🚀 SpaceGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingWord problemsAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Cosmic Map Caper

The Quantum Star Map has been swiped from the high-security vault at Nova Outpost! Without it, our ships will get lost in deep space. Station Commander Leo needs your help to track down the sneaky Cosmic Bandit before they escape past the asteroid belt.

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	Spacesuit Tool	Backup Gear	Writing Hand	Helmet Stripe	Bandit Weakness
Franklin Chang-Diaz	Gravity Boots	Energy Barrier	Right-handed writer	Green helmet stripe	Space dust
Helen Sharman	Plasma Claws	Turbo Jetpack	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Charles Bolden	Gravity Boots	Stealth Cloak	Right-handed writer	Green helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Michael Collins	Laser Torch	Comet Tracker	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Space dust
Sally Ride	Sonic Scanner	Solar Shield	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Bernard Harris	Gravity Boots	Turbo Jetpack	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Guion Bluford	Laser Torch	Solar Shield	Left-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Space dust
Buzz Aldrin	Laser Torch	Stealth Cloak	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Yuri Gagarin	Gravity Boots	Stealth Cloak	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Magnet blast
Chris Hadfield	Laser Torch	Solar Shield	Left-handed writer	Green helmet stripe	Magnet blast
Alexey Leonov	Plasma Claws	Comet Tracker	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Magnet blast
Guy Bluford	Gravity Boots	Stealth Cloak	Left-handed writer	Red helmet stripe	Magnet blast
Alan Shepard	Gravity Boots	Comet Tracker	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Space dust
Mae Jemison	Sonic Scanner	Solar Shield	Right-handed writer	Red helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Peggy Whitson	Plasma Claws	Energy Barrier	Left-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Magnet blast
Gherman Titov	Sonic Scanner	Solar Shield	Right-handed writer	Green helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Fred Haise	Laser Torch	Energy Barrier	Right-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Yi So-yeon	Gravity Boots	Energy Barrier	Left-handed writer	Yellow helmet stripe	Freeze ray
Neil Armstrong	Laser Torch	Solar Shield	Right-handed writer	Red helmet stripe	Freeze ray
John Glenn	Plasma Claws	Comet Tracker	Right-handed writer	Green helmet stripe	Space dust
Valentina Tereshkova	Plasma Claws	Energy Barrier	Right-handed writer	Green helmet stripe	Space dust

Clue 1

Rounding

We found a logbook with word problems about rocket cargo. Solving them reveals a secret code about the bandit's gear!

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

2300

290

370

4300

2000

1300

130

2300

1300

300

370

9000

300

2300

110

9000

370

2000

9000

2300

370

2000

1100

2300

290

500

1100

300

2000

170

Round 2,278 to the nearest hundredT

Round 8,919 to the nearest thousandS

Round 369 to the nearest tenE

Round 108 to the nearest tenU

Round 54 to the nearest tenN

Round 2,390 to the nearest thousandA

Round 4,316 to the nearest hundredB

Round 1,339 to the nearest hundredD

Round 478 to the nearest hundredC

Round 128 to the nearest tenI

Round 293 to the nearest tenH

Round 308 to the nearest hundredO

Round 1,114 to the nearest hundredL

Round 171 to the nearest tenK

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Word problems

The space radar is fuzzy. It only shows rounded numbers for the bandit's distance, but we can use them to pinpoint their path!

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

Awitnesssawthevillainwas

Commander Leo lined up 12 rows of 2 oxygen tanks. How many oxygen tanks in all?R

There were 107 star badges. 28 were used up. How many star badges are left?T

Commander Leo lined up 9 rows of 7 space boots. How many space boots in all?I

There were 71 space boots. 13 were used up. How many space boots are left?N

There were 95 space boots. 24 were used up. How many space boots are left?G

Commander Leo lined up 3 rows of 9 star badges. How many star badges in all?H

There were 34 star badges. 11 were used up. How many star badges are left?A

0/7 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

We need to count all the spare fuel canisters left in the hangar. Adding up the piles gives us the security card we need!

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

4579

2927

3391

9590

8479

9590

3391

4579

3125

5284

8395

4339

2927

3391

9590

8479

9590

5031

8132

8395

4820

4839

4579

7207

8716

8395

5031

3087 + 1492 =A

4841 + 3638 =Z

1220 + 1905 =Y

5324 + 4266 =E

2314 + 2717 =T

3565 + 5151 =D

1149 + 1778 =F

3052 + 4155 =N

1967 + 2372 =L

1223 + 2168 =R

3440 + 1844 =W

1510 + 3310 =S

3010 + 5122 =H

1787 + 3052 =B

4644 + 3751 =I

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

Some moon rocks are missing from the display case! Subtracting the leftover rocks tells us how many the thief took.

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

8588

5158

4103

5874

2986

1242

8970

5094

8588

5158

2986

6443

2986

7377

4103

7401

4977

4117

6443

8588

8757

5094

5793

4103

4977

1242

8588

5158

4103

5158

4103

7401

5319

4103

8588

13463 - 4875 =T

9578 - 821 =R

9605 - 4286 =M

4109 - 2867 =N

9435 - 2034 =L

5251 - 93 =H

9300 - 330 =D

8626 - 2752 =B

8654 - 3560 =I

7281 - 1488 =P

7618 - 2641 =O

3874 - 888 =A

6299 - 2196 =E

5897 - 1780 =W

7821 - 444 =Y

10637 - 4194 =S

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

To reboot the station cameras, we must split the main power grid into equal shares. This will show us 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

66 ÷ 11 = ?

20 ÷ 10 = ?

40 ÷ 4 = ?

48 ÷ 6 = ?

60 ÷ 12 = ?

110 ÷ 10 = ?

36 ÷ 3 = ?

28 ÷ 7 = ?

3 ÷ 3 = ?

21 ÷ 3 = ?

9 ÷ 1 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain pulls the map away with a tractor beam, then zooms away on a turbo jetpack.

2.The villain slashes open the safe with plasma claws, then zooms away on a turbo jetpack.

3.The villain activates gravity boots to walk on walls, then zooms away on a turbo jetpack.

4.The villain pulls the map away with a tractor beam, then navigates the debris with a comet tracker.

5.The villain sweeps the room with a sonic scanner, then fades into the dark using a stealth cloak.

6.The villain uses a laser torch to cut the lock, then escapes safely behind an energy barrier.

7.The villain pulls the map away with a tractor beam, then fades into the dark using a stealth cloak.

8.The villain activates gravity boots to walk on walls, then escapes safely behind an energy barrier.

9.The villain activates gravity boots to walk on walls, then fades into the dark using a stealth cloak.

10.The villain sweeps the room with a sonic scanner, then blocks the alarm with a solar shield.

11.The villain pulls the map away with a tractor beam, then escapes safely behind an energy barrier.

12.The villain slashes open the safe with plasma claws, then escapes safely behind an energy barrier.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Cosmic Map Caper

Culprit: Bernard Harris (Gravity Boots · Turbo Jetpack · Right-handed writer · Yellow helmet stripe · Freeze ray)

Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE A STEALTH CLOAK"
Round 2,278 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (T) · Round 8,919 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (S) · Round 369 to the nearest ten = 370 (E) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (U) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (N) · Round 2,390 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A) · Round 4,316 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (B) · Round 1,339 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (D) · Round 478 to the nearest hundred = 500 (C) · Round 128 to the nearest ten = 130 (I) · Round 293 to the nearest ten = 290 (H) · Round 308 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 1,114 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (L) · Round 171 to the nearest ten = 170 (K)
Clue 2 (Word problems): "RIGHT HANDED WRITER"
Commander Leo lined up 12 rows of 2 oxygen tanks. How many oxygen tanks in all? = 24 (R) · There were 107 star badges. 28 were used up. How many star badges are left? = 79 (T) · Commander Leo lined up 9 rows of 7 space boots. How many space boots in all? = 63 (I) · There were 71 space boots. 13 were used up. How many space boots are left? = 58 (N) · There were 95 space boots. 24 were used up. How many space boots are left? = 71 (G) · Commander Leo lined up 3 rows of 9 star badges. How many star badges in all? = 27 (H) · There were 34 star badges. 11 were used up. How many star badges are left? = 23 (A)
Clue 3 (Addition): "A FREEZE RAY WILL FREEZE THIS BANDIT"
3087 + 1492 = 4579 (A) · 4841 + 3638 = 8479 (Z) · 1220 + 1905 = 3125 (Y) · 5324 + 4266 = 9590 (E) · 2314 + 2717 = 5031 (T) · 3565 + 5151 = 8716 (D) · 1149 + 1778 = 2927 (F) · 3052 + 4155 = 7207 (N) · 1967 + 2372 = 4339 (L) · 1223 + 2168 = 3391 (R) · 3440 + 1844 = 5284 (W) · 1510 + 3310 = 4820 (S) · 3010 + 5122 = 8132 (H) · 1787 + 3052 = 4839 (B) · 4644 + 3751 = 8395 (I)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "THE BANDIT HAS A YELLOW STRIPE ON THE HELMET"
13463 - 4875 = 8588 (T) · 9578 - 821 = 8757 (R) · 9605 - 4286 = 5319 (M) · 4109 - 2867 = 1242 (N) · 9435 - 2034 = 7401 (L) · 5251 - 93 = 5158 (H) · 9300 - 330 = 8970 (D) · 8626 - 2752 = 5874 (B) · 8654 - 3560 = 5094 (I) · 7281 - 1488 = 5793 (P) · 7618 - 2641 = 4977 (O) · 3874 - 888 = 2986 (A) · 6299 - 2196 = 4103 (E) · 5897 - 1780 = 4117 (W) · 7821 - 444 = 7377 (Y) · 10637 - 4194 = 6443 (S)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Bernard Harris
66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Rounding, Word problems, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Cosmic Map Caper — set in Nova Outpost
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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