Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingBar modelsAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Golden Beetle of Castaway Cove
The golden beetle statue is missing from the jungle museum! Chief Archeologist Dr Ellie needs your help to track down the sneaky explorer who took it.
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 | Jungle Tool | Pet Partner | Active Hand | Hat Color | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safari Sally | Machete | Monkey | Right-handed | Brown Fedora | Spiders |
| Jungle Jack | Machete | Tree Frog | Left-handed | Green Pith Hat | Spiders |
| Summit Sue | Machete | Baby Tiger | Left-handed | Yellow Helmet | Heights |
| Wild Bill | Machete | Parrot | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Spiders |
| Dr Max | Compass | Chameleon | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Heights |
| River Rosie | Machete | Tree Frog | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Spiders |
| Forest Fern | Machete | Parrot | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Heights |
| Explorer Jane | Flashlight | Chameleon | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Heights |
| Valley Vince | Flashlight | Tree Frog | Right-handed | Yellow Helmet | Spiders |
| Delta Dawn | Spyglass | Monkey | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Spiders |
| Scout Steve | Compass | Parrot | Right-handed | Yellow Helmet | Heights |
| Professor Penny | Machete | Monkey | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Spiders |
| Captain Sam | Flashlight | Parrot | Right-handed | Brown Fedora | Water |
| Hiker Holly | Compass | Baby Tiger | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Heights |
| Trekker Tess | Grappling Hook | Monkey | Right-handed | Yellow Helmet | Heights |
| Canyon Cole | Machete | Parrot | Left-handed | Green Pith Hat | Spiders |
| Pathfinder Pete | Flashlight | Tree Frog | Left-handed | Green Pith Hat | Heights |
| Marina Mike | Spyglass | Tree Frog | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Heights |
| Ranger Rick | Flashlight | Baby Tiger | Right-handed | Green Pith Hat | Heights |
| Zookeeper Zoe | Machete | Tree Frog | Right-handed | Brown Fedora | Heights |
| Guide Grace | Flashlight | Monkey | Left-handed | Yellow Helmet | Water |
Clue 1
Rounding
The thief left a note split into block diagrams. To find out which pet the villain does not have, we need to compare the blocks to see the difference.
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
5000
200
6000
90
70
6000
3000
7000
800
50
20
9000
9000
3000
20
70
400
600
6000
90
70
600
T
5000
200
3000
50
6000
3000
T
5000
20
80
6000
8000
Round 5,338 to the nearest thousandT
Round 616 to the nearest hundredO
Round 79 to the nearest tenG
Round 9,379 to the nearest thousandL
Round 6,325 to the nearest thousandE
Round 68 to the nearest tenN
Round 182 to the nearest hundredH
Round 835 to the nearest hundredY
Round 6,664 to the nearest thousandK
Round 8,484 to the nearest thousandR
Round 88 to the nearest tenS
Round 379 to the nearest hundredD
Round 3,071 to the nearest thousandA
Round 17 to the nearest tenI
Round 54 to the nearest tenV
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Bar model word problems
Our ancient tracker screen shows a fuzzy signal. It only displays rounded numbers, but rounding to the nearest ten will tell us if the suspect is left or right handed!
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
29
6
9
14
41
14
23
48
D
E
D
There were 35 jungle bananas in all. 6 jungle bananas were used. How many jungle bananas are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→R
Monkey helper has 2 times as many shiny beetles as a teammate. The teammate has 3 shiny beetles. How many shiny beetles does monkey helper have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→I
Monkey helper has 6 times as many jungle bananas as a teammate. The teammate has 8 jungle bananas. How many jungle bananas does monkey helper have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→N
Monkey helper has 72 golden coins, packed 8 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→G
The red team has 77 golden coins and the blue team has 36 golden coins. How many more golden coins does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
The red team has 16 golden coins and the blue team has 2 golden coins. How many more golden coins does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→H
The red team has 56 ancient maps and the blue team has 33 ancient maps. How many more ancient maps does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
A pile of golden coins is scattered on the jungle floor. Let us add them all up to see which fear scared the villain away!
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
465
548
873
537
924
526
526
454
924
675
918
548
924
537
873
956
873
596
454
T
465
T
465
548
873
T
465
454
526
526
339
526
924
383
383
166 + 299 =T
186 + 351 =V
192 + 147 =C
560 + 313 =E
260 + 123 =F
447 + 509 =R
460 + 464 =I
551 + 367 =S
252 + 202 =A
258 + 338 =D
215 + 333 =H
274 + 252 =L
280 + 395 =N
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
We found footprints leading into the bushes. By subtracting the old tracks from the new ones, we can find out what kind of hat the thief wore!
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
209
562
597
156
114
311
605
190
754
588
562
562
311
381
190
141
749
141
588
190
555
156
311
190
556
588
190
311
703
381
334 - 125 =W
350 - 194 =O
943 - 381 =E
949 - 200 =S
1039 - 336 =C
308 - 118 =A
865 - 310 =P
622 - 241 =H
365 - 224 =T
183 - 69 =U
698 - 101 =F
507 - 196 =N
1141 - 387 =G
961 - 373 =R
826 - 270 =B
698 - 93 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The suspect left behind some heavy supplies. If we divide them into equal packs for our team, we will uncover the final clue to solve this jungle mystery!
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
48 ÷ 8 = ?
132 ÷ 12 = ?
21 ÷ 7 = ?
63 ÷ 9 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
108 ÷ 12 = ?
110 ÷ 11 = ?
24 ÷ 6 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swung through the trees with a hook, then shared a banana with a loud parrot.
2.The villain lit up the dark ancient cave, then blended in with a sneaky chameleon.
3.The villain checked the dial for north, then blended in with a sneaky chameleon.
4.The villain checked the dial for north, then escaped with a playful monkey.
5.The villain spied the treasure from afar, then shared a banana with a loud parrot.
6.The villain chopped through the thick vines, then shared a banana with a loud parrot.
7.The villain swung through the trees with a hook, then blended in with a sneaky chameleon.
8.The villain chopped through the thick vines, then hopped over logs with a green tree frog.
9.The villain chopped through the thick vines, then escaped with a playful monkey.
10.The villain swung through the trees with a hook, then hopped over logs with a green tree frog.
11.The villain spied the treasure from afar, then hopped over logs with a green tree frog.
12.The villain checked the dial for north, then patted a friendly baby tiger.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Beetle of Castaway Cove
Culprit: Explorer Jane (Flashlight · Chameleon · Right-handed · Green Pith Hat · Heights)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SNEAKY VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE A TIGER"Round 5,338 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (T) · Round 616 to the nearest hundred = 600 (O) · Round 79 to the nearest ten = 80 (G) · Round 9,379 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (L) · Round 6,325 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (E) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (N) · Round 182 to the nearest hundred = 200 (H) · Round 835 to the nearest hundred = 800 (Y) · Round 6,664 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (K) · Round 8,484 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (R) · Round 88 to the nearest ten = 90 (S) · Round 379 to the nearest hundred = 400 (D) · Round 3,071 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (A) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (I) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (V)
- Clue 2 (Bar model word problems): "RIGHT HANDED"There were 35 jungle bananas in all. 6 jungle bananas were used. How many jungle bananas are left? = 29 (R) · Monkey helper has 2 times as many shiny beetles as a teammate. The teammate has 3 shiny beetles. How many shiny beetles does monkey helper have? = 6 (I) · Monkey helper has 6 times as many jungle bananas as a teammate. The teammate has 8 jungle bananas. How many jungle bananas does monkey helper have? = 48 (N) · Monkey helper has 72 golden coins, packed 8 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 9 (G) · The red team has 77 golden coins and the blue team has 36 golden coins. How many more golden coins does the red team have? = 41 (T) · The red team has 16 golden coins and the blue team has 2 golden coins. How many more golden coins does the red team have? = 14 (H) · The red team has 56 ancient maps and the blue team has 33 ancient maps. How many more ancient maps does the red team have? = 23 (A)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN SHIVERED AT THE TALL CLIFF"166 + 299 = 465 (T) · 186 + 351 = 537 (V) · 192 + 147 = 339 (C) · 560 + 313 = 873 (E) · 260 + 123 = 383 (F) · 447 + 509 = 956 (R) · 460 + 464 = 924 (I) · 551 + 367 = 918 (S) · 252 + 202 = 454 (A) · 258 + 338 = 596 (D) · 215 + 333 = 548 (H) · 274 + 252 = 526 (L) · 280 + 395 = 675 (N)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "WE FOUND A GREEN HAT STRAP ON A BRANCH"334 - 125 = 209 (W) · 350 - 194 = 156 (O) · 943 - 381 = 562 (E) · 949 - 200 = 749 (S) · 1039 - 336 = 703 (C) · 308 - 118 = 190 (A) · 865 - 310 = 555 (P) · 622 - 241 = 381 (H) · 365 - 224 = 141 (T) · 183 - 69 = 114 (U) · 698 - 101 = 597 (F) · 507 - 196 = 311 (N) · 1141 - 387 = 754 (G) · 961 - 373 = 588 (R) · 826 - 270 = 556 (B) · 698 - 93 = 605 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Explorer Jane48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 21 ÷ 7 = 3 · 63 ÷ 9 = 7 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 110 ÷ 11 = 10 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Bar models, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Beetle of Castaway Cove — set in Castaway Cove
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects