🚀 U.F.O,SpaceGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Cosmic Map Mystery
A strange silver flying saucer landed right on the roof of the Stargazer Ridge Observatory! A rogue alien slipped inside and took the Golden Star Map. We need to find the alien who did it before they escape to the edge of the galaxy!
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 | Cosmic Gadget | Spaceship Upgrade | Communicator Side | Spacesuit Helmet Color | Stellar Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mae | magnetic glove | solar sails | right arm communicator | deep purple helmet | cosmic static |
| Leo | freeze ray | warp drive | right arm communicator | deep purple helmet | cosmic static |
| Neil | magnetic glove | warp drive | left arm communicator | deep purple helmet | cosmic static |
| Halley | freeze ray | force field | right arm communicator | deep purple helmet | cosmic static |
| Apollo | plasma blaster | warp drive | right arm communicator | deep purple helmet | bright starlight |
| Zenith | gravity boots | force field | right arm communicator | deep purple helmet | cosmic static |
| Carl | magnetic glove | force field | left arm communicator | neon green helmet | space dust |
| Isaac | freeze ray | force field | right arm communicator | deep purple helmet | space dust |
| Comet | plasma blaster | stealth cloak | left arm communicator | neon green helmet | space dust |
| Draco | magnetic glove | warp drive | right arm communicator | neon green helmet | space dust |
| Stella | freeze ray | force field | left arm communicator | bright orange helmet | cosmic static |
| Galileo | laser pointer | force field | left arm communicator | bright orange helmet | cosmic static |
| Hubble | magnetic glove | stealth cloak | left arm communicator | neon green helmet | bright starlight |
| Yuri | plasma blaster | stealth cloak | left arm communicator | deep purple helmet | space dust |
| Kepler | gravity boots | force field | right arm communicator | neon green helmet | space dust |
| Rigel | magnetic glove | stealth cloak | right arm communicator | neon green helmet | bright starlight |
| Vega | gravity boots | stealth cloak | right arm communicator | deep purple helmet | cosmic static |
| Orion | plasma blaster | force field | right arm communicator | neon green helmet | cosmic static |
| Sally | magnetic glove | stealth cloak | right arm communicator | bright orange helmet | cosmic static |
| Buzz | freeze ray | rocket thrusters | left arm communicator | bright orange helmet | cosmic static |
| Nova | freeze ray | warp drive | left arm communicator | neon green helmet | bright starlight |
Clue 1
Addition
To read the first clue, we must tally up the star maps on the desk. Let us add the maps found in the main office to the ones in the observatory dome.
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
918
905
576
514
248
255
576
830
633
888
576
435
830
888
T
918
628
435
576
514
435
T
918
576
514
248
T
918
905
419
248
888
514
942
431 + 487 =T
287 + 601 =O
99 + 156 =I
309 + 324 =D
350 + 592 =K
301 + 213 =A
87 + 161 =L
457 + 448 =H
286 + 133 =C
372 + 256 =U
138 + 297 =S
385 + 191 =E
573 + 257 =N
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
A few space fuel canisters are missing from the launch pad storage box. Subtract the leftover canisters from the total to see how many the thief stole.
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
441
563
107
394
335
244
107
120
120
563
426
879
445
720
145
673
563
T
441
445
720
636
394
426
636
636
244
787
145
394
445
T
441
426
720
817 - 376 =T
830 - 194 =M
763 - 90 =G
875 - 155 =R
595 - 32 =H
1054 - 267 =N
219 - 74 =I
705 - 260 =A
562 - 136 =O
157 - 37 =S
626 - 291 =L
600 - 356 =U
231 - 124 =E
1254 - 375 =W
683 - 289 =C
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We need to check the grid of solar panels on the roof. Multiply the rows of panels by the columns to count how many were turned off by the intruder.
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
11
72
25
88
8
99
25
55
24
88
55
55
28
T
11
56
T
11
88
55
10
24
28
56
81
99
24
56
T
11
88
T
11
99
24
1 × 11 =T
11 × 8 =A
10 × 1 =D
9 × 8 =H
11 × 5 =N
4 × 7 =O
8 × 1 =L
12 × 2 =C
7 × 8 =S
9 × 11 =I
9 × 9 =M
5 × 5 =E
0/12 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The radar screen is glitching and only shows rounded numbers. Round the fuzzy distance of the flying saucer to the nearest ten 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.
W
200
600
400
3000
70
50
60
90
900
600
800
40
90
3000
400
60
600
600
900
900
70
500
900
6000
600
900
9000
2000
50
8000
Round 189 to the nearest hundredW
Round 2,440 to the nearest thousandI
Round 790 to the nearest hundredC
Round 91 to the nearest tenS
Round 42 to the nearest tenK
Round 566 to the nearest hundredE
Round 62 to the nearest tenD
Round 52 to the nearest tenN
Round 6,398 to the nearest thousandL
Round 2,805 to the nearest thousandO
Round 9,446 to the nearest thousandA
Round 456 to the nearest hundredR
Round 8,094 to the nearest thousandT
Round 874 to the nearest hundredP
Round 68 to the nearest tenU
Round 353 to the nearest hundredF
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The space crew has to split the signal analyzers equally among their scout teams. Divide the analyzers to find how many each team gets.
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
2 ÷ 2 = ?
42 ÷ 7 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scrambled the security codes, then zipped past the asteroid belt.
2.The villain zapped the main vault door, then blasted off into deep space.
3.The villain scrambled the security codes, then zoomed away in a flying saucer.
4.The villain scrambled the security codes, then fled towards the moon.
5.The villain floated through the skylight, then blasted off into deep space.
6.The villain floated through the skylight, then zipped past the asteroid belt.
7.The villain zapped the main vault door, then zipped past the asteroid belt.
8.The villain hovered over the laser grid, then escaped into a wormhole.
9.The villain zapped the main vault door, then fled towards the moon.
10.The villain teleported past the cameras, then fled towards the moon.
11.The villain teleported past the cameras, then zipped past the asteroid belt.
12.The villain hovered over the laser grid, then blasted off into deep space.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cosmic Map Mystery
Culprit: Leo (freeze ray · warp drive · right arm communicator · deep purple helmet · cosmic static)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE ALIEN DOES NOT USE A STEALTH CLOAK"431 + 487 = 918 (T) · 287 + 601 = 888 (O) · 99 + 156 = 255 (I) · 309 + 324 = 633 (D) · 350 + 592 = 942 (K) · 301 + 213 = 514 (A) · 87 + 161 = 248 (L) · 457 + 448 = 905 (H) · 286 + 133 = 419 (C) · 372 + 256 = 628 (U) · 138 + 297 = 435 (S) · 385 + 191 = 576 (E) · 573 + 257 = 830 (N)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE CLUES SHOW A RIGHT ARM COMMUNICATOR"817 - 376 = 441 (T) · 830 - 194 = 636 (M) · 763 - 90 = 673 (G) · 875 - 155 = 720 (R) · 595 - 32 = 563 (H) · 1054 - 267 = 787 (N) · 219 - 74 = 145 (I) · 705 - 260 = 445 (A) · 562 - 136 = 426 (O) · 157 - 37 = 120 (S) · 626 - 291 = 335 (L) · 600 - 356 = 244 (U) · 231 - 124 = 107 (E) · 1254 - 375 = 879 (W) · 683 - 289 = 394 (C)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE ALIEN CANNOT STAND COSMIC STATIC"1 × 11 = 11 (T) · 11 × 8 = 88 (A) · 10 × 1 = 10 (D) · 9 × 8 = 72 (H) · 11 × 5 = 55 (N) · 4 × 7 = 28 (O) · 8 × 1 = 8 (L) · 12 × 2 = 24 (C) · 7 × 8 = 56 (S) · 9 × 11 = 99 (I) · 9 × 9 = 81 (M) · 5 × 5 = 25 (E)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND SPECKS OF DEEP PURPLE PAINT"Round 189 to the nearest hundred = 200 (W) · Round 2,440 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (I) · Round 790 to the nearest hundred = 800 (C) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (S) · Round 42 to the nearest ten = 40 (K) · Round 566 to the nearest hundred = 600 (E) · Round 62 to the nearest ten = 60 (D) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (N) · Round 6,398 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (L) · Round 2,805 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (O) · Round 9,446 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (A) · Round 456 to the nearest hundred = 500 (R) · Round 8,094 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (T) · Round 874 to the nearest hundred = 900 (P) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (U) · Round 353 to the nearest hundred = 400 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Leo2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Cosmic Map Mystery — set in Stargazer Ridge Observatory
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects