🐱 CatsGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Skip countingRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Golden Yarn Caper
A sneaky catburglar has stolen the precious Golden Ball of Yarn from the Whisker Museum! Chief Officer Mittens needs your help. The suspect left behind a trail of clues. We must use our math skills to catch them before they take a long catnap!
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 | pounce ability | toy distraction | preferred paw | fur style | frightened by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crookshanks | high jump | toy mouse | left pawed | solid ginger | cardboard box |
| Mittens | high jump | milk splash | left pawed | tabby stripes | bath water |
| Duchess | silent pounce | feather wand | right pawed | tabby stripes | bath water |
| Hobbes | super purr | milk splash | right pawed | solid ginger | vacuum cleaner |
| Chloe | night vision | catnip bomb | right pawed | fluffy white | bath water |
| Berlioz | night vision | milk splash | right pawed | solid ginger | vacuum cleaner |
| Heathcliff | silent pounce | laser pointer | right pawed | tabby stripes | bath water |
| Salem | high jump | toy mouse | right pawed | solid ginger | bath water |
| Toulouse | silent pounce | toy mouse | left pawed | solid ginger | bath water |
| Garfield | night vision | laser pointer | right pawed | tabby stripes | bath water |
| Simba | silent pounce | catnip bomb | right pawed | tabby stripes | bath water |
| Sylvester | super purr | catnip bomb | left pawed | tabby stripes | cardboard box |
| Felix | mega scratch | milk splash | right pawed | solid ginger | cardboard box |
| Nala | high jump | laser pointer | left pawed | tabby stripes | bath water |
| Figaro | night vision | milk splash | right pawed | tabby stripes | vacuum cleaner |
| Snowball | mega scratch | feather wand | right pawed | tabby stripes | cardboard box |
| Marie | high jump | milk splash | right pawed | solid ginger | bath water |
| Boots | night vision | catnip bomb | left pawed | fluffy white | cardboard box |
| Socks | silent pounce | toy mouse | right pawed | solid ginger | vacuum cleaner |
| Pusheen | night vision | toy mouse | right pawed | tabby stripes | bath water |
| Oliver | silent pounce | laser pointer | left pawed | tabby stripes | cardboard box |
Clue 1
Skip counting
We found paw prints on the museum floor. They are evenly spaced. Let's skip count the paw prints to find where they lead.
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
55
20
10
42
22
42
140
10
15
T
55
80
28
10
42
9
28
T
55
22
42
10
70
130
10
70
T
55
20
10
6
40
70
9
80
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65T
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30H
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100D
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15N
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14E
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48S
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10R
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ___, 75, 80A
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32O
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160P
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26U
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, ___, 20, 25C
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150F
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, ___, 50, 60W
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The museum security radar shows how far away the suspect is. The radar screen only shows numbers rounded to the nearest ten.
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
2000
2900
1100
3000
2900
1100
9000
1300
T
2000
2900
1100
130
20
9000
1300
1100
170
3000
110
30
170
2300
170
T
2000
2900
1100
2300
30
30
2300
130
2900
T
2000
3700
110
290
Round 1,712 to the nearest thousandT
Round 167 to the nearest tenN
Round 9,486 to the nearest thousandL
Round 1,132 to the nearest hundredE
Round 113 to the nearest tenA
Round 2,992 to the nearest thousandY
Round 2,325 to the nearest hundredI
Round 2,928 to the nearest hundredH
Round 3,729 to the nearest hundredP
Round 287 to the nearest tenW
Round 1,303 to the nearest hundredD
Round 34 to the nearest tenR
Round 131 to the nearest tenG
Round 22 to the nearest tenO
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
We need to count all the shiny toy mice left in the play room. Let's add them up to find the total.
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
8787
6795
7843
2171
4069
2437
6568
2437
8027
2437
2171
8027
6795
7843
6568
T
8787
6795
7843
6128
2437
T
8787
6795
8027
2437
T
8787
7843
4069
5282
4942
6236
2437
5282
6795
7843
4976
6014 + 2773 =T
3392 + 1890 =S
2873 + 4970 =E
2702 + 2274 =D
3379 + 3189 =N
2473 + 4322 =H
2290 + 3946 =L
2949 + 3179 =B
2225 + 1844 =R
4775 + 3252 =W
1247 + 1190 =A
735 + 1436 =Y
2715 + 2227 =P
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The suspect dropped some stolen catnip treats along the way. Subtract the treats we found from the total to see how many they have 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.
W
3095
1726
8829
5558
1335
4394
3185
4695
6759
3725
7904
1658
1726
3185
8829
1335
3725
5558
4394
6759
7370
1726
3402
5558
3065
3185
1726
4394
2739
4222
3725
4394
7070 - 3975 =W
7692 - 322 =H
5334 - 3676 =P
7604 - 3879 =R
7536 - 1978 =O
8809 - 4587 =A
9086 - 1182 =I
4095 - 693 =G
10373 - 1544 =F
7829 - 3134 =S
7846 - 3452 =N
7819 - 4634 =D
4724 - 1985 =Y
5275 - 3940 =U
11586 - 4827 =T
7527 - 4462 =L
5395 - 3669 =E
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We found a pile of fish biscuits. If we share them equally among our detective kittens, we can figure out 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
20 ÷ 5 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
132 ÷ 12 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
108 ÷ 9 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
12 ÷ 4 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sneaks past the sleeping guard dog, then makes everyone too sleepy to give chase.
2.The villain switches off the gallery lights, then tickles the security guards.
3.The villain activates a high pitch frequency, then rolls a noisy toy across the floor.
4.The villain switches off the gallery lights, then distracts the museum guards with a red dot.
5.The villain activates a high pitch frequency, then creates a slippery puddle on the rug.
6.The villain tears down the display curtain, then makes everyone too sleepy to give chase.
7.The villain leaps over the security gate, then tickles the security guards.
8.The villain sneaks past the sleeping guard dog, then distracts the museum guards with a red dot.
9.The villain tears down the display curtain, then tickles the security guards.
10.The villain leaps over the security gate, then distracts the museum guards with a red dot.
11.The villain switches off the gallery lights, then rolls a noisy toy across the floor.
12.The villain tears down the display curtain, then distracts the museum guards with a red dot.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Yarn Caper
Culprit: Simba (silent pounce · catnip bomb · right pawed · tabby stripes · bath water)
- Clue 1 (Skip counting): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE A FEATHER WAND"Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65 = 55 (T) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30 = 20 (H) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100 = 80 (D) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15 = 9 (N) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14 = 10 (E) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48 = 42 (S) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (R) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ___, 75, 80 = 70 (A) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (O) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160 = 140 (P) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26 = 22 (U) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, ___, 20, 25 = 15 (C) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150 = 130 (F) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, ___, 50, 60 = 40 (W)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THEY HELD THE GOLDEN YARN IN THEIR RIGHT PAW"Round 1,712 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (T) · Round 167 to the nearest ten = 170 (N) · Round 9,486 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (L) · Round 1,132 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (E) · Round 113 to the nearest ten = 110 (A) · Round 2,992 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (Y) · Round 2,325 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (I) · Round 2,928 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (H) · Round 3,729 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (P) · Round 287 to the nearest ten = 290 (W) · Round 1,303 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (D) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (R) · Round 131 to the nearest ten = 130 (G) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (O)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THEY RAN AWAY WHEN THE BATH WATER SPLASHED"6014 + 2773 = 8787 (T) · 3392 + 1890 = 5282 (S) · 2873 + 4970 = 7843 (E) · 2702 + 2274 = 4976 (D) · 3379 + 3189 = 6568 (N) · 2473 + 4322 = 6795 (H) · 2290 + 3946 = 6236 (L) · 2949 + 3179 = 6128 (B) · 2225 + 1844 = 4069 (R) · 4775 + 3252 = 8027 (W) · 1247 + 1190 = 2437 (A) · 735 + 1436 = 2171 (Y) · 2715 + 2227 = 4942 (P)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "WE FOUND STRIPED FUR ON THE GOLDEN YARN"7070 - 3975 = 3095 (W) · 7692 - 322 = 7370 (H) · 5334 - 3676 = 1658 (P) · 7604 - 3879 = 3725 (R) · 7536 - 1978 = 5558 (O) · 8809 - 4587 = 4222 (A) · 9086 - 1182 = 7904 (I) · 4095 - 693 = 3402 (G) · 10373 - 1544 = 8829 (F) · 7829 - 3134 = 4695 (S) · 7846 - 3452 = 4394 (N) · 7819 - 4634 = 3185 (D) · 4724 - 1985 = 2739 (Y) · 5275 - 3940 = 1335 (U) · 11586 - 4827 = 6759 (T) · 7527 - 4462 = 3065 (L) · 5395 - 3669 = 1726 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Simba20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 108 ÷ 9 = 12 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Skip counting, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Yarn Caper — set in The Whisker Museum of Cat Toy History
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects