⛏️ MinecraftGrade 1Reading: grades 1-2AdditionSubtractionSkip countingPlace valueMissing addends
The Mystery of the Stolen Pickaxe
Someone snuck into the craft shop and took the shiny diamond pickaxe! Use your block math to catch the sneaky builder.
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 | Tool Used | Block Carried | Wears Helmet | Cape Color | Scared Of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crafter Grace | Iron Sword | Emerald Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Bright Torches |
| Crafty Steve | Iron Sword | Obsidian Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Water Buckets |
| Hunter Ava | Iron Sword | Obsidian Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Loud Cats |
| Guard Ella | Golden Shovel | Redstone Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Bright Torches |
| Crafter Meg | Wooden Hoe | Obsidian Block | Iron Helmet | Green Cape | Bright Torches |
| Farmer Iris | Golden Shovel | Emerald Block | No Helmet | Blue Cape | Water Buckets |
| Smith Zoe | Stone Axe | Redstone Block | No Helmet | Red Cape | Water Buckets |
| Mason Jack | Golden Shovel | Glowstone Block | No Helmet | Red Cape | Loud Cats |
| Farmer Leo | Stone Axe | Redstone Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Bright Torches |
| Scout Finn | Iron Sword | Emerald Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Loud Cats |
| Digger Dan | Wooden Hoe | Redstone Block | No Helmet | Red Cape | Bright Torches |
| Builder Alex | Stone Axe | Glowstone Block | No Helmet | Blue Cape | Loud Cats |
| Ranger Ivy | Stone Axe | Slime Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Loud Cats |
| Ranger Jay | Iron Sword | Glowstone Block | No Helmet | Blue Cape | Loud Cats |
| Mason Kay | Iron Sword | Redstone Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Loud Cats |
| Digger Hank | Iron Sword | Glowstone Block | Iron Helmet | Green Cape | Loud Cats |
| Explorer Eli | Stone Axe | Slime Block | No Helmet | Red Cape | Bright Torches |
| Miner Carl | Iron Sword | Emerald Block | No Helmet | Red Cape | Loud Cats |
| Trapper Max | Wooden Hoe | Obsidian Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Loud Cats |
| Builder Bob | Bow and Arrow | Slime Block | Iron Helmet | Blue Cape | Water Buckets |
| Pioneer Mia | Iron Sword | Redstone Block | No Helmet | Blue Cape | Loud Cats |
Clue 1
Addition
You add up all the torches found outside the shop to get your first 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
18
16
6
2
14
12
12
5
14
11
10
3
6
17
11
3
T
18
15
5
19
19
20
19
6
10
17
T
18
3
11
6
8
12
3
15
4
17
6 + 12 =T
5 + 5 =D
6 + 11 =S
14 + 6 =Y
9 + 5 =I
11 + 8 =R
7 + 5 =L
1 + 3 =K
2 + 6 =B
5 + 10 =C
2 + 4 =E
3 + 2 =A
6 + 10 =H
1 + 2 =O
8 + 3 =N
1 + 1 =V
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
You take away the broken wooden blocks to find hidden tracks in the dirt.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
14
9
7
13
2
1
1
1
19
W
14
19
1
16
9
13
10
9
11
4
13
16
2
6
15
2
7
4
13
16
2
19
8
20 - 6 =W
5 - 4 =S
17 - 4 =N
14 - 5 =I
14 - 4 =Y
16 - 9 =T
11 - 9 =E
15 - 9 =L
20 - 4 =H
11 - 3 =D
14 - 3 =R
17 - 2 =M
9 - 5 =O
20 - 1 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Skip counting
You count the green creeper tracks by twos across the square field.
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
6
50
120
25
18
30
30
90
18
60
28
90
26
26
9
90
8
120
12
45
33
30
10
70
12
9
90
T
6
26
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10T
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ___, 21, 24I
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15C
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ___, 75, 80U
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ___, 14, 16D
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, ___, 130, 140E
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, ___, 70, 80N
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35V
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14O
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39Y
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30S
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, ___, 33, 36L
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, ___, 55, 60H
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12R
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55B
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32W
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, ___, 100, 110A
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Place value
You look at the tens and ones on the locked chest to read the 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.
W
97
33
42
89
32
22
46
86
50
32
33
69
62
18
33
28
87
90
33
62
46
51
89
22
62
28
90
33
33
What number has 9 tens and 7 ones?W
What number has 2 tens and 2 ones?N
What number has 6 tens and 9 ones?C
What number has 5 tens and 0 ones?L
What number has 3 tens and 3 ones?E
What number has 8 tens and 9 ones?O
What number has 2 tens and 8 ones?T
What number has 9 tens and 0 ones?R
What number has 6 tens and 2 ones?A
What number has 1 ten and 8 ones?P
What number has 4 tens and 6 ones?D
What number has 3 tens and 2 ones?U
What number has 4 tens and 2 ones?F
What number has 8 tens and 7 ones?H
What number has 5 tens and 1 one?S
What number has 8 tens and 6 ones?B
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
You figure out how many iron bars are missing from the broken cage.
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
2 + ___ = 12
5 + ___ = 12
8 + ___ = 12
4 + ___ = 6
8 + ___ = 14
4 + ___ = 9
3 + ___ = 4
4 + ___ = 12
6 + ___ = 15
6 + ___ = 18
8 + ___ = 19
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain dug with a golden shovel, then hid an emerald block.
2.The villain chopped with a stone axe, then lit up a glowstone block.
3.The villain swung an iron sword, then dropped an obsidian block.
4.The villain swung an iron sword, then hid an emerald block.
5.The villain shot a bow and arrow, then lit up a glowstone block.
6.The villain dug with a golden shovel, then lit up a glowstone block.
7.The villain scraped with a wooden hoe, then dropped an obsidian block.
8.The villain chopped with a stone axe, then dropped an obsidian block.
9.The villain swung an iron sword, then placed a redstone block.
10.The villain chopped with a stone axe, then bounced on a slime block.
11.The villain scraped with a wooden hoe, then lit up a glowstone block.
12.The villain dug with a golden shovel, then dropped an obsidian block.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Stolen Pickaxe
Culprit: Hunter Ava (Iron Sword · Obsidian Block · Iron Helmet · Blue Cape · Loud Cats)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT CARRY REDSTONE BLOCKS"6 + 12 = 18 (T) · 5 + 5 = 10 (D) · 6 + 11 = 17 (S) · 14 + 6 = 20 (Y) · 9 + 5 = 14 (I) · 11 + 8 = 19 (R) · 7 + 5 = 12 (L) · 1 + 3 = 4 (K) · 2 + 6 = 8 (B) · 5 + 10 = 15 (C) · 2 + 4 = 6 (E) · 3 + 2 = 5 (A) · 6 + 10 = 16 (H) · 1 + 2 = 3 (O) · 8 + 3 = 11 (N) · 1 + 1 = 2 (V)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "WITNESS SAW A SHINY IRON HELMET ON HEAD"20 - 6 = 14 (W) · 5 - 4 = 1 (S) · 17 - 4 = 13 (N) · 14 - 5 = 9 (I) · 14 - 4 = 10 (Y) · 16 - 9 = 7 (T) · 11 - 9 = 2 (E) · 15 - 9 = 6 (L) · 20 - 4 = 16 (H) · 11 - 3 = 8 (D) · 14 - 3 = 11 (R) · 17 - 2 = 15 (M) · 9 - 5 = 4 (O) · 20 - 1 = 19 (A)
- Clue 3 (Skip counting): "THE VILLAIN WAS SCARED BY LOUD CATS"Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (T) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ___, 21, 24 = 18 (I) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15 = 9 (C) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ___, 75, 80 = 70 (U) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ___, 14, 16 = 12 (D) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, ___, 130, 140 = 120 (E) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, ___, 70, 80 = 60 (N) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (V) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14 = 10 (O) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39 = 33 (Y) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30 = 26 (S) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, ___, 33, 36 = 30 (L) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, ___, 55, 60 = 50 (H) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12 = 8 (R) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (B) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (W) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, ___, 100, 110 = 90 (A)
- Clue 4 (Place value): "WE FOUND BLUE CAPE THREADS ON A TREE"What number has 9 tens and 7 ones? = 97 (W) · What number has 2 tens and 2 ones? = 22 (N) · What number has 6 tens and 9 ones? = 69 (C) · What number has 5 tens and 0 ones? = 50 (L) · What number has 3 tens and 3 ones? = 33 (E) · What number has 8 tens and 9 ones? = 89 (O) · What number has 2 tens and 8 ones? = 28 (T) · What number has 9 tens and 0 ones? = 90 (R) · What number has 6 tens and 2 ones? = 62 (A) · What number has 1 ten and 8 ones? = 18 (P) · What number has 4 tens and 6 ones? = 46 (D) · What number has 3 tens and 2 ones? = 32 (U) · What number has 4 tens and 2 ones? = 42 (F) · What number has 8 tens and 7 ones? = 87 (H) · What number has 5 tens and 1 one? = 51 (S) · What number has 8 tens and 6 ones? = 86 (B)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 3) → Hunter Ava2 + ___ = 12 = 10 · 5 + ___ = 12 = 7 · 8 + ___ = 12 = 4 · 4 + ___ = 6 = 2 · 8 + ___ = 14 = 6 · 4 + ___ = 9 = 5 · 3 + ___ = 4 = 1 · 4 + ___ = 12 = 8 · 6 + ___ = 15 = 9 · 6 + ___ = 18 = 12 · 8 + ___ = 19 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Skip counting, Place value, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Stolen Pickaxe — set in Square Craft Village
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects