🦄 UnicornsGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionWord problemsRoundingMissing addends

The Case of the Missing Paintbrush

The Golden Paintbrush has been snatched from the Rainbow Waterfall! The herd is in a huge panic because without it, the meadows will lose their color. A rogue unicorn did it. We need to find the thief before all the flowers turn gray!

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	Magic Blast	Special Skill	Horseshoe Type	Mane Color	Secret Weakness
Amethyst	glitter dash	sweet song	wears silver horseshoe	blue mane	sour berries
Barnaby	glitter dash	sweet song	wears gold horseshoe	blue mane	tickle grass
Luna	rainbow blast	mist summon	wears silver horseshoe	pink mane	tickle grass
Stardust	cloud float	speedy teleport	wears silver horseshoe	purple mane	sour berries
Twinkle	rainbow blast	levitating stones	wears gold horseshoe	blue mane	tickle grass
Comet	crystal grow	levitating stones	wears gold horseshoe	blue mane	tickle grass
Dawn	glitter dash	speedy teleport	wears silver horseshoe	blue mane	tickle grass
Trixie	star glow	sweet song	wears gold horseshoe	pink mane	tickle grass
Clara	star glow	mist summon	wears silver horseshoe	pink mane	tickle grass
Breezy	crystal grow	speedy teleport	wears gold horseshoe	purple mane	tickle grass
Celeste	cloud float	mist summon	wears silver horseshoe	blue mane	sour berries
Sunny	rainbow blast	bubble shield	wears gold horseshoe	blue mane	tickle grass
Buttercup	rainbow blast	levitating stones	wears silver horseshoe	purple mane	tickle grass
Prancer	star glow	speedy teleport	wears gold horseshoe	blue mane	tickle grass
Nova	rainbow blast	levitating stones	wears silver horseshoe	pink mane	sleepy music
Flora	star glow	sweet song	wears gold horseshoe	purple mane	sleepy music
Ziggy	star glow	levitating stones	wears gold horseshoe	purple mane	sour berries
Pip	rainbow blast	sweet song	wears gold horseshoe	blue mane	sleepy music
Pixie	cloud float	speedy teleport	wears silver horseshoe	purple mane	tickle grass
Jewel	rainbow blast	bubble shield	wears gold horseshoe	pink mane	tickle grass
Willa	star glow	bubble shield	wears gold horseshoe	purple mane	tickle grass

Clue 1

Addition

The Pixie Patrol is counting the glitter berries left in the basket. Let us add up the total berries to uncover our first major 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.

927

771

509

927

771

250

509

899

643

576

509

878

321

576

927

771

815

608

509

815

806

961

806

475

509

878

771

250

509

475

643

352 + 575 =T

446 + 453 =F

495 + 466 =U

169 + 340 =E

134 + 116 =I

293 + 283 =O

223 + 385 =V

513 + 365 =S

330 + 476 =B

150 + 325 =L

101 + 220 =N

423 + 348 =H

265 + 378 =D

527 + 288 =A

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Subtraction

We had a big pile of magic horseshoe nails, but some fell into the river. Let us subtract the lost nails to find the next 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.

374

718

786

672

628

656

851

428

759

590

813

428

489

658

816

672

628

489

288

374

718

759

151

813

489

374

489

786

151

718

602

151

628

151

610 - 236 =A

739 - 21 =S

1169 - 353 =R

463 - 175 =W

971 - 315 =Y

696 - 94 =C

544 - 393 =E

892 - 106 =H

969 - 341 =N

987 - 174 =F

903 - 245 =P

990 - 318 =I

837 - 78 =L

774 - 285 =T

827 - 399 =O

1043 - 192 =G

715 - 125 =D

0/17 letters found

Clue 3

Word problems

A helpful little fairy needs us to solve a quick story puzzle about unicorn toys to reveal the next piece of evidence.

Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.

Someonescaredthevillainoffwith

The stable pixie lined up 4 rows of 9 sparkle carrots. How many sparkle carrots in all?T

There were 90 magic horseshoes. 34 were used up. How many magic horseshoes are left?L

The stable pixie lined up 4 rows of 2 magic horseshoes. How many magic horseshoes in all?C

The stable pixie found 12 sparkle carrots yesterday and 35 more today. How many sparkle carrots in all?E

The stable pixie found 10 rainbow crystals yesterday and 31 more today. How many rainbow crystals in all?G

The stable pixie lined up 8 rows of 4 rainbow crystals. How many rainbow crystals in all?I

There were 87 sparkle carrots. 9 were used up. How many sparkle carrots are left?K

0/7 letters found

Clue 4

Rounding

Our ancient crystal ball shows the distance to the thief, but it only shows numbers rounded to the nearest ten. Round this number to see!

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

700

600

900

200

6000

700

500

200

9000

200

700

8000

700

900

4000

9000

2000

500

9000

200

600

700

500

9000

Round 727 to the nearest hundredA

Round 34 to the nearest tenR

Round 9,144 to the nearest thousandH

Round 41 to the nearest tenT

Round 6,443 to the nearest thousandM

Round 81 to the nearest tenL

Round 649 to the nearest hundredB

Round 862 to the nearest hundredU

Round 58 to the nearest tenC

Round 49 to the nearest tenW

Round 158 to the nearest hundredE

Round 7,545 to the nearest thousandD

Round 21 to the nearest tenS

Round 4,397 to the nearest thousandG

Round 1,999 to the nearest thousandO

Round 457 to the nearest hundredN

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Missing addends — the last clue

We need exactly fifteen sparkles to power up the magic tracking compass. Find the missing number of sparkles to reveal 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

8 + ___ = 19

6 + ___ = 18

3 + ___ = 6

3 + ___ = 9

9 + ___ = 14

10 + ___ = 19

1 + ___ = 8

1 + ___ = 9

1 + ___ = 5

9 + ___ = 19

10 + ___ = 11

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain creates a path of growing crystals, then teleports across the meadow.

2.The villain shoots a bright rainbow blast, then lifts up heavy river stones.

3.The villain makes their horn glow like a star, then teleports across the meadow.

4.The villain floats up high on a cloud, then creates a protective bubble.

5.The villain floats up high on a cloud, then teleports across the meadow.

6.The villain performs a super glitter dash, then teleports across the meadow.

7.The villain performs a super glitter dash, then summons a thick purple mist.

8.The villain floats up high on a cloud, then summons a thick purple mist.

9.The villain shoots a bright rainbow blast, then teleports across the meadow.

10.The villain creates a path of growing crystals, then creates a protective bubble.

11.The villain creates a path of growing crystals, then lifts up heavy river stones.

12.The villain performs a super glitter dash, then sings a beautiful sweet song.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Paintbrush

Culprit: Twinkle (rainbow blast · levitating stones · wears gold horseshoe · blue mane · tickle grass)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE A BUBBLE SHIELD"
352 + 575 = 927 (T) · 446 + 453 = 899 (F) · 495 + 466 = 961 (U) · 169 + 340 = 509 (E) · 134 + 116 = 250 (I) · 293 + 283 = 576 (O) · 223 + 385 = 608 (V) · 513 + 365 = 878 (S) · 330 + 476 = 806 (B) · 150 + 325 = 475 (L) · 101 + 220 = 321 (N) · 423 + 348 = 771 (H) · 265 + 378 = 643 (D) · 527 + 288 = 815 (A)
Clue 2 (Subtraction): "A SHINY GOLD FOOTPRINT WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE"
610 - 236 = 374 (A) · 739 - 21 = 718 (S) · 1169 - 353 = 816 (R) · 463 - 175 = 288 (W) · 971 - 315 = 656 (Y) · 696 - 94 = 602 (C) · 544 - 393 = 151 (E) · 892 - 106 = 786 (H) · 969 - 341 = 628 (N) · 987 - 174 = 813 (F) · 903 - 245 = 658 (P) · 990 - 318 = 672 (I) · 837 - 78 = 759 (L) · 774 - 285 = 489 (T) · 827 - 399 = 428 (O) · 1043 - 192 = 851 (G) · 715 - 125 = 590 (D)
Clue 3 (Word problems): "TICKLE GRASS"
The stable pixie lined up 4 rows of 9 sparkle carrots. How many sparkle carrots in all? = 36 (T) · There were 90 magic horseshoes. 34 were used up. How many magic horseshoes are left? = 56 (L) · The stable pixie lined up 4 rows of 2 magic horseshoes. How many magic horseshoes in all? = 8 (C) · The stable pixie found 12 sparkle carrots yesterday and 35 more today. How many sparkle carrots in all? = 47 (E) · The stable pixie found 10 rainbow crystals yesterday and 31 more today. How many rainbow crystals in all? = 41 (G) · The stable pixie lined up 8 rows of 4 rainbow crystals. How many rainbow crystals in all? = 32 (I) · There were 87 sparkle carrots. 9 were used up. How many sparkle carrots are left? = 78 (K)
Clue 4 (Rounding): "A BLUE MANE THREAD WAS CAUGHT ON THE BRANCH"
Round 727 to the nearest hundred = 700 (A) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (R) · Round 9,144 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (H) · Round 41 to the nearest ten = 40 (T) · Round 6,443 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (M) · Round 81 to the nearest ten = 80 (L) · Round 649 to the nearest hundred = 600 (B) · Round 862 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 58 to the nearest ten = 60 (C) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (W) · Round 158 to the nearest hundred = 200 (E) · Round 7,545 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (D) · Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (S) · Round 4,397 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (G) · Round 1,999 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (O) · Round 457 to the nearest hundred = 500 (N)
Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 2) → Twinkle
8 + ___ = 19 = 11 · 6 + ___ = 18 = 12 · 3 + ___ = 6 = 3 · 3 + ___ = 9 = 6 · 9 + ___ = 14 = 5 · 10 + ___ = 19 = 9 · 1 + ___ = 8 = 7 · 1 + ___ = 9 = 8 · 1 + ___ = 5 = 4 · 9 + ___ = 19 = 10 · 10 + ___ = 11 = 1

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 3 math
Math topics: Addition, Subtraction, Word problems, Rounding, Missing addends
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Missing Paintbrush — set in the Sparkling Meadow of Glitterwood
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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