🔎 Storm ChasingGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionPlace valueRoundingSubtractionDivision
The Tornado Alley Mystery
A sneaky rogue chaser sabotaged the radar van during a giant storm! Decode the weather logs to discover who did it before the next supercell hits.
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 | Primary Gear | Vehicle Upgrade | Equipment Style | Hair Style | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Baker | Doppler Radar | Snorkel Intake | Goggles | Ponytail | Loud Static |
| Chloe Diaz | Anemometer | Armor Plating | Earphones | Ponytail | Cold Coffee |
| Samaria Davis | Doppler Radar | Armor Plating | Goggles | Ponytail | Bright Flash |
| Kelly Vance | Barometer | All Terrain Tires | Earphones | Buzz Cut | Bright Flash |
| Noah Wright | Anemometer | Hail Shield | Earphones | Buzz Cut | Cold Coffee |
| Kira Brooks | Anemometer | All Terrain Tires | Goggles | Buzz Cut | Bright Flash |
| Ivy Chen | Anemometer | Armor Plating | Earphones | Buzz Cut | Bright Flash |
| David Ross | Drone Launcher | Winch System | Goggles | Ponytail | Bright Flash |
| Maya Lin | Anemometer | Snorkel Intake | Goggles | Ponytail | Bright Flash |
| Ben Carter | Barometer | Winch System | Goggles | Messy Hair | Cold Coffee |
| Elena Gomez | Barometer | Snorkel Intake | Earphones | Ponytail | Bright Flash |
| Frankie Hill | Anemometer | Armor Plating | Goggles | Ponytail | Cold Coffee |
| Alex Storm | Anemometer | Armor Plating | Earphones | Messy Hair | Loud Static |
| Sean Walsh | Anemometer | Winch System | Goggles | Ponytail | Bright Flash |
| Reed Timmer | Drone Launcher | Snorkel Intake | Goggles | Ponytail | Cold Coffee |
| Jim Cantore | Doppler Radar | All Terrain Tires | Earphones | Buzz Cut | Cold Coffee |
| Grace Park | Barometer | Snorkel Intake | Goggles | Buzz Cut | Cold Coffee |
| Hank Miller | Anemometer | All Terrain Tires | Earphones | Buzz Cut | Cold Coffee |
| Rosa Martinez | Lightning Sensor | Winch System | Goggles | Messy Hair | Bright Flash |
| Leo Vance | Drone Launcher | Armor Plating | Goggles | Ponytail | Bright Flash |
| Quinn Young | Barometer | Snorkel Intake | Goggles | Ponytail | Bright Flash |
Clue 1
Addition
We tallied all the weather probes left in the storage van to narrow down the evidence list.
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
499
681
747
579
480
579
909
747
608
T
499
711
932
747
579
356
932
T
499
480
579
747
787
406
253
356
608
681
579
923
579
T
499
747
390
193 + 306 =T
250 + 106 =N
571 + 352 =Y
288 + 423 =D
354 + 225 =S
378 + 531 =P
93 + 160 =I
145 + 335 =U
180 + 210 =M
351 + 396 =E
329 + 352 =H
289 + 319 =C
442 + 345 =A
187 + 219 =W
530 + 402 =O
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Place value
We checked the digital display on the wind gauge to analyze the value of each digit.
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
40
10
6000
300
T
600
3000
10
20
20
20
500
6000
T
600
40
10
T
600
500
30
80
10
T
600
6000
10
500
30
300
3000
80
80
9000
80
80
50
10
20
What is the value of the 6 in 8,673?T
What is the value of the 4 in 642?H
What is the value of the 8 in 585?G
What is the value of the 5 in 352?L
What is the value of the 3 in 382?I
What is the value of the 3 in 234?R
What is the value of the 5 in 570?A
What is the value of the 6 in 36,870?W
What is the value of the 2 in 7,120?S
What is the value of the 1 in 517?E
What is the value of the 3 in 3,696?N
What is the value of the 9 in 29,286?O
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The storm radar screen rounds wind speeds to the nearest ten to clear up the display.
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
30
5000
2000
20
7000
4000
60
80
40
A
30
50
4000
70
80
40
20
7000
4000
60
80
A
30
200
6000
600
60
4000
6000
500
4000
A
30
50
6000
2000
Round 33 to the nearest tenA
Round 19 to the nearest tenI
Round 42 to the nearest tenL
Round 72 to the nearest tenO
Round 528 to the nearest hundredC
Round 59 to the nearest tenT
Round 80 to the nearest tenF
Round 2,182 to the nearest thousandR
Round 229 to the nearest hundredZ
Round 3,942 to the nearest thousandH
Round 6,421 to the nearest thousandE
Round 6,695 to the nearest thousandG
Round 577 to the nearest hundredD
Round 47 to the nearest tenS
Round 5,387 to the nearest thousandB
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
We subtracted the starting cloud temperature from the final reading to trace the path.
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
557
821
331
880
A
557
256
153
657
225
188
657
256
793
331
A
557
867
601
845
A
557
867
880
347
A
557
821
601
454
225
331
301
454
845
867
256
153
684 - 127 =A
499 - 198 =B
504 - 50 =E
158 - 5 =D
325 - 100 =F
1251 - 384 =I
933 - 88 =H
1280 - 400 =R
606 - 275 =T
778 - 177 =L
1136 - 315 =S
1193 - 400 =Y
438 - 250 =P
838 - 181 =O
717 - 370 =W
399 - 143 =N
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We divided the remaining tracking beacons equally among the search vehicles.
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
6 ÷ 2 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
15 ÷ 3 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
8 ÷ 1 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
27 ÷ 3 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scanned the storm clouds, then drove through the heavy hail.
2.The villain launched a probe drone, then splashed through deep water.
3.The villain launched a probe drone, then drove through the heavy hail.
4.The villain tracked the strike location, then crossed the muddy field.
5.The villain checked the air pressure, then splashed through deep water.
6.The villain tracked the strike location, then splashed through deep water.
7.The villain measured the wind speed, then pulled the trapped truck.
8.The villain measured the wind speed, then crossed the muddy field.
9.The villain checked the air pressure, then drove through the heavy hail.
10.The villain measured the wind speed, then splashed through deep water.
11.The villain scanned the storm clouds, then splashed through deep water.
12.The villain launched a probe drone, then blocked flying debris.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Tornado Alley Mystery
Culprit: Maya Lin (Anemometer · Snorkel Intake · Goggles · Ponytail · Bright Flash)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE A WINCH SYSTEM"193 + 306 = 499 (T) · 250 + 106 = 356 (N) · 571 + 352 = 923 (Y) · 288 + 423 = 711 (D) · 354 + 225 = 579 (S) · 378 + 531 = 909 (P) · 93 + 160 = 253 (I) · 145 + 335 = 480 (U) · 180 + 210 = 390 (M) · 351 + 396 = 747 (E) · 329 + 352 = 681 (H) · 289 + 319 = 608 (C) · 442 + 345 = 787 (A) · 187 + 219 = 406 (W) · 530 + 402 = 932 (O)
- Clue 2 (Place value): "THE WITNESS SAW THE TARGET WEARING GOGGLES"What is the value of the 6 in 8,673? = 600 (T) · What is the value of the 4 in 642? = 40 (H) · What is the value of the 8 in 585? = 80 (G) · What is the value of the 5 in 352? = 50 (L) · What is the value of the 3 in 382? = 300 (I) · What is the value of the 3 in 234? = 30 (R) · What is the value of the 5 in 570? = 500 (A) · What is the value of the 6 in 36,870? = 6000 (W) · What is the value of the 2 in 7,120? = 20 (S) · What is the value of the 1 in 517? = 10 (E) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,696? = 3000 (N) · What is the value of the 9 in 29,286? = 9000 (O)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "A BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT FAZED THE CHASER"Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (A) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (I) · Round 42 to the nearest ten = 40 (L) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (O) · Round 528 to the nearest hundred = 500 (C) · Round 59 to the nearest ten = 60 (T) · Round 80 to the nearest ten = 80 (F) · Round 2,182 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (R) · Round 229 to the nearest hundred = 200 (Z) · Round 3,942 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (H) · Round 6,421 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (E) · Round 6,695 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (G) · Round 577 to the nearest hundred = 600 (D) · Round 47 to the nearest ten = 50 (S) · Round 5,387 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (B)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A STRAND OF PONYTAIL HAIR WAS LEFT BEHIND"684 - 127 = 557 (A) · 499 - 198 = 301 (B) · 504 - 50 = 454 (E) · 158 - 5 = 153 (D) · 325 - 100 = 225 (F) · 1251 - 384 = 867 (I) · 933 - 88 = 845 (H) · 1280 - 400 = 880 (R) · 606 - 275 = 331 (T) · 778 - 177 = 601 (L) · 1136 - 315 = 821 (S) · 1193 - 400 = 793 (Y) · 438 - 250 = 188 (P) · 838 - 181 = 657 (O) · 717 - 370 = 347 (W) · 399 - 143 = 256 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Maya Lin6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 15 ÷ 3 = 5 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Place value, Rounding, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Tornado Alley Mystery — set in Storm Chase Command Trailer
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects