🔎 WoodchucksGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6RoundingFractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision

The Great Acorn Caper

The Golden Acorn of the Grand Burrow has vanished! A sneaky burrow bandit dug their way into the high-security vault, leaving behind a trail of woodchips and muddy pawprints. As Chief Detective, you must crack the clues, solve the math problems, and find the culprit among the forest's woodchucks.

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	digging style	special gear	writing paw	fur pattern	favorite snack
Chuck Yeager	root chomping	hiking boots	left pawed	patchy chest	maple bark
Charlie Brown	root chomping	hiking boots	left pawed	patchy chest	wild berries
Chippy Nibbles	tunnel blasting	brass goggles	left pawed	striped tail	wild berries
Hazel Hazelnut	tunnel blasting	pocket compass	left pawed	patchy chest	wild berries
Timber Tom	silent clawing	hiking boots	left pawed	patchy chest	maple bark
Phil of Punxsutawney	tunnel blasting	hiking boots	left pawed	striped tail	maple bark
Clover Chester	tunnel blasting	brass goggles	right pawed	patchy chest	wild berries
Rooty McTooth	rapid scooping	velvet cape	right pawed	spotted back	maple bark
Major Maple	tunnel blasting	velvet cape	right pawed	striped tail	sweet clover
Chucky Cheeks	root chomping	velvet cape	right pawed	patchy chest	wild berries
Diggory Dirt	root chomping	hiking boots	right pawed	spotted back	sweet clover
Woody Groundhog	rapid scooping	miner helmet	left pawed	patchy chest	wild berries
Charles Barkley	gravel scooping	velvet cape	right pawed	spotted back	maple bark
Oakley Whisker	silent clawing	brass goggles	right pawed	spotted back	sweet clover
Bella Bark	tunnel blasting	pocket compass	left pawed	striped tail	wild berries
Barnaby Birch	silent clawing	miner helmet	left pawed	patchy chest	wild berries
Gravel Gordon	rapid scooping	brass goggles	right pawed	striped tail	maple bark
Buster Burrow	tunnel blasting	miner helmet	left pawed	spotted back	maple bark
Squeaks McClaw	gravel scooping	velvet cape	left pawed	patchy chest	wild berries
Gwen Greenleaf	tunnel blasting	brass goggles	left pawed	spotted back	wild berries
Pip Squeak	gravel scooping	brass goggles	right pawed	spotted back	sweet clover

Clue 1

Rounding

We found a digging machine near the vault. Its muddy digital screen is partly cracked, so we have to round the depth meter reading to the nearest ten to make sense of it.

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

370

500

230

5000

290

2900

1700

370

2900

4300

290

4300

370

5000

300

5000

700

900

700

370

2000

5000

1100

Round 369 to the nearest tenT

Round 2,880 to the nearest hundredD

Round 19 to the nearest tenS

Round 2,282 to the nearest thousandC

Round 5,402 to the nearest thousandA

Round 4,307 to the nearest hundredO

Round 234 to the nearest tenB

Round 486 to the nearest hundredH

Round 294 to the nearest tenN

Round 70 to the nearest tenW

Round 717 to the nearest hundredV

Round 28 to the nearest tenE

Round 889 to the nearest hundredL

Round 1,054 to the nearest hundredP

Round 255 to the nearest hundredR

Round 1,700 to the nearest hundredI

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Fractions of a number

The thief dropped a pouch of acorns while escaping. If we calculate the fraction of acorns remaining from the total stash, we can pinpoint the escape route.

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

2/4 of 74 =T

4/8 of 52 =N

2/4 of 6 =W

2/4 of 68 =F

5/8 of 64 =B

1/10 of 60 =P

2/6 of 30 =S

4/5 of 30 =O

8/10 of 40 =L

3/5 of 15 =E

1/5 of 25 =I

1/8 of 136 =C

4/8 of 60 =G

1/3 of 54 =R

1/3 of 42 =H

1/5 of 60 =A

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

The escape tunnel is marked with a series of confusing warning signs. Solve this multi-step equation using the correct order of operations to find the tunnel's true depth.

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

45 + 5 × 3 =T

10 + 7 × 6 =P

3 + 7 × 8 =U

46 + 2 × 4 =H

14 + 4 × 3 =E

3 × 11 - 20 =B

9 × 2 - 12 =A

66 + 5 × 2 =N

6 × 11 - 5 =R

5 × 8 - 4 =I

41 + 4 × 4 =S

9 + 4 × 8 =L

11 × 3 - 4 =O

5 × 9 - 5 =D

7 × 10 - 2 =W

5 × 12 - 12 =Y

0/16 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

The bandit left neat rows of chew marks on the support beams. We can find the total number of woodchips by multiplying the rows and columns of marks.

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

100

144

108

132

3 × 4 =A

1 × 8 =N

12 × 12 =M

10 × 7 =T

9 × 12 =S

8 × 9 =C

8 × 4 =F

7 × 7 =W

5 × 3 =P

3 × 1 =H

6 × 3 =Y

10 × 10 =L

12 × 11 =E

9 × 6 =O

4 × 5 =D

7 × 6 =G

6 × 11 =R

1 × 11 =U

0/18 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

A heavy crate of evidence paw-prints was recovered from the mud. Let's divide these prints equally among our five tracking squads to see what they find.

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

44 ÷ 11 = ?

10 ÷ 10 = ?

6 ÷ 1 = ?

96 ÷ 8 = ?

77 ÷ 7 = ?

25 ÷ 5 = ?

10 ÷ 5 = ?

56 ÷ 8 = ?

60 ÷ 6 = ?

33 ÷ 11 = ?

48 ÷ 6 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain chomped through the thick tree roots, then slipped past the sleeping guards.

2.The villain shoveled aside the heavy gravel, then vanished down the escape hatch.

3.The villain shoveled aside the heavy gravel, then dashed into the safety of the woods.

4.The villain scratched quietly through the floor, then scurried away into the deep tunnels.

5.The villain scratched quietly through the floor, then dashed into the safety of the woods.

6.The villain blasted through the dirt wall, then dashed into the safety of the woods.

7.The villain chomped through the thick tree roots, then vanished down the escape hatch.

8.The villain blasted through the dirt wall, then slipped past the sleeping guards.

9.The villain scooped up a massive pile of soil, then scurried away into the deep tunnels.

10.The villain scooped up a massive pile of soil, then escaped with the shiny treasure.

11.The villain chomped through the thick tree roots, then dashed into the safety of the woods.

12.The villain scratched quietly through the floor, then slipped past the sleeping guards.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Great Acorn Caper

Culprit: Woody Groundhog (rapid scooping · miner helmet · left pawed · patchy chest · wild berries)

Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT WEAR A VELVET CAPE"
Round 369 to the nearest ten = 370 (T) · Round 2,880 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (D) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (S) · Round 2,282 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (C) · Round 5,402 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (A) · Round 4,307 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 234 to the nearest ten = 230 (B) · Round 486 to the nearest hundred = 500 (H) · Round 294 to the nearest ten = 290 (N) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (W) · Round 717 to the nearest hundred = 700 (V) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (E) · Round 889 to the nearest hundred = 900 (L) · Round 1,054 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (P) · Round 255 to the nearest hundred = 300 (R) · Round 1,700 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (I)
Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE SCRIBBLINGS SHOW A LEFT PAW PRINT"
2/4 of 74 = 37 (T) · 4/8 of 52 = 26 (N) · 2/4 of 6 = 3 (W) · 2/4 of 68 = 34 (F) · 5/8 of 64 = 40 (B) · 1/10 of 60 = 6 (P) · 2/6 of 30 = 10 (S) · 4/5 of 30 = 24 (O) · 8/10 of 40 = 32 (L) · 3/5 of 15 = 9 (E) · 1/5 of 25 = 5 (I) · 1/8 of 136 = 17 (C) · 4/8 of 60 = 30 (G) · 1/3 of 54 = 18 (R) · 1/3 of 42 = 14 (H) · 1/5 of 60 = 12 (A)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THERE ARE PURPLE WILD BERRY STAINS ON THE WALL"
45 + 5 × 3 = 60 (T) · 10 + 7 × 6 = 52 (P) · 3 + 7 × 8 = 59 (U) · 46 + 2 × 4 = 54 (H) · 14 + 4 × 3 = 26 (E) · 3 × 11 - 20 = 13 (B) · 9 × 2 - 12 = 6 (A) · 66 + 5 × 2 = 76 (N) · 6 × 11 - 5 = 61 (R) · 5 × 8 - 4 = 36 (I) · 41 + 4 × 4 = 57 (S) · 9 + 4 × 8 = 41 (L) · 11 × 3 - 4 = 29 (O) · 5 × 9 - 5 = 40 (D) · 7 × 10 - 2 = 68 (W) · 5 × 12 - 12 = 48 (Y)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A PATCHY FUR CLUMP WAS SNAGGED ON A ROOT"
3 × 4 = 12 (A) · 1 × 8 = 8 (N) · 12 × 12 = 144 (M) · 10 × 7 = 70 (T) · 9 × 12 = 108 (S) · 8 × 9 = 72 (C) · 8 × 4 = 32 (F) · 7 × 7 = 49 (W) · 5 × 3 = 15 (P) · 3 × 1 = 3 (H) · 6 × 3 = 18 (Y) · 10 × 10 = 100 (L) · 12 × 11 = 132 (E) · 9 × 6 = 54 (O) · 4 × 5 = 20 (D) · 7 × 6 = 42 (G) · 6 × 11 = 66 (R) · 1 × 11 = 11 (U)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Woody Groundhog
44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Rounding, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Great Acorn Caper — set in Grand Burrow Archives
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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