Grade 3Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionPlace valueRoundingDivision
The Golden Macaw Mystery
A priceless golden artifact has vanished from our base camp under the cover of darkness. One of our own crew members has taken it and fled into the jungle! We must follow the clues and track down the culprit before they escape.
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 | Signature Gear | Jungle Skill | Compass Hand | Explorer Hat | Phobia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Jones | Decoder Ring | Vine Swinging | Left-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Spiders |
| Victor Sullivan | Decoder Ring | River Rafting | Left-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Spiders |
| Danny Boy | Machete | Map Reading | Right-handed | Safari Fedora | Scared of Spiders |
| Lara Croft | Decoder Ring | Vine Swinging | Left-handed | Safari Fedora | Scared of Heights |
| Evelyn Carnahan | Spyglass | Vine Swinging | Left-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Spiders |
| Rick OConnell | Spyglass | Tree Climbing | Left-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Heights |
| Jack Wilder | Grappling Hook | River Rafting | Left-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Spiders |
| Jane Porter | Grappling Hook | Map Reading | Left-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Spiders |
| Percy Fawcett | Grappling Hook | Map Reading | Right-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Spiders |
| Nathan Drake | Flashlight | Map Reading | Right-handed | Pith Helmet | Scared of Spiders |
| Alisha Vance | Decoder Ring | Map Reading | Left-handed | Pith Helmet | Scared of Spiders |
| Allan Quatermain | Grappling Hook | River Rafting | Right-handed | Safari Fedora | Scared of Spiders |
| Mary Kingsley | Spyglass | Animal Mimicry | Right-handed | Safari Fedora | Scared of Water |
| Leo Valdez | Decoder Ring | Tree Climbing | Right-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Heights |
| Ellie Sattler | Grappling Hook | Map Reading | Right-handed | Pith Helmet | Scared of Spiders |
| Steve Irwin | Machete | Vine Swinging | Left-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Water |
| Hiram Bingham | Decoder Ring | Vine Swinging | Right-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Heights |
| Roy Chapman | Machete | Animal Mimicry | Right-handed | Pith Helmet | Scared of Water |
| Sven Stone | Machete | Tree Climbing | Left-handed | Boone Cap | Scared of Spiders |
| Elena Fisher | Flashlight | Tree Climbing | Right-handed | Safari Fedora | Scared of Heights |
| Alan Grant | Flashlight | Tree Climbing | Left-handed | Safari Fedora | Scared of Heights |
Clue 1
Addition
We found a discarded supply crate near the camp perimeter. To figure out how many days of rations the thief took, we need to add up the scattered bean cans and jerky packs left behind.
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
695
235
700
315
369
635
635
335
369
486
965
411
700
265
486
411
T
695
265
474
369
486
274
411
486
315
369
486
700
265
453 + 242 =T
250 + 161 =O
173 + 162 =A
175 + 90 =S
144 + 171 =V
160 + 75 =H
288 + 198 =N
436 + 529 =D
403 + 232 =L
93 + 181 =G
402 + 298 =E
186 + 288 =W
239 + 130 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
Our guide noticed that several climbing carabiners are missing from the main gear rack. If we subtract the remaining clips from our starting total, we will know exactly how much weight the runner is carrying.
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
749
899
252
442
543
808
808
466
543
444
354
274
543
T
749
252
560
444
709
T
749
252
560
354
543
T
749
899
T
749
899
252
808
252
180
T
749
899
466
444
401
1006 - 257 =T
471 - 197 =R
538 - 94 =N
908 - 365 =I
639 - 238 =D
541 - 187 =W
338 - 86 =E
924 - 25 =H
555 - 375 =F
994 - 186 =L
737 - 177 =S
452 - 10 =V
1043 - 334 =O
861 - 395 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Place value
To unlock the temple's outer gate, we have to decipher an ancient stone combinations dial. We must look closely at the digit in the hundreds place to spin the massive gears correctly.
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
20
800
40
6000
400
40
500
900
600
500
400
500
9000
500
5000
200
600
50
3000
500
90
100
400
70
60
40
6000
7000
8000
10
40
600
What is the value of the 2 in 424?T
What is the value of the 1 in 2,173?U
What is the value of the 6 in 9,561?L
What is the value of the 7 in 87,803?P
What is the value of the 8 in 862?H
What is the value of the 6 in 671?R
What is the value of the 6 in 6,522?S
What is the value of the 9 in 89,204?W
What is the value of the 5 in 25,786?Y
What is the value of the 2 in 6,298?F
What is the value of the 7 in 9,378?G
What is the value of the 9 in 928?K
What is the value of the 5 in 517?A
What is the value of the 9 in 3,296?J
What is the value of the 4 in 945?E
What is the value of the 4 in 6,480?N
What is the value of the 5 in 6,259?O
What is the value of the 8 in 8,591?I
What is the value of the 3 in 73,764?M
What is the value of the 1 in 4,910?D
0/20 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The heat-seeking radar can track footprints through the thick canopy, but its screen is damaged and only displays distances rounded to the nearest ten meters. Let's round our readings to get a clear heading.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
300
9000
3000
5000
5000
40
400
60
60
800
6000
80
A
300
4000
700
A
300
2000
2000
800
A
300
90
90
6000
50
60
800
A
300
900
20
60
5000
800
Round 341 to the nearest hundredA
Round 41 to the nearest tenY
Round 94 to the nearest tenG
Round 52 to the nearest tenD
Round 4,097 to the nearest thousandP
Round 57 to the nearest tenO
Round 2,840 to the nearest thousandU
Round 807 to the nearest hundredN
Round 2,150 to the nearest thousandS
Round 77 to the nearest tenC
Round 867 to the nearest hundredT
Round 18 to the nearest tenH
Round 4,675 to the nearest thousandR
Round 663 to the nearest hundredW
Round 6,094 to the nearest thousandE
Round 8,700 to the nearest thousandF
Round 388 to the nearest hundredB
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We found footprints leading to three distinct lookout points. If the suspects split their stolen gold coins evenly among these three camps, how many did each lookout receive?
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
36 ÷ 3 = ?
60 ÷ 6 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
15 ÷ 3 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
33 ÷ 3 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swings a machete to clear the thick brush, then paddles a makeshift raft down the rapids.
2.The villain swings a machete to clear the thick brush, then scrambles up a tall mahogany tree.
3.The villain uses a grappling hook to scale the wall, then plots a shortcut on a dusty old map.
4.The villain peers through a spyglass to spot the trail, then plots a shortcut on a dusty old map.
5.The villain swings a machete to clear the thick brush, then leaps across the gorge using a sturdy vine.
6.The villain uses a grappling hook to scale the wall, then fools the guards with a parrot call.
7.The villain peers through a spyglass to spot the trail, then scrambles up a tall mahogany tree.
8.The villain decodes a secret wall carving with the ring, then scrambles up a tall mahogany tree.
9.The villain decodes a secret wall carving with the ring, then plots a shortcut on a dusty old map.
10.The villain decodes a secret wall carving with the ring, then paddles a makeshift raft down the rapids.
11.The villain uses a grappling hook to scale the wall, then scrambles up a tall mahogany tree.
12.The villain uses a grappling hook to scale the wall, then paddles a makeshift raft down the rapids.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Macaw Mystery
Culprit: Sven Stone (Machete · Tree Climbing · Left-handed · Boone Cap · Scared of Spiders)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT SWING ON VINES"453 + 242 = 695 (T) · 250 + 161 = 411 (O) · 173 + 162 = 335 (A) · 175 + 90 = 265 (S) · 144 + 171 = 315 (V) · 160 + 75 = 235 (H) · 288 + 198 = 486 (N) · 436 + 529 = 965 (D) · 403 + 232 = 635 (L) · 93 + 181 = 274 (G) · 402 + 298 = 700 (E) · 186 + 288 = 474 (W) · 239 + 130 = 369 (I)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN WRITES NOTES WITH THE LEFT HAND"1006 - 257 = 749 (T) · 471 - 197 = 274 (R) · 538 - 94 = 444 (N) · 908 - 365 = 543 (I) · 639 - 238 = 401 (D) · 541 - 187 = 354 (W) · 338 - 86 = 252 (E) · 924 - 25 = 899 (H) · 555 - 375 = 180 (F) · 994 - 186 = 808 (L) · 737 - 177 = 560 (S) · 452 - 10 = 442 (V) · 1043 - 334 = 709 (O) · 861 - 395 = 466 (A)
- Clue 3 (Place value): "THE SNEAK RAN AWAY FROM A JUNGLE SPIDER"What is the value of the 2 in 424? = 20 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 2,173? = 100 (U) · What is the value of the 6 in 9,561? = 60 (L) · What is the value of the 7 in 87,803? = 7000 (P) · What is the value of the 8 in 862? = 800 (H) · What is the value of the 6 in 671? = 600 (R) · What is the value of the 6 in 6,522? = 6000 (S) · What is the value of the 9 in 89,204? = 9000 (W) · What is the value of the 5 in 25,786? = 5000 (Y) · What is the value of the 2 in 6,298? = 200 (F) · What is the value of the 7 in 9,378? = 70 (G) · What is the value of the 9 in 928? = 900 (K) · What is the value of the 5 in 517? = 500 (A) · What is the value of the 9 in 3,296? = 90 (J) · What is the value of the 4 in 945? = 40 (E) · What is the value of the 4 in 6,480? = 400 (N) · What is the value of the 5 in 6,259? = 50 (O) · What is the value of the 8 in 8,591? = 8000 (I) · What is the value of the 3 in 73,764? = 3000 (M) · What is the value of the 1 in 4,910? = 10 (D)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A FURRY BOONE CAP WAS SNAGGED ON A THORN"Round 341 to the nearest hundred = 300 (A) · Round 41 to the nearest ten = 40 (Y) · Round 94 to the nearest ten = 90 (G) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (D) · Round 4,097 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (P) · Round 57 to the nearest ten = 60 (O) · Round 2,840 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (U) · Round 807 to the nearest hundred = 800 (N) · Round 2,150 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (S) · Round 77 to the nearest ten = 80 (C) · Round 867 to the nearest hundred = 900 (T) · Round 18 to the nearest ten = 20 (H) · Round 4,675 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R) · Round 663 to the nearest hundred = 700 (W) · Round 6,094 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (E) · Round 8,700 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (F) · Round 388 to the nearest hundred = 400 (B)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Sven Stone36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 15 ÷ 3 = 5 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Place value, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Golden Macaw Mystery — set in The deep canopy of the Whispering Jungle, near the ancient ruins of the Sunstone Pyramid.
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects