🔎 AirplanesGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Case of the Lost Golden Propeller

Someone took the famous Golden Propeller right off the trophy wall in the big hangar! The Propeller County Airfield is in a panic, and Chief Mechanic Barnaby needs your help to find the sneaky sky pirate before they fly away into the clouds!

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	Specialty Plane	Flight Gear	Steering Hand	Hair Color	Flight Fear
Baron	stunt jet	co-pilot map	right-handed stick	neon yellow dye	distracted by birds
Buzz	turbo prop	co-pilot map	left-handed stick	red ponytail	hates bumpy air
Skipper	turbo prop	wind socks	right-handed stick	red ponytail	distracted by birds
Cloud	sea plane	wind socks	right-handed stick	silver buzzcut	distracted by birds
Amelia	sea plane	radar watch	right-handed stick	neon yellow dye	fear of thick fog
Wing	biplane	co-pilot map	left-handed stick	neon yellow dye	hates bumpy air
Sky	cargo glider	radar watch	left-handed stick	red ponytail	distracted by birds
Tex	stunt jet	co-pilot map	right-handed stick	neon yellow dye	fear of thick fog
Orville	biplane	co-pilot map	left-handed stick	silver buzzcut	fear of thick fog
Maverick	turbo prop	wind socks	left-handed stick	neon yellow dye	fear of thick fog
Jet	stunt jet	wind socks	right-handed stick	red ponytail	fear of thick fog
Dusty	cargo glider	radar watch	right-handed stick	red ponytail	distracted by birds
Charles	stunt jet	radar watch	right-handed stick	neon yellow dye	hates bumpy air
Piper	biplane	radar watch	left-handed stick	neon yellow dye	fear of thick fog
Chuck	stunt jet	co-pilot map	left-handed stick	neon yellow dye	fear of thick fog
Aero	turbo prop	propeller pin	left-handed stick	neon yellow dye	fear of thick fog
Wilbur	sea plane	radar watch	left-handed stick	neon yellow dye	hates bumpy air
Buster	biplane	wind socks	left-handed stick	neon yellow dye	distracted by birds
Dash	stunt jet	gps tablet	right-handed stick	silver buzzcut	hates bumpy air
Solo	cargo glider	gps tablet	left-handed stick	neon yellow dye	fear of thick fog
Sally	sea plane	propeller pin	right-handed stick	neon yellow dye	fear of thick fog

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We need to count the rows of planes parked in the hangar. Let us find the total to get our 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.

120

144

132

144

132

7 × 11 =T

7 × 6 =L

4 × 2 =H

12 × 12 =S

4 × 8 =I

8 × 10 =U

12 × 8 =B

4 × 5 =D

1 × 7 =N

8 × 8 =O

12 × 2 =E

8 × 2 =G

12 × 10 =F

9 × 6 =P

12 × 11 =A

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Rounding

The altimeter screen is fuzzy. Round the altitude numbers to the nearest ten to read the secret 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.

6000

700

500

2000

6000

500

2000

900

8000

3000

2000

800

600

5000

8000

500

700

Round 46 to the nearest tenT

Round 5,762 to the nearest thousandH

Round 2,755 to the nearest thousandS

Round 829 to the nearest hundredN

Round 658 to the nearest hundredF

Round 637 to the nearest hundredD

Round 870 to the nearest hundredW

Round 5,458 to the nearest thousandB

Round 29 to the nearest tenO

Round 62 to the nearest tenY

Round 20 to the nearest tenE

Round 70 to the nearest tenI

Round 7,993 to the nearest thousandA

Round 489 to the nearest hundredL

Round 1,854 to the nearest thousandG

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

Let us add up the total weight of the luggage bags loaded onto the cargo plane to unlock this 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.

678

935

464

825

386

867

464

307

910

501

843

343

633

873

464

356

343

843

678

935

464

935

464

501

268

867

825

492

330

289 + 389 =T

229 + 101 =G

404 + 469 =K

305 + 630 =H

215 + 277 =O

236 + 228 =E

182 + 174 =D

297 + 546 =N

156 + 151 =R

574 + 251 =F

160 + 108 =V

389 + 244 =C

334 + 576 =P

348 + 153 =A

145 + 241 =L

421 + 446 =Y

238 + 105 =I

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

Subtract the fuel we used from the starting tank amount to see how much we have left.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

335

136

511

673

395

778

357

136

659

494

511

673

395

285

335

778

632

395

335

509

110

654

790

276

110

673

551

778

335

511

548 - 213 =A

1000 - 341 =Y

767 - 216 =D

575 - 81 =E

751 - 78 =O

673 - 397 =K

368 - 83 =H

775 - 264 =L

867 - 77 =C

1050 - 272 =I

605 - 248 =N

173 - 63 =T

652 - 143 =S

271 - 135 =G

715 - 320 =W

994 - 362 =R

690 - 36 =U

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

If we share the flight maps equally among the rescue teams, how many does each pilot get?

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

56 ÷ 7 = ?

48 ÷ 4 = ?

4 ÷ 1 = ?

12 ÷ 6 = ?

14 ÷ 2 = ?

15 ÷ 5 = ?

9 ÷ 9 = ?

35 ÷ 7 = ?

110 ÷ 11 = ?

54 ÷ 9 = ?

72 ÷ 8 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain buzzes the runway lights, then blowing a loud foghorn.

2.The villain buzzes the runway lights, then waving a white scarf.

3.The villain takes off in a steep climb, then leaving a trail of pink smoke.

4.The villain takes off in a steep climb, then blowing a loud foghorn.

5.The villain zooms past the control tower, then leaving a trail of pink smoke.

6.The villain swoops low over the cornfield, then waving a white scarf.

7.The villain zooms past the control tower, then waving a white scarf.

8.The villain takes off in a steep climb, then waving a white scarf.

9.The villain buzzes the runway lights, then leaving a trail of pink smoke.

10.The villain swoops low over the cornfield, then dropping paper airplanes.

11.The villain zooms past the control tower, then dropping paper airplanes.

12.The villain loops around the big hangar, then leaving a trail of pink smoke.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Lost Golden Propeller

Culprit: Piper (biplane · radar watch · left-handed stick · neon yellow dye · fear of thick fog)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE A GPS TABLET"
7 × 11 = 77 (T) · 7 × 6 = 42 (L) · 4 × 2 = 8 (H) · 12 × 12 = 144 (S) · 4 × 8 = 32 (I) · 8 × 10 = 80 (U) · 12 × 8 = 96 (B) · 4 × 5 = 20 (D) · 1 × 7 = 7 (N) · 8 × 8 = 64 (O) · 12 × 2 = 24 (E) · 8 × 2 = 16 (G) · 12 × 10 = 120 (F) · 9 × 6 = 54 (P) · 12 × 11 = 132 (A)
Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE FLIGHT LOG WAS SIGNED BY A LEFTY"
Round 46 to the nearest ten = 50 (T) · Round 5,762 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (H) · Round 2,755 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (S) · Round 829 to the nearest hundred = 800 (N) · Round 658 to the nearest hundred = 700 (F) · Round 637 to the nearest hundred = 600 (D) · Round 870 to the nearest hundred = 900 (W) · Round 5,458 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (B) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (O) · Round 62 to the nearest ten = 60 (Y) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (E) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (I) · Round 7,993 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (A) · Round 489 to the nearest hundred = 500 (L) · Round 1,854 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (G)
Clue 3 (Addition): "THE FLYER PANICKED IN THE HEAVY FOG"
289 + 389 = 678 (T) · 229 + 101 = 330 (G) · 404 + 469 = 873 (K) · 305 + 630 = 935 (H) · 215 + 277 = 492 (O) · 236 + 228 = 464 (E) · 182 + 174 = 356 (D) · 297 + 546 = 843 (N) · 156 + 151 = 307 (R) · 574 + 251 = 825 (F) · 160 + 108 = 268 (V) · 389 + 244 = 633 (C) · 334 + 576 = 910 (P) · 348 + 153 = 501 (A) · 145 + 241 = 386 (L) · 421 + 446 = 867 (Y) · 238 + 105 = 343 (I)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A GLOWING YELLOW HAIR WAS STUCK TO DIAL"
548 - 213 = 335 (A) · 1000 - 341 = 659 (Y) · 767 - 216 = 551 (D) · 575 - 81 = 494 (E) · 751 - 78 = 673 (O) · 673 - 397 = 276 (K) · 368 - 83 = 285 (H) · 775 - 264 = 511 (L) · 867 - 77 = 790 (C) · 1050 - 272 = 778 (I) · 605 - 248 = 357 (N) · 173 - 63 = 110 (T) · 652 - 143 = 509 (S) · 271 - 135 = 136 (G) · 715 - 320 = 395 (W) · 994 - 362 = 632 (R) · 690 - 36 = 654 (U)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Piper
56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 72 ÷ 8 = 9

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 3 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Lost Golden Propeller — set in Propeller County Airfield
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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