dew goggles | left handed | fuzzy antenna | bright light |
| Margaret Fountaine | pincer grip | pheromone spray | left handed | fuzzy antenna | citrus spray |
| Lucy Say | sonic chirp | pheromone spray | right handed | striped antenna | bright light |
| Florence Merriam | web shooter | pollen bomb | right handed | fuzzy antenna | loud whistle |
| Barbara McClintock | pincer grip | bug net | left handed | feathery antenna | bright light |
| Chien Wu | venom spray | pollen bomb | right handed | fuzzy antenna | bright light |
| Rachel Carson | sonic chirp | bug net | right handed | fuzzy antenna | citrus spray |
| Thomas Say | web shooter | pollen bomb | right handed | fuzzy antenna | citrus spray |
| Mary Treat | sonic chirp | pollen bomb | right handed | feathery antenna | citrus spray |
| Eleanor Ormerod | sonic chirp | pollen bomb | right handed | fuzzy antenna | citrus spray |
| Robert Hooke | sonic chirp | pollen bomb | right handed | striped antenna | citrus spray |
| Karl Frisch | sonic chirp | leaf shield | right handed | fuzzy antenna | loud whistle |
| Jan Swammerdam | acid sting | pollen bomb | left handed | fuzzy antenna | loud whistle |
| Charles Darwin | pincer grip | leaf shield | right handed | feathery antenna | bright light |
| Miriam Rothschild | acid sting | leaf shield | right handed | fuzzy antenna | citrus spray |
Clue 1
Place value
Look at the digital keypad codes to read the place value of the entry code.
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
600
90
80
4000
500
80
30
1000
8000
40
70
2000
9000
400
80
4000
500
400
T
600
70
4000
80
30
10
80
30
20
4000
90
700
80
10
9000
What is the value of the 6 in 50,641?T
What is the value of the 7 in 32,574?U
What is the value of the 1 in 466,512?L
What is the value of the 9 in 39,788?D
What is the value of the 1 in 71,840?K
What is the value of the 8 in 948,920?Y
What is the value of the 4 in 553,741?B
What is the value of the 4 in 124,390?S
What is the value of the 2 in 132,847?G
What is the value of the 8 in 91,485?E
What is the value of the 3 in 71,931?A
What is the value of the 5 in 836,520?N
What is the value of the 7 in 52,712?I
What is the value of the 2 in 51,727?F
What is the value of the 4 in 295,402?O
What is the value of the 9 in 81,092?H
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Add up the counts of insect tracks left near the display case.
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
2740
3532
7832
2484
9639
2484
7343
7832
4222
T
2740
5670
7832
6783
T
2740
9337
7343
8562
5085
9338
T
2740
7166
5085
T
2740
3532
T
2740
3532
7832
5085
8562
8562
5085
4199
3532
T
2740
3532
9337
9338
2893
1843 + 897 =T
1939 + 2283 =C
2006 + 887 =D
5618 + 3720 =N
1318 + 2881 =G
2736 + 2934 =L
3489 + 3677 =W
6200 + 3439 =U
2162 + 2923 =I
3664 + 4168 =E
2217 + 1315 =H
1634 + 850 =S
4824 + 2519 =P
4998 + 4339 =A
5898 + 2664 =R
4172 + 2611 =F
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Subtract the unbroken specimen jars from the total count to see what was stolen.
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
6219
3576
3261
2717
3936
5870
4193
7597
6247
7597
4193
3239
7771
3261
T
6219
3576
3261
6888
1598
5870
7642
6654
8802
3641
T
6219
3576
7642
3641
T
6219
4193
3936
6247
6247
3319
4193
5870
7816
8709 - 2490 =T
9971 - 2200 =V
8085 - 4766 =P
12121 - 4305 =Y
9503 - 1861 =C
7432 - 3856 =H
7973 - 2103 =A
5511 - 1870 =I
11002 - 3405 =D
11875 - 3073 =W
2898 - 181 =G
6876 - 222 =K
4704 - 3106 =B
6326 - 2390 =U
6563 - 2370 =R
6468 - 3207 =E
9818 - 2930 =M
3663 - 424 =O
10855 - 4608 =S
0/19 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The digital air monitor only shows humidity levels rounded 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
170
90
20
70
70
700
A
170
290
2900
2300
290
290
A
170
7000
A
170
900
90
1100
20
290
4300
290
2300
A
170
500
2900
430
2300
50
1100
130
5000
Round 169 to the nearest tenA
Round 694 to the nearest hundredY
Round 2,882 to the nearest hundredT
Round 126 to the nearest tenC
Round 87 to the nearest tenF
Round 1,129 to the nearest hundredO
Round 5,197 to the nearest thousandK
Round 6,772 to the nearest thousandW
Round 2,297 to the nearest hundredE
Round 48 to the nearest tenL
Round 430 to the nearest tenH
Round 454 to the nearest hundredR
Round 4,316 to the nearest hundredD
Round 70 to the nearest tenZ
Round 869 to the nearest hundredS
Round 286 to the nearest tenN
Round 19 to the nearest tenU
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Divide the leaf rewards evenly among the terrarium feeding stations.
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
16 ÷ 4 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
36 ÷ 4 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
99 ÷ 9 = ?
54 ÷ 9 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sprayed paralyzing venom, then confused the scout bugs with pheromone spray.
2.The villain fired sticky silk webs, then trapped the guard under a bug net.
3.The villain emitted a dizzying sonic chirp, then trapped the guard under a bug net.
4.The villain fired sticky silk webs, then vanished behind a cloud from a pollen bomb.
5.The villain emitted a dizzying sonic chirp, then vanished behind a cloud from a pollen bomb.
6.The villain fired sticky silk webs, then blocked the alarms using a leaf shield.
7.The villain shot burning acid droplets, then adjusted dew goggles to see in the dark.
8.The villain emitted a dizzying sonic chirp, then confused the scout bugs with pheromone spray.
9.The villain fired sticky silk webs, then adjusted dew goggles to see in the dark.
10.The villain crushed the glass case with a pincer grip, then trapped the guard under a bug net.
11.The villain sprayed paralyzing venom, then vanished behind a cloud from a pollen bomb.
12.The villain emitted a dizzying sonic chirp, then blocked the alarms using a leaf shield.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Chrysalis
Culprit: Edward Wilson (pincer grip · bug net · right handed · fuzzy antenna · citrus spray)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SNEAKY BUG DOES NOT USE A LEAF SHIELD"What is the value of the 6 in 50,641? = 600 (T) · What is the value of the 7 in 32,574? = 70 (U) · What is the value of the 1 in 466,512? = 10 (L) · What is the value of the 9 in 39,788? = 9000 (D) · What is the value of the 1 in 71,840? = 1000 (K) · What is the value of the 8 in 948,920? = 8000 (Y) · What is the value of the 4 in 553,741? = 40 (B) · What is the value of the 4 in 124,390? = 4000 (S) · What is the value of the 2 in 132,847? = 2000 (G) · What is the value of the 8 in 91,485? = 80 (E) · What is the value of the 3 in 71,931? = 30 (A) · What is the value of the 5 in 836,520? = 500 (N) · What is the value of the 7 in 52,712? = 700 (I) · What is the value of the 2 in 51,727? = 20 (F) · What is the value of the 4 in 295,402? = 400 (O) · What is the value of the 9 in 81,092? = 90 (H)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT LEFT A PRINT WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"1843 + 897 = 2740 (T) · 1939 + 2283 = 4222 (C) · 2006 + 887 = 2893 (D) · 5618 + 3720 = 9338 (N) · 1318 + 2881 = 4199 (G) · 2736 + 2934 = 5670 (L) · 3489 + 3677 = 7166 (W) · 6200 + 3439 = 9639 (U) · 2162 + 2923 = 5085 (I) · 3664 + 4168 = 7832 (E) · 2217 + 1315 = 3532 (H) · 1634 + 850 = 2484 (S) · 4824 + 2519 = 7343 (P) · 4998 + 4339 = 9337 (A) · 5898 + 2664 = 8562 (R) · 4172 + 2611 = 6783 (F)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE GUARDS DROVE THEM BACK WITH CITRUS SPRAY"8709 - 2490 = 6219 (T) · 9971 - 2200 = 7771 (V) · 8085 - 4766 = 3319 (P) · 12121 - 4305 = 7816 (Y) · 9503 - 1861 = 7642 (C) · 7432 - 3856 = 3576 (H) · 7973 - 2103 = 5870 (A) · 5511 - 1870 = 3641 (I) · 11002 - 3405 = 7597 (D) · 11875 - 3073 = 8802 (W) · 2898 - 181 = 2717 (G) · 6876 - 222 = 6654 (K) · 4704 - 3106 = 1598 (B) · 6326 - 2390 = 3936 (U) · 6563 - 2370 = 4193 (R) · 6468 - 3207 = 3261 (E) · 9818 - 2930 = 6888 (M) · 3663 - 424 = 3239 (O) · 10855 - 4608 = 6247 (S)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A FUZZY ANTENNA WAS FOUND NEAR THE LOCK"Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (A) · Round 694 to the nearest hundred = 700 (Y) · Round 2,882 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (T) · Round 126 to the nearest ten = 130 (C) · Round 87 to the nearest ten = 90 (F) · Round 1,129 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (O) · Round 5,197 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (K) · Round 6,772 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (W) · Round 2,297 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (E) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (L) · Round 430 to the nearest ten = 430 (H) · Round 454 to the nearest hundred = 500 (R) · Round 4,316 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (D) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (Z) · Round 869 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 286 to the nearest ten = 290 (N) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Edward Wilson16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 99 ÷ 9 = 11 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Chrysalis — set in The Meadow Insect Observatory
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects