🚀 SpaceGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Galactic Nebula Heist

Oh no! A sneaky Space Bandit has snuck onto the Ares Research Station. They stole the secret star charts! Our Station Commander needs your help to crack the codes, track the thief through the asteroid belt, and bring back the charts before the rocket launches.

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	Jetpack Engine	Special Tool	Pilot Hand	Visor Glow	Thief Weakness
Pete Conrad	Laser Welder	Sonic Wave	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Space Dust
Kalpana Chawla	Solar Sails	Force Field	Right-handed pilot	Neon Blue Visor	Static Sparks
Peggy Whitson	Gravity Boots	Ice Beam	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Static Sparks
Jim Lovell	Warp Engine	Force Field	Left-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Static Sparks
Neil Armstrong	Gravity Boots	Force Field	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Static Sparks
Michael Collins	Laser Welder	Cloaking Device	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Static Sparks
Tim Peake	Warp Engine	Magnetic Grip	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Static Sparks
Sunita Williams	Gravity Boots	Cloaking Device	Left-handed pilot	Neon Blue Visor	Magnet fields
Mark Kelly	Solar Sails	Force Field	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Space Dust
Al Worden	Warp Engine	Ice Beam	Left-handed pilot	Acid Green Visor	Static Sparks
Gene Cernan	Gravity Boots	Force Field	Left-handed pilot	Acid Green Visor	Space Dust
Sally Ride	Gravity Boots	Sonic Wave	Left-handed pilot	Neon Blue Visor	Magnet fields
Samantha Cristoforetti	Plasma Thruster	Force Field	Left-handed pilot	Neon Blue Visor	Space Dust
Guy Bluford	Laser Welder	Force Field	Left-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Static Sparks
Scott Kelly	Plasma Thruster	Sonic Wave	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Magnet fields
Ellen Ochoa	Gravity Boots	Magnetic Grip	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Magnet fields
Buzz Aldrin	Gravity Boots	Cloaking Device	Right-handed pilot	Acid Green Visor	Space Dust
Valentina Tereshkova	Laser Welder	Force Field	Left-handed pilot	Neon Blue Visor	Magnet fields
Yuri Gagarin	Laser Welder	Cloaking Device	Right-handed pilot	Acid Green Visor	Static Sparks
Mae Jemison	Plasma Thruster	Sonic Wave	Right-handed pilot	Bright Orange Visor	Static Sparks
John Glenn	Solar Sails	Magnetic Grip	Left-handed pilot	Neon Blue Visor	Static Sparks

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We checked the solar panel grid. The panels are set up in neat rows and columns. We must multiply them to find the total power score.

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

120

4 × 4 =T

7 × 9 =H

5 × 6 =S

1 × 1 =D

10 × 12 =M

1 × 11 =I

11 × 2 =B

3 × 7 =C

10 × 6 =O

9 × 9 =N

8 × 8 =E

3 × 8 =A

11 × 4 =U

0/13 letters found

Clue 2

Rounding

The computer screen is damaged. It only shows the ship distance rounded to the nearest ten. We need to find the real number.

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

9000

2000

1100

5000

3700

900

2000

9000

2000

1300

290

200

1100

200

2300

9000

1100

5000

3700

290

900

4300

2000

1100

110

4300

1300

2300

430

110

200

Round 9,289 to the nearest thousandT

Round 434 to the nearest tenC

Round 288 to the nearest tenN

Round 1,126 to the nearest hundredE

Round 213 to the nearest hundredD

Round 4,950 to the nearest thousandR

Round 114 to the nearest tenL

Round 4,338 to the nearest hundredW

Round 2,261 to the nearest hundredS

Round 1,277 to the nearest hundredA

Round 2,391 to the nearest thousandH

Round 916 to the nearest hundredG

Round 30 to the nearest tenO

Round 3,653 to the nearest hundredI

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

Our team gathered the loose space rocks found near the crime scene. We must add up all the small piles to find the total weight.

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

5392

9167

7692

5392

9167

6077

7692

7754

4714

5367

5392

2705

9167

5367

4841

6781

7692

8451

6927

5536

2705

5392

4977

5392

6077

4841

2705

9418

4977

5663

6781

2705

3509 + 1883 =T

1008 + 1697 =S

3567 + 2096 =R

3430 + 2647 =I

2122 + 2855 =A

3739 + 4712 =D

4228 + 4939 =H

5240 + 2514 =F

2156 + 3211 =O

6355 + 3063 =P

2405 + 3131 =Y

4680 + 2247 =B

2458 + 2383 =C

3167 + 1547 =G

3586 + 3195 =K

4305 + 3387 =E

0/16 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The fuel tank has a tiny leak. We must subtract the leaked fuel from our starting tank level to see how much energy is left.

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

4944

5900

3287

6860

6252

3711

7435

4331

3287

4944

1163

6252

5419

3287

5419

8929

3698

5419

3881

7435

6860

4331

1163

4462

4944

4080

3698

5419

8929

7435

5900

5419

3711

6860

1163

6129

5684 - 740 =A

7954 - 4243 =H

8177 - 4890 =R

13085 - 4156 =F

11018 - 4766 =G

7894 - 3563 =O

8515 - 3096 =E

9232 - 2372 =I

11050 - 3615 =T

7980 - 3518 =W

6830 - 2949 =C

5674 - 1976 =L

6510 - 381 =D

6467 - 567 =B

5523 - 1443 =S

5111 - 3948 =N

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

We found a box of backup power cells. If we divide them equally among our robotic scouts, we can see how many each robot 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

72 ÷ 6 = ?

20 ÷ 4 = ?

4 ÷ 4 = ?

9 ÷ 3 = ?

36 ÷ 9 = ?

90 ÷ 9 = ?

35 ÷ 5 = ?

18 ÷ 2 = ?

24 ÷ 3 = ?

77 ÷ 7 = ?

18 ÷ 3 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain scrambles the navigation, then flies toward the red planet.

2.The villain steals the fuel cells, then zooms into a black hole.

3.The villain hacks the star gate, then flies toward the red planet.

4.The villain scrambles the navigation, then zooms into a black hole.

5.The villain disables the satellite, then skips through the cosmic wormhole.

6.The villain disables the satellite, then zooms into a black hole.

7.The villain loots the cargo bay, then escapes past the asteroid belt.

8.The villain loots the cargo bay, then zooms into a black hole.

9.The villain hacks the star gate, then skips through the cosmic wormhole.

10.The villain hacks the star gate, then zooms into a black hole.

11.The villain steals the fuel cells, then flies toward the red planet.

12.The villain hacks the star gate, then hides in the dark nebula.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Galactic Nebula Heist

Culprit: Neil Armstrong (Gravity Boots · Force Field · Right-handed pilot · Bright Orange Visor · Static Sparks)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE THE ICE BEAM"
4 × 4 = 16 (T) · 7 × 9 = 63 (H) · 5 × 6 = 30 (S) · 1 × 1 = 1 (D) · 10 × 12 = 120 (M) · 1 × 11 = 11 (I) · 11 × 2 = 22 (B) · 3 × 7 = 21 (C) · 10 × 6 = 60 (O) · 9 × 9 = 81 (N) · 8 × 8 = 64 (E) · 3 × 8 = 24 (A) · 11 × 4 = 44 (U)
Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE RIGHT HANDED STEERING WHEEL WAS COLD"
Round 9,289 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (T) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (C) · Round 288 to the nearest ten = 290 (N) · Round 1,126 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (E) · Round 213 to the nearest hundred = 200 (D) · Round 4,950 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R) · Round 114 to the nearest ten = 110 (L) · Round 4,338 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (W) · Round 2,261 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (S) · Round 1,277 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (A) · Round 2,391 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (H) · Round 916 to the nearest hundred = 900 (G) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (O) · Round 3,653 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (I)
Clue 3 (Addition): "THE THIEF GOT SHOCKED BY STATIC SPARKS"
3509 + 1883 = 5392 (T) · 1008 + 1697 = 2705 (S) · 3567 + 2096 = 5663 (R) · 3430 + 2647 = 6077 (I) · 2122 + 2855 = 4977 (A) · 3739 + 4712 = 8451 (D) · 4228 + 4939 = 9167 (H) · 5240 + 2514 = 7754 (F) · 2156 + 3211 = 5367 (O) · 6355 + 3063 = 9418 (P) · 2405 + 3131 = 5536 (Y) · 4680 + 2247 = 6927 (B) · 2458 + 2383 = 4841 (C) · 3167 + 1547 = 4714 (G) · 3586 + 3195 = 6781 (K) · 4305 + 3387 = 7692 (E)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A BRIGHT ORANGE REFLECTION WAS LEFT BEHIND"
5684 - 740 = 4944 (A) · 7954 - 4243 = 3711 (H) · 8177 - 4890 = 3287 (R) · 13085 - 4156 = 8929 (F) · 11018 - 4766 = 6252 (G) · 7894 - 3563 = 4331 (O) · 8515 - 3096 = 5419 (E) · 9232 - 2372 = 6860 (I) · 11050 - 3615 = 7435 (T) · 7980 - 3518 = 4462 (W) · 6830 - 2949 = 3881 (C) · 5674 - 1976 = 3698 (L) · 6510 - 381 = 6129 (D) · 6467 - 567 = 5900 (B) · 5523 - 1443 = 4080 (S) · 5111 - 3948 = 1163 (N)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Neil Armstrong
72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 20 ÷ 4 = 5 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 35 ÷ 5 = 7 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 24 ÷ 3 = 8 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Galactic Nebula Heist — set in Ares Research Station
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

4th grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Multiplication worksheets Division worksheets Rounding worksheets All worksheets →

The Secrets of the Stone Maze

Grade 4

The Cosmic Map Caper

Grade 4

The Lost Island Treasure Hunt

Grade 4

Sky-Scurry Mystery

Grade 4