🔎 Mom and sonGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Secret Snack Mystery
Someone swapped the blue ribbon family recipes right before the big fair. Detective Mom and her son Leo are on the case to find out who sneaked into the tent.
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 | Gadget | Disguise | Watch Wrist | Cap Color | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artist Mia | Laser Pointer | Ninja Suit | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Popcorn |
| Uncle Sam | Walkie Talkie | Super Mask | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Apple Slices |
| Driver Gus | Grappling Hook | Super Mask | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Popcorn |
| Baker Bob | Magnifying Lens | Super Mask | Right Wrist | Blue Cap | Apple Slices |
| Neighbor Dan | Grappling Hook | Lab Coat | Right Wrist | Red Cap | Popcorn |
| Aunt Clara | Pocket Drone | Super Mask | Right Wrist | Blue Cap | Popcorn |
| Coach Tim | Laser Pointer | Mascot Costume | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Popcorn |
| Teacher Kim | Grappling Hook | Lab Coat | Right Wrist | Green Cap | Popcorn |
| Pilot Sky | Laser Pointer | Mascot Costume | Right Wrist | Blue Cap | Pretzels |
| Officer Pete | Grappling Hook | Mascot Costume | Right Wrist | Blue Cap | Apple Slices |
| Farmer Ted | Pocket Drone | Chef Apron | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Popcorn |
| Son Leo | Magnifying Lens | Chef Apron | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Popcorn |
| Mayor Brooks | Grappling Hook | Chef Apron | Right Wrist | Green Cap | Apple Slices |
| Detective Pam | Pocket Drone | Lab Coat | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Pretzels |
| Reporter Zoe | Pocket Drone | Chef Apron | Left Wrist | Green Cap | Pretzels |
| Cousin Ben | Walkie Talkie | Chef Apron | Right Wrist | Red Cap | Popcorn |
| Captain Ray | Magnifying Lens | Mascot Costume | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Pretzels |
| Grandma Rosa | Magnifying Lens | Mascot Costume | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Popcorn |
| Builder Max | Pocket Drone | Lab Coat | Right Wrist | Green Cap | Popcorn |
| Dr Evans | Laser Pointer | Lab Coat | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Popcorn |
| Mom Maya | Walkie Talkie | Chef Apron | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Popcorn |
Clue 1
Place value
Mom checked the digital lock on the display tent. The screen showed digits arranged by place value to reveal the 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
700
800
7000
20
5000
20
10
7000
900
T
700
400
500
7000
20
9000
500
T
700
50
7000
60
100
60
9000
30
9000
70
60
20
5000
30
T
700
What is the value of the 7 in 8,731?T
What is the value of the 1 in 6,916?P
What is the value of the 1 in 6,156?R
What is the value of the 4 in 432?D
What is the value of the 5 in 8,568?O
What is the value of the 2 in 529?S
What is the value of the 9 in 1,931?C
What is the value of the 7 in 1,078?J
What is the value of the 7 in 27,324?E
What is the value of the 3 in 538?I
What is the value of the 5 in 5,679?U
What is the value of the 5 in 857?W
What is the value of the 8 in 9,826?H
What is the value of the 9 in 39,273?N
What is the value of the 6 in 364?A
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Leo gathered up the extra snack boxes left near the tent and added them together to check the total count.
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
6834
2556
6068
8642
6680
5218
6221
8698
5387
T
6834
6068
6680
7333
6068
5218
6680
5387
5218
7333
5218
T
6834
4102
2556
8340
6221
T
6834
2556
6068
9738
6068
2653
T
6834
7333
6680
6169
5387
T
6834
2639 + 4195 =T
4974 + 2359 =W
1124 + 1432 =H
1911 + 2191 =C
6082 + 3656 =L
2130 + 3088 =A
1288 + 1365 =F
2426 + 3795 =N
5145 + 3195 =O
2439 + 3730 =I
3937 + 2131 =E
2793 + 5849 =P
2402 + 2985 =S
4817 + 3881 =K
4269 + 2411 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Mom subtracted the spent tickets from the starting stack to see how many people visited the table.
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
8079
4336
8310
8638
1483
3696
8474
5502
3578
T
8079
8310
1483
6220
1483
5994
8638
8638
8310
6220
3696
7688
3696
6827
5994
7246
8638
5994
8638
1129
5994
1483
8474
9703 - 1624 =T
10359 - 1885 =N
5555 - 4072 =R
7046 - 1052 =O
10184 - 1874 =E
6299 - 797 =K
10277 - 1639 =P
10165 - 3945 =D
4356 - 778 =S
5194 - 1498 =A
8454 - 1208 =F
12475 - 4787 =B
5814 - 4685 =C
5426 - 1090 =H
7943 - 1116 =G
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Leo counted the rows of bake sale trays and multiplied to find out how many treats were missing.
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
21
44
3
48
A
21
10
3
5
48
132
A
21
30
9
A
21
28
132
80
48
108
28
A
21
48
132
30
9
A
21
54
3 × 7 =A
3 × 3 =C
10 × 3 =D
12 × 9 =O
4 × 12 =R
2 × 5 =Y
4 × 11 =S
6 × 9 =P
10 × 8 =F
5 × 1 =H
1 × 3 =T
12 × 11 =E
7 × 4 =M
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Mom split the collected clue cards evenly between their detective notebooks to reveal the final answer.
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
70 ÷ 10 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
9 ÷ 3 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
11 ÷ 1 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
45 ÷ 5 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
40 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swapped the recipe cards, then zipped past the snack table.
2.The villain swapped the recipe cards, then snuck out through the kitchen.
3.The villain distracted the judges, then zipped away on a scooter.
4.The villain turned off the lights, then zipped away on a scooter.
5.The villain turned off the lights, then snuck out through the kitchen.
6.The villain unplugged the freezer, then left behind a trail of flour.
7.The villain unplugged the freezer, then snuck out through the kitchen.
8.The villain unplugged the freezer, then zipped past the snack table.
9.The villain swapped the recipe cards, then zipped away on a scooter.
10.The villain distracted the judges, then spilled juice on the carpet.
11.The villain hid the trophy, then spilled juice on the carpet.
12.The villain hid the trophy, then zipped past the snack table.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Secret Snack Mystery
Culprit: Grandma Rosa (Magnifying Lens · Mascot Costume · Left Wrist · Red Cap · Popcorn)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT WEAR A NINJA SUIT"What is the value of the 7 in 8,731? = 700 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 6,916? = 10 (P) · What is the value of the 1 in 6,156? = 100 (R) · What is the value of the 4 in 432? = 400 (D) · What is the value of the 5 in 8,568? = 500 (O) · What is the value of the 2 in 529? = 20 (S) · What is the value of the 9 in 1,931? = 900 (C) · What is the value of the 7 in 1,078? = 70 (J) · What is the value of the 7 in 27,324? = 7000 (E) · What is the value of the 3 in 538? = 30 (I) · What is the value of the 5 in 5,679? = 5000 (U) · What is the value of the 5 in 857? = 50 (W) · What is the value of the 8 in 9,826? = 800 (H) · What is the value of the 9 in 39,273? = 9000 (N) · What is the value of the 6 in 364? = 60 (A)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE PRANKSTER WEARS A WATCH ON THE LEFT WRIST"2639 + 4195 = 6834 (T) · 4974 + 2359 = 7333 (W) · 1124 + 1432 = 2556 (H) · 1911 + 2191 = 4102 (C) · 6082 + 3656 = 9738 (L) · 2130 + 3088 = 5218 (A) · 1288 + 1365 = 2653 (F) · 2426 + 3795 = 6221 (N) · 5145 + 3195 = 8340 (O) · 2439 + 3730 = 6169 (I) · 3937 + 2131 = 6068 (E) · 2793 + 5849 = 8642 (P) · 2402 + 2985 = 5387 (S) · 4817 + 3881 = 8698 (K) · 4269 + 2411 = 6680 (R)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE PRANKSTER DROPPED A BAG OF POPCORN"9703 - 1624 = 8079 (T) · 10359 - 1885 = 8474 (N) · 5555 - 4072 = 1483 (R) · 7046 - 1052 = 5994 (O) · 10184 - 1874 = 8310 (E) · 6299 - 797 = 5502 (K) · 10277 - 1639 = 8638 (P) · 10165 - 3945 = 6220 (D) · 4356 - 778 = 3578 (S) · 5194 - 1498 = 3696 (A) · 8454 - 1208 = 7246 (F) · 12475 - 4787 = 7688 (B) · 5814 - 4685 = 1129 (C) · 5426 - 1090 = 4336 (H) · 7943 - 1116 = 6827 (G)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A STRAY THREAD CAME FROM A RED CAP"3 × 7 = 21 (A) · 3 × 3 = 9 (C) · 10 × 3 = 30 (D) · 12 × 9 = 108 (O) · 4 × 12 = 48 (R) · 2 × 5 = 10 (Y) · 4 × 11 = 44 (S) · 6 × 9 = 54 (P) · 10 × 8 = 80 (F) · 5 × 1 = 5 (H) · 1 × 3 = 3 (T) · 12 × 11 = 132 (E) · 7 × 4 = 28 (M)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Grandma Rosa70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 40 ÷ 10 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Secret Snack Mystery — set in Oak Street Science Fair
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects