🔎 Albuquerque New MexicoGrade 3Reading: grades 1-2Place valueSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Great Balloon Mystery
The sky is bright with colorful balloons. But oh no! The biggest hot air balloon has been popped. Detective, we need to find the Balloon Bandit and save the fiesta!
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 | Fiesta Flight Trick | Desert Scouting Gear | Wrist Watch Color | Balloon Crew Hair | Desert Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosie | riding a fast roadrunner | using a pocket compass | wears a yellow watch | desert black hair | windy weather |
| Otis | riding a fast roadrunner | holding a prickly pear | wears a yellow watch | desert black hair | chili pepper sneeze |
| Sunny | climbing the Sandia tram | wearing giant sunglasses | wears a green watch | desert black hair | prickly cactus |
| Buster | riding a fast roadrunner | using a pocket compass | wears a green watch | chili red hair | prickly cactus |
| Arturo | flying a hot air balloon | wearing a silver buckle | wears a green watch | desert black hair | chili pepper sneeze |
| Billy | finding hidden turquoise | wearing giant sunglasses | wears a green watch | sandy blonde hair | windy weather |
| Elena | climbing the Sandia tram | wearing giant sunglasses | wears a green watch | desert black hair | windy weather |
| Clara | flying a hot air balloon | using a pocket compass | wears a yellow watch | chili red hair | prickly cactus |
| Mateo | flying a hot air balloon | wearing giant sunglasses | wears a green watch | chili red hair | prickly cactus |
| Sandy | flying a hot air balloon | using a pocket compass | wears a yellow watch | desert black hair | windy weather |
| Lola | flying a hot air balloon | wearing a silver buckle | wears a green watch | desert black hair | prickly cactus |
| Rudy | climbing the Sandia tram | wearing a silver buckle | wears a green watch | desert black hair | prickly cactus |
| Paco | climbing the Sandia tram | carrying a desert map | wears a yellow watch | desert black hair | windy weather |
| Rita | finding hidden turquoise | carrying a desert map | wears a green watch | sandy blonde hair | windy weather |
| Hank | glowing like neon lights | wearing a silver buckle | wears a yellow watch | chili red hair | windy weather |
| Penny | glowing like neon lights | holding a prickly pear | wears a yellow watch | desert black hair | windy weather |
| Joni | flying a hot air balloon | carrying a desert map | wears a yellow watch | chili red hair | windy weather |
| Manny | riding a fast roadrunner | using a pocket compass | wears a green watch | desert black hair | chili pepper sneeze |
| Sofia | climbing the Sandia tram | carrying a desert map | wears a yellow watch | desert black hair | chili pepper sneeze |
| Diego | flying a hot air balloon | holding a prickly pear | wears a yellow watch | sandy blonde hair | prickly cactus |
| Gaby | riding a fast roadrunner | carrying a desert map | wears a yellow watch | desert black hair | windy weather |
Clue 1
Place value
We look at the big balloon tickets. Let us find the hundreds place to get our first clue.
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
500
60
50
7000
4000
20
5000
700
T
500
5000
400
50
8000
20
400
T
500
60
400
90
5000
4000
80
6000
700
800
40
90
3000
80
50
4000
6000
What is the value of the 5 in 6,587?T
What is the value of the 8 in 58,624?S
What is the value of the 7 in 742?I
What is the value of the 6 in 6,302?R
What is the value of the 6 in 765?H
What is the value of the 7 in 7,085?B
What is the value of the 5 in 952?E
What is the value of the 8 in 983?P
What is the value of the 9 in 5,391?L
What is the value of the 4 in 54,618?A
What is the value of the 2 in 8,127?N
What is the value of the 3 in 3,067?Y
What is the value of the 5 in 5,627?D
What is the value of the 8 in 7,842?C
What is the value of the 4 in 340?K
What is the value of the 4 in 8,470?O
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
Some desert maps blew away in the wind. We subtract the lost maps to find the next hint.
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
867
764
676
859
428
859
119
676
252
T
867
886
676
395
312
859
395
819
676
763
763
742
886
886
395
T
867
252
764
971 - 104 =T
1123 - 381 =O
1098 - 335 =L
861 - 97 =H
305 - 53 =C
986 - 100 =W
424 - 305 =P
648 - 220 =U
1045 - 186 =S
475 - 163 =R
436 - 41 =A
701 - 25 =E
1210 - 391 =Y
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We see rows of bright balloons. There are three baskets in each row. Let us multiply 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
144
44
8
36
45
96
33
49
T
144
33
49
56
121
49
70
8
56
24
49
96
33
10
24
8
45
T
144
44
8
64
12 × 12 =T
7 × 10 =K
2 × 4 =E
12 × 8 =N
8 × 8 =R
3 × 12 =B
3 × 8 =W
3 × 11 =D
7 × 7 =I
1 × 10 =Y
5 × 9 =A
11 × 11 =L
11 × 4 =H
8 × 7 =S
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The tram meter shows the altitude. We round the number to the nearest ten to read the screen.
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
8000
3000
800
30
7000
7000
60
30
4000
8000
60
300
6000
3000
300
3000
200
T
5000
500
7000
60
2000
90
8000
60
30
200
Round 5,463 to the nearest thousandT
Round 56 to the nearest tenA
Round 33 to the nearest tenI
Round 497 to the nearest hundredB
Round 221 to the nearest hundredR
Round 811 to the nearest hundredV
Round 1,514 to the nearest thousandC
Round 266 to the nearest hundredS
Round 6,451 to the nearest thousandD
Round 2,610 to the nearest thousandE
Round 7,733 to the nearest thousandH
Round 4,223 to the nearest thousandN
Round 6,727 to the nearest thousandL
Round 87 to the nearest tenK
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We share the sweet sopaipillas among our team. We divide them equally to get 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
10 ÷ 10 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
56 ÷ 8 = ?
45 ÷ 9 = ?
40 ÷ 4 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain rides the Sandia tram car, then checks their dusty desert map.
2.The villain dashes away on a roadrunner, then checks their dusty desert map.
3.The villain floats up in a huge balloon, then puts on huge dark sunglasses.
4.The villain shines bright with neon gear, then points a tiny pocket compass.
5.The villain rides the Sandia tram car, then flashes their silver belt buckle.
6.The villain dashes away on a roadrunner, then puts on huge dark sunglasses.
7.The villain floats up in a huge balloon, then points a tiny pocket compass.
8.The villain digs up shiny turquoise stones, then checks their dusty desert map.
9.The villain digs up shiny turquoise stones, then points a tiny pocket compass.
10.The villain shines bright with neon gear, then checks their dusty desert map.
11.The villain shines bright with neon gear, then puts on huge dark sunglasses.
12.The villain dashes away on a roadrunner, then points a tiny pocket compass.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Balloon Mystery
Culprit: Rosie (riding a fast roadrunner · using a pocket compass · wears a yellow watch · desert black hair · windy weather)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT HOLD A PRICKLY PEAR"What is the value of the 5 in 6,587? = 500 (T) · What is the value of the 8 in 58,624? = 8000 (S) · What is the value of the 7 in 742? = 700 (I) · What is the value of the 6 in 6,302? = 6000 (R) · What is the value of the 6 in 765? = 60 (H) · What is the value of the 7 in 7,085? = 7000 (B) · What is the value of the 5 in 952? = 50 (E) · What is the value of the 8 in 983? = 80 (P) · What is the value of the 9 in 5,391? = 90 (L) · What is the value of the 4 in 54,618? = 4000 (A) · What is the value of the 2 in 8,127? = 20 (N) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,067? = 3000 (Y) · What is the value of the 5 in 5,627? = 5000 (D) · What is the value of the 8 in 7,842? = 800 (C) · What is the value of the 4 in 340? = 40 (K) · What is the value of the 4 in 8,470? = 400 (O)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT WEARS A YELLOW WATCH"971 - 104 = 867 (T) · 1123 - 381 = 742 (O) · 1098 - 335 = 763 (L) · 861 - 97 = 764 (H) · 305 - 53 = 252 (C) · 986 - 100 = 886 (W) · 424 - 305 = 119 (P) · 648 - 220 = 428 (U) · 1045 - 186 = 859 (S) · 475 - 163 = 312 (R) · 436 - 41 = 395 (A) · 701 - 25 = 676 (E) · 1210 - 391 = 819 (Y)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE BANDIT DISLIKES WINDY WEATHER"12 × 12 = 144 (T) · 7 × 10 = 70 (K) · 2 × 4 = 8 (E) · 12 × 8 = 96 (N) · 8 × 8 = 64 (R) · 3 × 12 = 36 (B) · 3 × 8 = 24 (W) · 3 × 11 = 33 (D) · 7 × 7 = 49 (I) · 1 × 10 = 10 (Y) · 5 × 9 = 45 (A) · 11 × 11 = 121 (L) · 11 × 4 = 44 (H) · 8 × 7 = 56 (S)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN HAS DESERT BLACK HAIR"Round 5,463 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (T) · Round 56 to the nearest ten = 60 (A) · Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (I) · Round 497 to the nearest hundred = 500 (B) · Round 221 to the nearest hundred = 200 (R) · Round 811 to the nearest hundred = 800 (V) · Round 1,514 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (C) · Round 266 to the nearest hundred = 300 (S) · Round 6,451 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (D) · Round 2,610 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (E) · Round 7,733 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (H) · Round 4,223 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (N) · Round 6,727 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (L) · Round 87 to the nearest ten = 90 (K)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Rosie10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Great Balloon Mystery — set in the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects