🔎 Stanger thingsGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationMulti-step word problemsWord problemsSubtractionMissing addends
The Mystery of the Shadow Rift
Strange lights are flashing over Shadow Creek and the local radio station went quiet! A mysterious Shadow Sneaker sneaking around town has taken the master broadcast tape. Help the Pine Valley AV Club solve the math puzzles, gather clues, and unmask the intruder!
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 | Main Power | Extra Power | Tell | Hair Style | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Wheeler | Mind Pulse | Gravity Flip | Wears Headphones | Curly Mullet | Bright Flashlight |
| Karen Wheeler | Glowing Rift | Time Slow | Wears Bandana | Curly Mullet | Bright Flashlight |
| Will Byers | Energy Sparks | Sonic Screech | Wears Bandana | Messy Waves | Salt Water |
| Vickie | Glowing Rift | Laser Beam | Wears Headphones | Curly Mullet | Bright Flashlight |
| Robin Buckley | Shadow Cloak | Sonic Screech | Wears Bandana | Curly Mullet | Loud Music |
| Lucas Sinclair | Energy Sparks | Laser Beam | Wears Bandana | Spiky Buzz | Bright Flashlight |
| Eddie Munson | Telepathy Wave | Gravity Flip | Wears Bandana | Curly Mullet | Loud Music |
| Patrick McKinney | Telepathy Wave | Time Slow | Wears Bandana | Curly Mullet | Loud Music |
| Claudia Henderson | Shadow Cloak | Freeze Touch | Wears Headphones | Spiky Buzz | Loud Music |
| Chrissy Cunningham | Shadow Cloak | Laser Beam | Wears Bandana | Curly Mullet | Loud Music |
| Eden Bingham | Telepathy Wave | Time Slow | Wears Bandana | Spiky Buzz | Loud Music |
| Joyce Byers | Mind Pulse | Laser Beam | Wears Bandana | Curly Mullet | Loud Music |
| Jonathan Byers | Energy Sparks | Laser Beam | Wears Headphones | Spiky Buzz | Loud Music |
| Fred Benson | Shadow Cloak | Sonic Screech | Wears Bandana | Messy Waves | Loud Music |
| Erica Sinclair | Glowing Rift | Freeze Touch | Wears Headphones | Curly Mullet | Loud Music |
| Jim Hopper | Glowing Rift | Freeze Touch | Wears Headphones | Curly Mullet | Salt Water |
| Gareth | Shadow Cloak | Laser Beam | Wears Headphones | Messy Waves | Salt Water |
| Dustin Henderson | Energy Sparks | Freeze Touch | Wears Headphones | Messy Waves | Salt Water |
| Steve Harrington | Shadow Cloak | Gravity Flip | Wears Bandana | Spiky Buzz | Salt Water |
| Argyle | Mind Pulse | Time Slow | Wears Bandana | Spiky Buzz | Bright Flashlight |
| Murray Bauman | Shadow Cloak | Laser Beam | Wears Bandana | Curly Mullet | Salt Water |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The AV Club lines up cassette tapes on equal racks to decode a mysterious signal.
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
32
2
90
14
15
42
42
30
15
7
63
49
90
36
7
49
T
32
64
36
90
108
77
30
14
15
T
32
4
70
42
15
21
4 × 8 =T
9 × 12 =G
3 × 5 =I
10 × 3 =A
7 × 7 =O
9 × 7 =D
2 × 1 =H
6 × 7 =L
9 × 10 =E
6 × 6 =S
2 × 7 =V
8 × 8 =U
4 × 1 =Y
7 × 11 =R
10 × 7 =F
7 × 1 =N
3 × 7 =P
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
To pack gear for the search, the squad counts battery packs and flashlights across several crates.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
W
14
16
47
12
89
55
47
10
D
47
10
47
Radio Scout collected 38 cassette tapes in the morning and 46 cassette tapes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Pine Valley AV Club. How many cassette tapes did each get?W
There were 145 flashlights in all. 37 flashlights were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 Pine Valley AV Club. How many flashlights did each get?R
Radio Scout collected 281 batteries in the morning and 49 batteries in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Pine Valley AV Club. How many batteries did each get?B
Radio Scout collected 7 cassette tapes in the morning and 57 cassette tapes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 Pine Valley AV Club. How many cassette tapes did each get?E
Radio Scout collected 18 cassette tapes in the morning and 76 cassette tapes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Pine Valley AV Club. How many cassette tapes did each get?A
Radio Scout collected 10 batteries in the morning and 10 batteries in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Pine Valley AV Club. How many batteries did each get?N
There were 419 waffles in all. 4 Pine Valley AV Club used 38 waffles each. The other 3 Pine Valley AV Club shared the rest equally. How many waffles did each of the other Pine Valley AV Club get?S
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
Checking the radio tower range requires tracking the distance between walkie talkie signals.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
L
20
82
18
117
53
18
119
22
C
Radio Scout lined up 5 rows of 4 batteries. How many batteries in all?L
There were 126 flashlights. 9 were used up. How many flashlights are left?D
Radio Scout lined up 3 rows of 6 batteries. How many batteries in all?U
There were 89 flashlights. 36 were used up. How many flashlights are left?M
Radio Scout found 12 cassette tapes yesterday and 10 more today. How many cassette tapes in all?I
There were 143 batteries. 24 were used up. How many batteries are left?S
Radio Scout found 34 cassette tapes yesterday and 48 more today. How many cassette tapes in all?O
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The team measures how much power is left in the giant flashlight after searching the woods.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
C
4578
1010
3604
2379
5192
3916
1010
2379
2379
3334
8567
8429
8567
3604
2949
2727
7878
8429
1810
3334
3604
3334
2773
1557
1010
2727
7878
1557
2727
8567
2203
3334
7878
1557
1557
3604
5924 - 1346 =C
5626 - 4069 =O
5008 - 2235 =F
3189 - 810 =L
5952 - 3225 =N
6608 - 3659 =A
9074 - 3882 =Y
4739 - 3729 =U
10422 - 1993 =S
6171 - 3968 =H
7481 - 3565 =M
2395 - 585 =W
13359 - 4792 =T
5859 - 2525 =E
5101 - 1497 =R
11451 - 3573 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
To unlock the lab security panel, the kids calculate how many missing watts are needed for full power.
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
27 + ___ = 37
20 + ___ = 28
36 + ___ = 40
28 + ___ = 40
1 + ___ = 3
32 + ___ = 43
25 + ___ = 32
28 + ___ = 29
3 + ___ = 6
22 + ___ = 28
28 + ___ = 33
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blasted a telepathic wave, then froze the metal handles.
2.The villain opened a glowing rift, then slowed down time.
3.The villain sparked energy bolts, then froze the metal handles.
4.The villain cast a shadow cloak, then screeched loud sonic waves.
5.The villain opened a glowing rift, then froze the metal handles.
6.The villain opened a glowing rift, then shot a laser beam.
7.The villain sparked energy bolts, then screeched loud sonic waves.
8.The villain cast a shadow cloak, then shot a laser beam.
9.The villain sent a mind pulse, then shot a laser beam.
10.The villain blasted a telepathic wave, then slowed down time.
11.The villain cast a shadow cloak, then froze the metal handles.
12.The villain opened a glowing rift, then flipped gravity upside down.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Shadow Rift
Culprit: Joyce Byers (Mind Pulse · Laser Beam · Wears Bandana · Curly Mullet · Loud Music)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE GRAVITY FLIP"4 × 8 = 32 (T) · 9 × 12 = 108 (G) · 3 × 5 = 15 (I) · 10 × 3 = 30 (A) · 7 × 7 = 49 (O) · 9 × 7 = 63 (D) · 2 × 1 = 2 (H) · 6 × 7 = 42 (L) · 9 × 10 = 90 (E) · 6 × 6 = 36 (S) · 2 × 7 = 14 (V) · 8 × 8 = 64 (U) · 4 × 1 = 4 (Y) · 7 × 11 = 77 (R) · 10 × 7 = 70 (F) · 7 × 1 = 7 (N) · 3 × 7 = 21 (P)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "WEARS BANDANA"Radio Scout collected 38 cassette tapes in the morning and 46 cassette tapes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Pine Valley AV Club. How many cassette tapes did each get? = 14 (W) · There were 145 flashlights in all. 37 flashlights were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 Pine Valley AV Club. How many flashlights did each get? = 12 (R) · Radio Scout collected 281 batteries in the morning and 49 batteries in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Pine Valley AV Club. How many batteries did each get? = 55 (B) · Radio Scout collected 7 cassette tapes in the morning and 57 cassette tapes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 Pine Valley AV Club. How many cassette tapes did each get? = 16 (E) · Radio Scout collected 18 cassette tapes in the morning and 76 cassette tapes in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Pine Valley AV Club. How many cassette tapes did each get? = 47 (A) · Radio Scout collected 10 batteries in the morning and 10 batteries in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 Pine Valley AV Club. How many batteries did each get? = 10 (N) · There were 419 waffles in all. 4 Pine Valley AV Club used 38 waffles each. The other 3 Pine Valley AV Club shared the rest equally. How many waffles did each of the other Pine Valley AV Club get? = 89 (S)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "LOUD MUSIC"Radio Scout lined up 5 rows of 4 batteries. How many batteries in all? = 20 (L) · There were 126 flashlights. 9 were used up. How many flashlights are left? = 117 (D) · Radio Scout lined up 3 rows of 6 batteries. How many batteries in all? = 18 (U) · There were 89 flashlights. 36 were used up. How many flashlights are left? = 53 (M) · Radio Scout found 12 cassette tapes yesterday and 10 more today. How many cassette tapes in all? = 22 (I) · There were 143 batteries. 24 were used up. How many batteries are left? = 119 (S) · Radio Scout found 34 cassette tapes yesterday and 48 more today. How many cassette tapes in all? = 82 (O)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "CURLY MULLET STRANDS WERE FOUND ON THE DOOR"5924 - 1346 = 4578 (C) · 5626 - 4069 = 1557 (O) · 5008 - 2235 = 2773 (F) · 3189 - 810 = 2379 (L) · 5952 - 3225 = 2727 (N) · 6608 - 3659 = 2949 (A) · 9074 - 3882 = 5192 (Y) · 4739 - 3729 = 1010 (U) · 10422 - 1993 = 8429 (S) · 6171 - 3968 = 2203 (H) · 7481 - 3565 = 3916 (M) · 2395 - 585 = 1810 (W) · 13359 - 4792 = 8567 (T) · 5859 - 2525 = 3334 (E) · 5101 - 1497 = 3604 (R) · 11451 - 3573 = 7878 (D)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 9) → Joyce Byers27 + ___ = 37 = 10 · 20 + ___ = 28 = 8 · 36 + ___ = 40 = 4 · 28 + ___ = 40 = 12 · 1 + ___ = 3 = 2 · 32 + ___ = 43 = 11 · 25 + ___ = 32 = 7 · 28 + ___ = 29 = 1 · 3 + ___ = 6 = 3 · 22 + ___ = 28 = 6 · 28 + ___ = 33 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Multi-step word problems, Word problems, Subtraction, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Shadow Rift — set in The Town of Shadow Creek
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects