🔎 Poisonous pizzaGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationMulti-step word problemsWord problemsPlace valueDivision
The Case of the Poisonous Pizza
Someone is spiking the pizzas at the Pepperoni Palace with zany, green poison sauce! The Head Food Critic is about to take a bite. We must find the Rogue Chef before they ruin dinner!
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 | Poison Attack | Secret Ingredient | Pizza Cutter Hand | Messy Hair Color | Kitchen Counter-Attack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Tomato | Sleeping Cheese | Blue Mold | Right-Handed Cutter | Orange Hair | Soap Suds |
| Chef Gino | Mushroom Fog | Anchovy Acid | Left-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soda Splash |
| Patty Pan | Mushroom Fog | Ghost Pepper Dust | Right-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Fresh Basil |
| Crusty Carla | Slime Sauce | Blue Mold | Right-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soap Suds |
| Benny Baker | Mushroom Fog | Sour Pickle Juice | Right-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soap Suds |
| Chef Marco | Mushroom Fog | Anchovy Acid | Right-Handed Cutter | Purple Hair | Soda Splash |
| Chef Ronald | Sleeping Cheese | Blue Mold | Left-Handed Cutter | Purple Hair | Soap Suds |
| Chef Pierre | Mushroom Fog | Mustard Glaze | Right-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soda Splash |
| Chef Wendy | Mushroom Fog | Blue Mold | Left-Handed Cutter | Purple Hair | Fresh Basil |
| Olivia Oven | Slime Sauce | Anchovy Acid | Right-Handed Cutter | Orange Hair | Soda Splash |
| Billy Basil | Hot Pepper Blast | Anchovy Acid | Left-Handed Cutter | Orange Hair | Soda Splash |
| Chef Mario | Mushroom Fog | Sour Pickle Juice | Right-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soda Splash |
| Vicky Veggie | Mushroom Fog | Blue Mold | Left-Handed Cutter | Orange Hair | Fresh Basil |
| Chef Colonel | Sleeping Cheese | Blue Mold | Right-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soda Splash |
| Penny Pepperoni | Slime Sauce | Mustard Glaze | Right-Handed Cutter | Purple Hair | Fresh Basil |
| Freddy Flatbread | Sleeping Cheese | Ghost Pepper Dust | Left-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soap Suds |
| Gary Garlic | Hot Pepper Blast | Ghost Pepper Dust | Left-Handed Cutter | Purple Hair | Soda Splash |
| Danny Dough | Garlic Stink | Anchovy Acid | Left-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soap Suds |
| Bella Mozzarella | Hot Pepper Blast | Ghost Pepper Dust | Right-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soda Splash |
| Sammy Sauce | Mushroom Fog | Ghost Pepper Dust | Right-Handed Cutter | Orange Hair | Soap Suds |
| Chef Tony | Mushroom Fog | Blue Mold | Right-Handed Cutter | Green Hair | Soda Splash |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The suspect left stacks of poisonous pizza boxes in the pantry. We can find the total number of boxes by counting the neat rows.
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
36
30
81
50
120
121
121
16
120
25
11
3
81
7
25
3
T
36
77
7
81
7
3
77
88
56
120
144
18
121
81
27
77
120
144
81
3 × 12 =T
12 × 12 =C
6 × 3 =K
3 × 10 =H
5 × 10 =V
7 × 1 =S
8 × 11 =R
3 × 1 =O
7 × 8 =P
10 × 12 =I
11 × 1 =D
9 × 9 =E
3 × 9 =J
7 × 11 =U
5 × 5 =N
11 × 11 =L
4 × 4 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
We found a recipe card for the poison glaze. It tells us to add bags of salt, subtract the spilled ones, and double the rest.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
7
9
30
16
13
16
29
36
D
E
D
C
U
13
13
E
R
7
Chef Pizza-Pants collected 10 dough balls in the morning and 4 dough balls in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 The Crust Crusaders. How many dough balls did each get?R
There were 122 aprons in all. 32 aprons were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 The Crust Crusaders. How many aprons did each get?I
There were 51 aprons in all. 3 aprons were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 The Crust Crusaders. How many aprons did each get?H
There were 196 boxes in all. 16 boxes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 The Crust Crusaders. How many boxes did each get?G
There were 154 dough balls in all. 24 dough balls were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 The Crust Crusaders. How many dough balls did each get?T
There were 204 slices in all. 3 The Crust Crusaders used 39 slices each. The other 3 The Crust Crusaders shared the rest equally. How many slices did each of the other The Crust Crusaders get?A
Chef Pizza-Pants earned 4 pepperonis in each of 5 rounds, plus 21 bonus pepperonis. Then 5 pepperonis were lost. How many pepperonis are left?N
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
A delivery truck dropped a box of clues on the highway. We must compare the distances of the delivery trucks to catch up.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith.
S
14
17
76
66
S
14
52
74
66
S
14
49
Chef Pizza-Pants found 10 slices yesterday and 4 more today. How many slices in all?S
Chef Pizza-Pants lined up 7 rows of 7 aprons. How many aprons in all?H
There were 91 slices. 17 were used up. How many slices are left?L
Chef Pizza-Pants found 3 dough balls yesterday and 49 more today. How many dough balls in all?P
There were 113 boxes. 37 were used up. How many boxes are left?D
There were 97 slices. 31 were used up. How many slices are left?A
Chef Pizza-Pants found 2 dough balls yesterday and 15 more today. How many dough balls in all?O
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Place value
The digital oven timer is blinking with a weird code. We need to look closely at the digit in the tens place to unlock it.
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
50
8000
300
20
60
300
80
300
8000
900
20
3000
800
300
300
80
8000
900
200
800
2000
80
T
50
8000
300
30
6000
2000
2000
800
What is the value of the 5 in 657?T
What is the value of the 3 in 304?E
What is the value of the 8 in 98,199?H
What is the value of the 8 in 582?N
What is the value of the 9 in 928?A
What is the value of the 6 in 26,748?L
What is the value of the 2 in 128?S
What is the value of the 8 in 9,835?R
What is the value of the 3 in 3,961?G
What is the value of the 3 in 731?F
What is the value of the 2 in 2,957?O
What is the value of the 6 in 1,060?C
What is the value of the 2 in 246?I
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The pizza crusts must be shared equally among the kitchen helpers. We have to divide them up to see who gets the extra piece.
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
27 ÷ 3 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
6 ÷ 2 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
8 ÷ 2 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sprays poisonous slime sauce, then spreads blue mold.
2.The villain sprays poisonous slime sauce, then splashes anchovy acid.
3.The villain tosses sleeping cheese, then dribbles sour pickle juice.
4.The villain throws a hot pepper blast, then dribbles sour pickle juice.
5.The villain throws a hot pepper blast, then sprinkles ghost pepper dust.
6.The villain blows mushroom fog, then dribbles sour pickle juice.
7.The villain sprays poisonous slime sauce, then pours mustard glaze.
8.The villain sprays poisonous slime sauce, then dribbles sour pickle juice.
9.The villain blows mushroom fog, then pours mustard glaze.
10.The villain blows mushroom fog, then sprinkles ghost pepper dust.
11.The villain blows mushroom fog, then spreads blue mold.
12.The villain tosses sleeping cheese, then spreads blue mold.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Poisonous Pizza
Culprit: Chef Tony (Mushroom Fog · Blue Mold · Right-Handed Cutter · Green Hair · Soda Splash)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE SOUR PICKLE JUICE"3 × 12 = 36 (T) · 12 × 12 = 144 (C) · 6 × 3 = 18 (K) · 3 × 10 = 30 (H) · 5 × 10 = 50 (V) · 7 × 1 = 7 (S) · 8 × 11 = 88 (R) · 3 × 1 = 3 (O) · 7 × 8 = 56 (P) · 10 × 12 = 120 (I) · 11 × 1 = 11 (D) · 9 × 9 = 81 (E) · 3 × 9 = 27 (J) · 7 × 11 = 77 (U) · 5 × 5 = 25 (N) · 11 × 11 = 121 (L) · 4 × 4 = 16 (A)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "RIGHT HANDED CUTTER"Chef Pizza-Pants collected 10 dough balls in the morning and 4 dough balls in the afternoon, then split them equally among 2 The Crust Crusaders. How many dough balls did each get? = 7 (R) · There were 122 aprons in all. 32 aprons were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 The Crust Crusaders. How many aprons did each get? = 9 (I) · There were 51 aprons in all. 3 aprons were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 The Crust Crusaders. How many aprons did each get? = 16 (H) · There were 196 boxes in all. 16 boxes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 The Crust Crusaders. How many boxes did each get? = 30 (G) · There were 154 dough balls in all. 24 dough balls were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 The Crust Crusaders. How many dough balls did each get? = 13 (T) · There were 204 slices in all. 3 The Crust Crusaders used 39 slices each. The other 3 The Crust Crusaders shared the rest equally. How many slices did each of the other The Crust Crusaders get? = 29 (A) · Chef Pizza-Pants earned 4 pepperonis in each of 5 rounds, plus 21 bonus pepperonis. Then 5 pepperonis were lost. How many pepperonis are left? = 36 (N)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "SODA SPLASH"Chef Pizza-Pants found 10 slices yesterday and 4 more today. How many slices in all? = 14 (S) · Chef Pizza-Pants lined up 7 rows of 7 aprons. How many aprons in all? = 49 (H) · There were 91 slices. 17 were used up. How many slices are left? = 74 (L) · Chef Pizza-Pants found 3 dough balls yesterday and 49 more today. How many dough balls in all? = 52 (P) · There were 113 boxes. 37 were used up. How many boxes are left? = 76 (D) · There were 97 slices. 31 were used up. How many slices are left? = 66 (A) · Chef Pizza-Pants found 2 dough balls yesterday and 15 more today. How many dough balls in all? = 17 (O)
- Clue 4 (Place value): "THE SCENE HAS GREEN HAIR ON THE FLOOR"What is the value of the 5 in 657? = 50 (T) · What is the value of the 3 in 304? = 300 (E) · What is the value of the 8 in 98,199? = 8000 (H) · What is the value of the 8 in 582? = 80 (N) · What is the value of the 9 in 928? = 900 (A) · What is the value of the 6 in 26,748? = 6000 (L) · What is the value of the 2 in 128? = 20 (S) · What is the value of the 8 in 9,835? = 800 (R) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,961? = 3000 (G) · What is the value of the 3 in 731? = 30 (F) · What is the value of the 2 in 2,957? = 2000 (O) · What is the value of the 6 in 1,060? = 60 (C) · What is the value of the 2 in 246? = 200 (I)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Chef Tony27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Multi-step word problems, Word problems, Place value, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Poisonous Pizza — set in The greasy, glowing kitchens of Pepperoni Palace
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects