🚀 SpaceGrade 6Reading: grades 3-4Place valuePercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsDivision
The Cosmic Crystal Caper
Someone has stolen the hyper-drive crystal from the Starship Nebula! The Chief Astrophysicist needs your help. We must scan the space crew to find the Cosmic Saboteur before they warp away.
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 Space Gear | Secondary Tool | Laser Alignment | Spacesuit Hair Color | Defensive Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Collins | gravity boots | stellar radio | left-handed laser | meteor black hair | freeze rays |
| Guion Bluford | jetpack thrusters | nebula compass | right-handed laser | neon blue hair | freeze rays |
| Neil Armstrong | gravity boots | laser cutter | left-handed laser | neon blue hair | magnetic nets |
| Mary Jackson | jetpack thrusters | laser cutter | right-handed laser | neon blue hair | gravity traps |
| Peggy Whitson | sonic scanner | space wrench | right-handed laser | meteor black hair | freeze rays |
| Caroline Herschel | gravity boots | nebula compass | right-handed laser | cosmic silver hair | magnetic nets |
| Ellen Ochoa | force shield | laser cutter | left-handed laser | meteor black hair | magnetic nets |
| Dorothy Vaughan | sonic scanner | nebula compass | right-handed laser | meteor black hair | freeze rays |
| Valentina Tereshkova | sonic scanner | space wrench | left-handed laser | neon blue hair | gravity traps |
| John Glenn | force shield | stellar radio | left-handed laser | meteor black hair | freeze rays |
| Mae Jemison | force shield | space wrench | right-handed laser | meteor black hair | gravity traps |
| Buzz Aldrin | sonic scanner | stellar radio | left-handed laser | neon blue hair | freeze rays |
| Annie Cannon | jetpack thrusters | stellar radio | left-handed laser | neon blue hair | freeze rays |
| Alan Shepard | gravity boots | laser cutter | right-handed laser | neon blue hair | magnetic nets |
| Edwin Hubble | force shield | nebula compass | right-handed laser | meteor black hair | magnetic nets |
| Vera Rubin | plasma torch | quantum map | right-handed laser | meteor black hair | freeze rays |
| Carl Sagan | plasma torch | nebula compass | left-handed laser | meteor black hair | freeze rays |
| Katherine Johnson | jetpack thrusters | laser cutter | left-handed laser | meteor black hair | freeze rays |
| Chris Hadfield | gravity boots | quantum map | right-handed laser | neon blue hair | freeze rays |
| Christa McAuliffe | plasma torch | quantum map | left-handed laser | meteor black hair | gravity traps |
| Stephen Hawking | jetpack thrusters | space wrench | left-handed laser | meteor black hair | freeze rays |
Clue 1
Place value
The ship computer locked its files. To open it, we must find the digit in the hundreds place of the warp drive coordinates.
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
3000
50
8000
70
800
100
4000
T
3000
8000
6000
7000
200
4000
8000
70
300
4000
T
3000
6000
70
8000
800
70
600
800
900
8000
500
7000
8000
300
900
50
What is the value of the 3 in 23,677?T
What is the value of the 6 in 480,627?P
What is the value of the 2 in 53,273?D
What is the value of the 7 in 214,979?S
What is the value of the 1 in 27,185?B
What is the value of the 7 in 897,108?R
What is the value of the 8 in 710,855?A
What is the value of the 8 in 78,593?E
What is the value of the 5 in 78,156?H
What is the value of the 3 in 445,368?N
What is the value of the 4 in 324,263?O
What is the value of the 6 in 276,101?U
What is the value of the 5 in 303,538?W
What is the value of the 9 in 285,927?C
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
The power grid is failing fast. We need to calculate what percentage of the backup solar panels are still online.
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
33
17
44
25
20
37
37
16
20
24
10
29
44
29
16
37
44
45
T
33
17
16
24
40
44
40
37
16
29
44
7
10% of 330 =T
20% of 225 =F
50% of 32 =A
25% of 176 =E
50% of 74 =L
20% of 50 =U
5% of 580 =S
20% of 35 =R
20% of 100 =I
10% of 170 =H
10% of 250 =V
5% of 800 =D
60% of 40 =N
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The computer system grows its security codes by powers of ten. Solve the exponential code to unlock the next deck.
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
16
169
128
9
49
243
243
216
49
125
81
128
216
400
144
81
400
128
128
8
128
400
216
32
144
2^4 =T
12^2 =S
2^3 =Z
3^4 =F
6^3 =A
7^2 =I
5^3 =N
2^7 =E
3^5 =L
2^5 =Y
20^2 =R
3^2 =V
13^2 =H
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The bridge door needs a secret code. We must solve the multi-step math equation in the correct order to open 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.
W
66
20
74
76
46
50
38
60
20
59
20
76
6
68
9
12
36
30
49
12
71
6
12
59
59
49
20
65
36
20
50
20
6 × 12 - 6 =W
12 × 7 - 16 =B
55 + 3 × 7 =O
3 + 5 × 7 =D
3 + 3 × 3 =A
20 + 8 × 2 =C
11 × 6 - 20 =U
10 × 4 - 10 =K
46 + 4 × 7 =F
8 × 4 - 23 =L
11 × 8 - 28 =M
37 + 4 × 3 =H
10 × 7 - 20 =N
11 × 3 - 27 =R
7 × 12 - 13 =I
5 × 12 - 1 =T
2 + 6 × 3 =E
9 × 8 - 7 =S
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We have a pile of fuel canisters to distribute evenly among the escape pods. Splitting them up gives us our final answer.
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
12 ÷ 4 = ?
110 ÷ 11 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
108 ÷ 9 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
77 ÷ 7 = ?
60 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blocks the hallway using a force shield, then calls for backup on a stellar radio.
2.The villain floats away using gravity boots, then slices open the safe with a laser cutter.
3.The villain cuts the lock using a plasma torch, then navigates the stars with a nebula compass.
4.The villain floats away using gravity boots, then checks the route on a quantum map.
5.The villain flies off using jetpack thrusters, then navigates the stars with a nebula compass.
6.The villain floats away using gravity boots, then navigates the stars with a nebula compass.
7.The villain floats away using gravity boots, then calls for backup on a stellar radio.
8.The villain flies off using jetpack thrusters, then tightens a bolt with a space wrench.
9.The villain searches the vault using a sonic scanner, then tightens a bolt with a space wrench.
10.The villain flies off using jetpack thrusters, then slices open the safe with a laser cutter.
11.The villain blocks the hallway using a force shield, then navigates the stars with a nebula compass.
12.The villain floats away using gravity boots, then tightens a bolt with a space wrench.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cosmic Crystal Caper
Culprit: John Glenn (force shield · stellar radio · left-handed laser · meteor black hair · freeze rays)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT USE A SPACE WRENCH"What is the value of the 3 in 23,677? = 3000 (T) · What is the value of the 6 in 480,627? = 600 (P) · What is the value of the 2 in 53,273? = 200 (D) · What is the value of the 7 in 214,979? = 70 (S) · What is the value of the 1 in 27,185? = 100 (B) · What is the value of the 7 in 897,108? = 7000 (R) · What is the value of the 8 in 710,855? = 800 (A) · What is the value of the 8 in 78,593? = 8000 (E) · What is the value of the 5 in 78,156? = 50 (H) · What is the value of the 3 in 445,368? = 300 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 324,263? = 4000 (O) · What is the value of the 6 in 276,101? = 6000 (U) · What is the value of the 5 in 303,538? = 500 (W) · What is the value of the 9 in 285,927? = 900 (C)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE VILLAIN USES A LEFT HANDED LASER"10% of 330 = 33 (T) · 20% of 225 = 45 (F) · 50% of 32 = 16 (A) · 25% of 176 = 44 (E) · 50% of 74 = 37 (L) · 20% of 50 = 10 (U) · 5% of 580 = 29 (S) · 20% of 35 = 7 (R) · 20% of 100 = 20 (I) · 10% of 170 = 17 (H) · 10% of 250 = 25 (V) · 5% of 800 = 40 (D) · 60% of 40 = 24 (N)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE VILLAIN FEARS FREEZE RAYS"2^4 = 16 (T) · 12^2 = 144 (S) · 2^3 = 8 (Z) · 3^4 = 81 (F) · 6^3 = 216 (A) · 7^2 = 49 (I) · 5^3 = 125 (N) · 2^7 = 128 (E) · 3^5 = 243 (L) · 2^5 = 32 (Y) · 20^2 = 400 (R) · 3^2 = 9 (V) · 13^2 = 169 (H)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "WE FOUND METEOR BLACK HAIR AT THE SCENE"6 × 12 - 6 = 66 (W) · 12 × 7 - 16 = 68 (B) · 55 + 3 × 7 = 76 (O) · 3 + 5 × 7 = 38 (D) · 3 + 3 × 3 = 12 (A) · 20 + 8 × 2 = 36 (C) · 11 × 6 - 20 = 46 (U) · 10 × 4 - 10 = 30 (K) · 46 + 4 × 7 = 74 (F) · 8 × 4 - 23 = 9 (L) · 11 × 8 - 28 = 60 (M) · 37 + 4 × 3 = 49 (H) · 10 × 7 - 20 = 50 (N) · 11 × 3 - 27 = 6 (R) · 7 × 12 - 13 = 71 (I) · 5 × 12 - 1 = 59 (T) · 2 + 6 × 3 = 20 (E) · 9 × 8 - 7 = 65 (S)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → John Glenn12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 108 ÷ 9 = 12 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Cosmic Crystal Caper — set in The Starship Nebula
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects