🔎 HalloweenGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Spooksville Pumpkin Prank
Someone scrambled the grand prize decorations right before the spooky festival began! Work through the math clues to figure out who pulled off this Halloween trick.
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 | Costume Trick | Spooky Tool | Dominant Hand | Headwear | Scare Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spike Spider | Ghost Float | Glow Wand | Left Handed | Black Hat | Bright Flashlights |
| Willa Web | Bat Flutter | Jack Lantern | Left Handed | Black Hat | Loud Bells |
| Vince Vampire | Pumpkin Toss | Glow Wand | Left Handed | Black Hat | Bright Flashlights |
| Bruno Bat | Skeleton Dance | Candy Sack | Right Handed | Orange Wig | Garlic Sprays |
| Zack Zombie | Witch Flight | Candy Sack | Left Handed | Orange Wig | Garlic Sprays |
| Fiona Fog | Pumpkin Toss | Glow Wand | Left Handed | Orange Wig | Garlic Sprays |
| Carl Cat | Skeleton Dance | Jack Lantern | Right Handed | Black Hat | Garlic Sprays |
| Frankie Stein | Witch Flight | Glow Wand | Left Handed | Purple Hood | Garlic Sprays |
| Victor Vane | Skeleton Dance | Candy Sack | Left Handed | Orange Wig | Garlic Sprays |
| Pam Pumpkin | Ghost Float | Glow Wand | Right Handed | Black Hat | Bright Flashlights |
| Ray Raven | Skeleton Dance | Cobweb Cannon | Left Handed | Purple Hood | Garlic Sprays |
| Otto Owl | Skeleton Dance | Fog Jar | Left Handed | Orange Wig | Garlic Sprays |
| Penny Patch | Pumpkin Toss | Cobweb Cannon | Right Handed | Orange Wig | Bright Flashlights |
| Mina Mummy | Pumpkin Toss | Cobweb Cannon | Left Handed | Orange Wig | Garlic Sprays |
| Skyler Skull | Skeleton Dance | Glow Wand | Left Handed | Purple Hood | Bright Flashlights |
| Gaby Ghost | Witch Flight | Fog Jar | Right Handed | Black Hat | Garlic Sprays |
| Sam Skeleton | Witch Flight | Jack Lantern | Right Handed | Orange Wig | Garlic Sprays |
| Uma Urn | Ghost Float | Cobweb Cannon | Left Handed | Purple Hood | Loud Bells |
| Xander Xray | Skeleton Dance | Jack Lantern | Left Handed | Orange Wig | Garlic Sprays |
| Gwen Goblin | Skeleton Dance | Glow Wand | Left Handed | Orange Wig | Loud Bells |
| Wendy Witch | Ghost Float | Jack Lantern | Right Handed | Orange Wig | Bright Flashlights |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
You count the pumpkin patches in equal rows across the carnival field to decode the first message.
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
22
100
77
24
27
6
6
80
27
8
33
66
77
88
8
66
T
22
108
88
77
80
15
80
8
33
14
88
80
15
63
2 × 11 =T
12 × 2 =V
6 × 11 =O
10 × 10 =H
8 × 11 =S
8 × 10 =A
3 × 9 =I
3 × 5 =C
1 × 8 =N
7 × 9 =K
12 × 9 =U
2 × 3 =L
3 × 11 =D
7 × 2 =Y
11 × 7 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The spookmeter monitor rounds the magic power reading to the nearest ten to reveal a hint.
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
200
50
8000
80
500
20
20
20
700
W
200
8000
3000
500
40
W
200
400
50
8000
500
W
200
50
8000
3000
900
500
70
8000
3000
700
80
90
Round 235 to the nearest hundredW
Round 520 to the nearest hundredE
Round 8,239 to the nearest thousandT
Round 697 to the nearest hundredA
Round 49 to the nearest tenI
Round 2,543 to the nearest thousandH
Round 865 to the nearest hundredL
Round 71 to the nearest tenF
Round 77 to the nearest tenN
Round 90 to the nearest tenD
Round 437 to the nearest hundredR
Round 22 to the nearest tenS
Round 41 to the nearest tenM
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
You tally all the decorative treats gathered from each game booth to combine the evidence.
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
730
536
452
943
706
353
353
888
706
312
594
353
452
842
594
621
813
231
674
888
621
353
706
741
791
614
621
888
880
791
262 + 468 =T
356 + 486 =D
243 + 498 =C
378 + 243 =R
331 + 283 =P
121 + 191 =N
542 + 249 =S
615 + 328 =V
163 + 373 =H
524 + 356 =Y
289 + 163 =E
558 + 255 =O
354 + 352 =I
249 + 345 =F
86 + 145 =M
115 + 238 =L
282 + 392 =G
292 + 596 =A
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
You subtract the ruined decorations from the total stack to uncover the hidden proof.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
F
615
386
378
592
491
868
592
386
660
868
592
795
272
814
801
795
575
527
660
868
592
491
868
527
575
279
272
592
272
835 - 220 =F
554 - 63 =D
691 - 116 =S
522 - 136 =O
1045 - 385 =R
777 - 185 =N
785 - 258 =T
907 - 93 =W
350 - 71 =C
966 - 171 =G
658 - 280 =U
846 - 45 =I
461 - 189 =E
947 - 79 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
You divide the batch of potion bottles evenly among the treat bags to crack the final clue.
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 ÷ 8 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
72 ÷ 6 = ?
10 ÷ 10 = ?
56 ÷ 8 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
9 ÷ 3 = ?
50 ÷ 5 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain floated like a ghost, then fired a cobweb cannon.
2.The villain tossed a giant pumpkin, then waved a glow wand.
3.The villain floated like a ghost, then opened a fog jar.
4.The villain did a skeleton dance, then opened a fog jar.
5.The villain did a skeleton dance, then lit a jack lantern.
6.The villain tossed a giant pumpkin, then opened a fog jar.
7.The villain fluttered like a bat, then waved a glow wand.
8.The villain fluttered like a bat, then lit a jack lantern.
9.The villain tossed a giant pumpkin, then fired a cobweb cannon.
10.The villain tossed a giant pumpkin, then dropped a candy sack.
11.The villain flew on a broomstick, then fired a cobweb cannon.
12.The villain floated like a ghost, then dropped a candy sack.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Spooksville Pumpkin Prank
Culprit: Xander Xray (Skeleton Dance · Jack Lantern · Left Handed · Orange Wig · Garlic Sprays)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A CANDY SACK"2 × 11 = 22 (T) · 12 × 2 = 24 (V) · 6 × 11 = 66 (O) · 10 × 10 = 100 (H) · 8 × 11 = 88 (S) · 8 × 10 = 80 (A) · 3 × 9 = 27 (I) · 3 × 5 = 15 (C) · 1 × 8 = 8 (N) · 7 × 9 = 63 (K) · 12 × 9 = 108 (U) · 2 × 3 = 6 (L) · 3 × 11 = 33 (D) · 7 × 2 = 14 (Y) · 11 × 7 = 77 (E)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "WITNESS SAW THEM WRITE WITH LEFT HAND"Round 235 to the nearest hundred = 200 (W) · Round 520 to the nearest hundred = 500 (E) · Round 8,239 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (T) · Round 697 to the nearest hundred = 700 (A) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (I) · Round 2,543 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 865 to the nearest hundred = 900 (L) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (F) · Round 77 to the nearest ten = 80 (N) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (D) · Round 437 to the nearest hundred = 400 (R) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (S) · Round 41 to the nearest ten = 40 (M)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN FLED FROM GARLIC SPRAYS"262 + 468 = 730 (T) · 356 + 486 = 842 (D) · 243 + 498 = 741 (C) · 378 + 243 = 621 (R) · 331 + 283 = 614 (P) · 121 + 191 = 312 (N) · 542 + 249 = 791 (S) · 615 + 328 = 943 (V) · 163 + 373 = 536 (H) · 524 + 356 = 880 (Y) · 289 + 163 = 452 (E) · 558 + 255 = 813 (O) · 354 + 352 = 706 (I) · 249 + 345 = 594 (F) · 86 + 145 = 231 (M) · 115 + 238 = 353 (L) · 282 + 392 = 674 (G) · 292 + 596 = 888 (A)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "FOUND AN ORANGE WIG STRAND AT SCENE"835 - 220 = 615 (F) · 554 - 63 = 491 (D) · 691 - 116 = 575 (S) · 522 - 136 = 386 (O) · 1045 - 385 = 660 (R) · 777 - 185 = 592 (N) · 785 - 258 = 527 (T) · 907 - 93 = 814 (W) · 350 - 71 = 279 (C) · 966 - 171 = 795 (G) · 658 - 280 = 378 (U) · 846 - 45 = 801 (I) · 461 - 189 = 272 (E) · 947 - 79 = 868 (A)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Xander Xray16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Spooksville Pumpkin Prank — set in Spooksville Halloween Carnival
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects