🔎 Albuquerque NMGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4Place valueSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Balloon Fiesta Mystery
Oh no! The golden trophy for the grand balloon race has gone missing right from the launch field! A dusty footprint leads toward the Sandia Mountains. It is up to you to crack the case and find the thief before the final flight!
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 | desert specialty | bonus skill | sun gear | desert hair | secret weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Sage | tram operating | flute playing | tinted visor | spiky black hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Rusty Trail | roadrunner tracking | star gazing | tinted visor | spiky black hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Sienna Soil | chile roasting | flute playing | tinted visor | dusty silver hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Billie Cactus | balloon piloting | flute playing | tinted visor | dusty silver hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Jade Arroyo | chile roasting | clay sculpting | sports sunglasses | braided brown hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Diego Canyon | roadrunner tracking | desert navigation | tinted visor | spiky black hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Rio Cooper | roadrunner tracking | desert navigation | tinted visor | dusty silver hair | avoids spicy food |
| Rosa Roadrunner | turquoise carving | flute playing | tinted visor | braided brown hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Clara Chile | turquoise carving | star gazing | tinted visor | dusty silver hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Cody Coyote | turquoise carving | fossil finding | tinted visor | dusty silver hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Sasha Sky | turquoise carving | flute playing | sports sunglasses | spiky black hair | avoids spicy food |
| Tomas Turquoise | balloon piloting | fossil finding | sports sunglasses | spiky black hair | avoids spicy food |
| Mateo Peak | tram operating | clay sculpting | tinted visor | dusty silver hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Zia Miller | turquoise carving | star gazing | sports sunglasses | spiky black hair | avoids spicy food |
| Maya Balloonist | balloon piloting | flute playing | sports sunglasses | dusty silver hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Pippa Pinon | tram operating | flute playing | sports sunglasses | braided brown hair | avoids spicy food |
| Sonia Sandia | balloon piloting | flute playing | tinted visor | braided brown hair | fear of heights |
| Toby Tramway | tram operating | desert navigation | sports sunglasses | braided brown hair | avoids spicy food |
| Dax Desert | roadrunner tracking | clay sculpting | sports sunglasses | braided brown hair | avoids spicy food |
| Gaby Gust | chile roasting | flute playing | tinted visor | braided brown hair | sneezes at sagebrush |
| Nina North | balloon piloting | star gazing | tinted visor | dusty silver hair | avoids spicy food |
Clue 1
Place value
Ranger Rita finds a mysterious code locked on the balloon launchpad console. The code uses place value blocks representing the altitude of the thief's escape. Let's count the hundreds, tens, and ones to unlock 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
60
4000
700
40
800
900
3000
900
T
60
4000
6000
100
700
400
900
600
600
7000
500
400
7000
3000
800
7000
3000
90
600
20
7000
500
500
600
What is the value of the 6 in 5,863?T
What is the value of the 2 in 4,423?K
What is the value of the 8 in 836?D
What is the value of the 3 in 13,125?N
What is the value of the 1 in 158?V
What is the value of the 9 in 981?O
What is the value of the 7 in 17,089?I
What is the value of the 9 in 291?G
What is the value of the 6 in 684?S
What is the value of the 5 in 541?L
What is the value of the 4 in 54,668?H
What is the value of the 7 in 6,701?E
What is the value of the 4 in 6,429?F
What is the value of the 6 in 16,592?A
What is the value of the 4 in 2,540?Y
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
The Bandit dropped several items while escaping into the foothills. Ranger Rita subtracts the weights of the remaining gear from the total weight to see how much was left behind. Solve the problem to find a 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
356
150
477
304
112
211
211
493
112
482
347
409
223
477
493
T
356
112
482
T
356
477
880
304
112
762
409
223
409
821
T
356
762
112
880
477
362 - 6 =T
596 - 385 =L
736 - 327 =O
1152 - 331 =U
1128 - 366 =S
1037 - 157 =D
474 - 362 =I
843 - 366 =E
317 - 13 =V
692 - 210 =N
356 - 133 =R
671 - 324 =W
234 - 84 =H
679 - 186 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The grand balloon launch is organized in neat rows on the grassy field. Ranger Rita multiplies the number of rows by the balloons in each row to count the total fleet. Finding the total reveals a secret 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
54
7
84
110
35
110
44
84
63
T
54
63
22
35
30
7
84
2
22
96
110
90
30
84
99
50
35
110
7
2
35
110
T
54
6 × 9 =T
2 × 1 =D
9 × 10 =A
7 × 12 =E
1 × 7 =H
7 × 5 =U
5 × 10 =R
11 × 10 =S
12 × 8 =N
11 × 2 =O
11 × 4 =P
10 × 3 =G
11 × 9 =B
9 × 7 =C
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The wind dials on the control tower are tricky to read. Ranger Rita has to round each wind speed to the nearest ten to make sure it is safe to fly. Solve the rounding puzzle to see what the Bandit left behind!
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
90
300
8000
50
70
20
50
6000
200
3000
600
400
60
A
90
6000
400
2000
200
8000
30
9000
70
700
70
60
600
7000
A
90
4000
Round 89 to the nearest tenA
Round 24 to the nearest tenY
Round 53 to the nearest tenS
Round 3,497 to the nearest thousandV
Round 4,116 to the nearest thousandP
Round 67 to the nearest tenT
Round 34 to the nearest tenN
Round 7,322 to the nearest thousandM
Round 2,422 to the nearest thousandC
Round 6,118 to the nearest thousandI
Round 7,716 to the nearest thousandU
Round 363 to the nearest hundredR
Round 702 to the nearest hundredO
Round 613 to the nearest hundredE
Round 8,955 to the nearest thousandG
Round 225 to the nearest hundredL
Round 274 to the nearest hundredD
Round 57 to the nearest tenH
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The search team wants to split up the canyon map into equal sections so everyone has a spot to search. Help Ranger Rita divide the grid evenly to locate the final hideout!
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
72 ÷ 8 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
88 ÷ 8 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
5 ÷ 5 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
6 ÷ 2 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fires up the giant chile roasters, then digs up an ancient dinosaur bone.
2.The villain follows roadrunner tracks in the dust, then points out the brightest stars in the sky.
3.The villain follows roadrunner tracks in the dust, then shapes a quick clay pot to hide inside.
4.The villain fires up the giant chile roasters, then maps a secret path through the canyons.
5.The villain steers a colorful balloon over the river, then plays a lively tune on a wooden flute.
6.The villain speeds up the sandia tram car, then shapes a quick clay pot to hide inside.
7.The villain steers a colorful balloon over the river, then maps a secret path through the canyons.
8.The villain follows roadrunner tracks in the dust, then maps a secret path through the canyons.
9.The villain fires up the giant chile roasters, then plays a lively tune on a wooden flute.
10.The villain follows roadrunner tracks in the dust, then digs up an ancient dinosaur bone.
11.The villain polishes shiny blue turquoise stones, then points out the brightest stars in the sky.
12.The villain steers a colorful balloon over the river, then points out the brightest stars in the sky.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Balloon Fiesta Mystery
Culprit: Mateo Peak (tram operating · clay sculpting · tinted visor · dusty silver hair · sneezes at sagebrush)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THEY DO NOT HAVE FOSSIL FINDING SKILLS"What is the value of the 6 in 5,863? = 60 (T) · What is the value of the 2 in 4,423? = 20 (K) · What is the value of the 8 in 836? = 800 (D) · What is the value of the 3 in 13,125? = 3000 (N) · What is the value of the 1 in 158? = 100 (V) · What is the value of the 9 in 981? = 900 (O) · What is the value of the 7 in 17,089? = 7000 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 291? = 90 (G) · What is the value of the 6 in 684? = 600 (S) · What is the value of the 5 in 541? = 500 (L) · What is the value of the 4 in 54,668? = 4000 (H) · What is the value of the 7 in 6,701? = 700 (E) · What is the value of the 4 in 6,429? = 400 (F) · What is the value of the 6 in 16,592? = 6000 (A) · What is the value of the 4 in 2,540? = 40 (Y)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN WORE A TINTED VISOR OUTSIDE"362 - 6 = 356 (T) · 596 - 385 = 211 (L) · 736 - 327 = 409 (O) · 1152 - 331 = 821 (U) · 1128 - 366 = 762 (S) · 1037 - 157 = 880 (D) · 474 - 362 = 112 (I) · 843 - 366 = 477 (E) · 317 - 13 = 304 (V) · 692 - 210 = 482 (N) · 356 - 133 = 223 (R) · 671 - 324 = 347 (W) · 234 - 84 = 150 (H) · 679 - 186 = 493 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT COUGHED ON SAGEBRUSH DUST"6 × 9 = 54 (T) · 2 × 1 = 2 (D) · 9 × 10 = 90 (A) · 7 × 12 = 84 (E) · 1 × 7 = 7 (H) · 7 × 5 = 35 (U) · 5 × 10 = 50 (R) · 11 × 10 = 110 (S) · 12 × 8 = 96 (N) · 11 × 2 = 22 (O) · 11 × 4 = 44 (P) · 10 × 3 = 30 (G) · 11 × 9 = 99 (B) · 9 × 7 = 63 (C)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A DUSTY SILVER HAIR CLUNG TO THE MAP"Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (Y) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (S) · Round 3,497 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (V) · Round 4,116 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (P) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (T) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 7,322 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (M) · Round 2,422 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (C) · Round 6,118 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (I) · Round 7,716 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (U) · Round 363 to the nearest hundred = 400 (R) · Round 702 to the nearest hundred = 700 (O) · Round 613 to the nearest hundred = 600 (E) · Round 8,955 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (G) · Round 225 to the nearest hundred = 200 (L) · Round 274 to the nearest hundred = 300 (D) · Round 57 to the nearest ten = 60 (H)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Mateo Peak72 ÷ 8 = 9 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 5 ÷ 5 = 1 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Balloon Fiesta Mystery — set in The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects