🚀 Space, Dinosaurs, Cats, BaskGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Great Cosmic Yarn Heist
A sneaky space-pirate cat has broken into the Yarn Station! They zipped away with the Golden Ball of Cosmic Yarn. Officer Paws needs your help to track down the naughty kitty and save the nebula.
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 | Primary Gear | Secondary Tech | Dominant Paw | Cybernetic Part | Effective Defense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buster | Laser Cutlass | Hologram Decoy | Left Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Catnip Spray |
| Pixel | Laser Cutlass | Hologram Decoy | Left Pawed | Neon Green Helmet | Catnip Spray |
| Barnacles | Plasma Claw | Warp Booster | Right Pawed | Chrome Ears | Laser Pointer |
| Major Meow | Rocket Jetpack | Magnetic Boots | Right Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Laser Pointer |
| Luna | Plasma Claw | Magnetic Boots | Right Pawed | Chrome Ears | Water Blaster |
| Tuna Breath | Laser Cutlass | Warp Booster | Left Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Catnip Spray |
| Sprocket | Plasma Claw | Warp Booster | Left Pawed | Neon Green Helmet | Catnip Spray |
| Captain Claw | Gravity Grapple | Magnetic Boots | Left Pawed | Chrome Ears | Laser Pointer |
| Nova | Rocket Jetpack | Warp Booster | Left Pawed | Neon Green Helmet | Laser Pointer |
| Laser Claw | Rocket Jetpack | Magnetic Boots | Left Pawed | Chrome Ears | Catnip Spray |
| Nebula | Gravity Grapple | Sonic Meow | Left Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Laser Pointer |
| Scurvy | Laser Cutlass | Magnetic Boots | Left Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Catnip Spray |
| Boots | Laser Cutlass | Magnetic Boots | Left Pawed | Neon Green Helmet | Laser Pointer |
| Waffles | Plasma Claw | Cloaking Collar | Right Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Water Blaster |
| Rusty | Laser Cutlass | Warp Booster | Right Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Catnip Spray |
| Patch | Gravity Grapple | Cloaking Collar | Left Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Catnip Spray |
| Ziggy | Gravity Grapple | Magnetic Boots | Left Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Catnip Spray |
| Kitten Admiral | Gravity Grapple | Hologram Decoy | Right Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Catnip Spray |
| Stardust | Rocket Jetpack | Sonic Meow | Left Pawed | Chrome Ears | Catnip Spray |
| Barnaby | Cyber Eyepatch | Warp Booster | Right Pawed | Chrome Ears | Laser Pointer |
| Whiskers | Laser Cutlass | Sonic Meow | Left Pawed | Rusty Metal Tail | Water Blaster |
Clue 1
Rounding
Our ship radar scanned the pirate ship fleeing. The warp engine speed rounded to the nearest ten gives us 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
1300
900
230
7000
1100
50
50
130
1100
30
5000
1700
230
3700
30
1700
T
1300
900
130
7000
230
130
4300
50
1700
130
2900
1100
30
300
4300
1700
50
50
130
9000
Round 1,344 to the nearest hundredT
Round 226 to the nearest tenE
Round 4,291 to the nearest hundredC
Round 5,364 to the nearest thousandD
Round 7,346 to the nearest thousandV
Round 1,714 to the nearest hundredO
Round 3,654 to the nearest hundredS
Round 2,903 to the nearest hundredK
Round 9,103 to the nearest thousandR
Round 1,142 to the nearest hundredI
Round 51 to the nearest tenL
Round 130 to the nearest tenA
Round 925 to the nearest hundredH
Round 26 to the nearest tenN
Round 301 to the nearest hundredG
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We counted the spilled fish treats left in the escape cargo bay. Adding them up reveals the next pirate secret.
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
9763
8297
3833
6372
9516
3830
6609
T
9763
3833
2722
4028
3833
9458
6609
6103
3833
7674
T
9763
6372
6609
8601
3833
9458
4636
3830
9516
6372
5409 + 4354 =T
2223 + 4386 =A
1607 + 1115 =U
1964 + 2672 =G
4974 + 3323 =H
1710 + 2120 =R
2375 + 5299 =F
3365 + 3007 =P
3266 + 6192 =D
1801 + 2032 =E
3043 + 5558 =W
4125 + 1978 =L
1304 + 2724 =S
4907 + 4609 =I
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The pirate ship dropped some extra fuel cells during the getaway. Subtract the lost cells from the total to learn more.
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
5407
2109
3822
2926
4783
3822
8436
6448
1767
6600
8436
T
5407
2926
4783
3822
3822
2087
3822
8387
8436
T
5407
6600
8436
T
5407
4783
6727
7888
10354 - 4947 =T
9754 - 1318 =A
8400 - 1800 =C
4719 - 897 =E
8102 - 1375 =I
2769 - 1002 =Y
2993 - 67 =S
5070 - 287 =N
6051 - 3964 =Z
10388 - 3940 =K
4491 - 2382 =H
11691 - 3304 =D
12266 - 4378 =P
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The pirate crew packed their laser yarn in equal rows. Multiply the crates to unlock this 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.
S
49
100
11
132
108
S
49
120
20
11
4
S
49
21
8
10
25
21
132
2
90
25
11
25
2
25
20
21
7 × 7 =S
5 × 4 =F
1 × 2 =L
1 × 10 =M
10 × 10 =C
11 × 12 =A
3 × 7 =T
9 × 10 =W
5 × 5 =E
11 × 1 =R
10 × 12 =O
8 × 1 =Y
12 × 9 =P
1 × 4 =U
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to divide the remaining space tuna cans equally among our scout ships. This division gives us the final detail.
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
32 ÷ 4 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
144 ÷ 12 = ?
132 ÷ 12 = ?
9 ÷ 3 = ?
30 ÷ 5 = ?
28 ÷ 7 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
6 ÷ 3 = ?
100 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fired a gravity grapple, then stomped with magnetic boots.
2.The villain swung a laser cutlass, then turned on a cloaking collar.
3.The villain adjusted a cyber eyepatch, then unleashed a sonic meow.
4.The villain adjusted a cyber eyepatch, then activated a warp booster.
5.The villain swung a laser cutlass, then activated a warp booster.
6.The villain fired a gravity grapple, then threw a hologram decoy.
7.The villain fired a gravity grapple, then turned on a cloaking collar.
8.The villain swung a laser cutlass, then threw a hologram decoy.
9.The villain ignited a rocket jetpack, then turned on a cloaking collar.
10.The villain swiped a plasma claw, then turned on a cloaking collar.
11.The villain ignited a rocket jetpack, then activated a warp booster.
12.The villain swung a laser cutlass, then stomped with magnetic boots.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Cosmic Yarn Heist
Culprit: Tuna Breath (Laser Cutlass · Warp Booster · Left Pawed · Rusty Metal Tail · Catnip Spray)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE A CLOAKING COLLAR"Round 1,344 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (T) · Round 226 to the nearest ten = 230 (E) · Round 4,291 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (C) · Round 5,364 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (D) · Round 7,346 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (V) · Round 1,714 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (O) · Round 3,654 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (S) · Round 2,903 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (K) · Round 9,103 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (R) · Round 1,142 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (I) · Round 51 to the nearest ten = 50 (L) · Round 130 to the nearest ten = 130 (A) · Round 925 to the nearest hundred = 900 (H) · Round 26 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 301 to the nearest hundred = 300 (G)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE PIRATE USED A LEFT PAWED GRIP"5409 + 4354 = 9763 (T) · 2223 + 4386 = 6609 (A) · 1607 + 1115 = 2722 (U) · 1964 + 2672 = 4636 (G) · 4974 + 3323 = 8297 (H) · 1710 + 2120 = 3830 (R) · 2375 + 5299 = 7674 (F) · 3365 + 3007 = 6372 (P) · 3266 + 6192 = 9458 (D) · 1801 + 2032 = 3833 (E) · 3043 + 5558 = 8601 (W) · 4125 + 1978 = 6103 (L) · 1304 + 2724 = 4028 (S) · 4907 + 4609 = 9516 (I)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SNEAKY CAT SNEEZED AT CATNIP"10354 - 4947 = 5407 (T) · 9754 - 1318 = 8436 (A) · 8400 - 1800 = 6600 (C) · 4719 - 897 = 3822 (E) · 8102 - 1375 = 6727 (I) · 2769 - 1002 = 1767 (Y) · 2993 - 67 = 2926 (S) · 5070 - 287 = 4783 (N) · 6051 - 3964 = 2087 (Z) · 10388 - 3940 = 6448 (K) · 4491 - 2382 = 2109 (H) · 11691 - 3304 = 8387 (D) · 12266 - 4378 = 7888 (P)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SCRAPS OF RUSTY METAL WERE LEFT"7 × 7 = 49 (S) · 5 × 4 = 20 (F) · 1 × 2 = 2 (L) · 1 × 10 = 10 (M) · 10 × 10 = 100 (C) · 11 × 12 = 132 (A) · 3 × 7 = 21 (T) · 9 × 10 = 90 (W) · 5 × 5 = 25 (E) · 11 × 1 = 11 (R) · 10 × 12 = 120 (O) · 8 × 1 = 8 (Y) · 12 × 9 = 108 (P) · 1 × 4 = 4 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Tuna Breath32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 144 ÷ 12 = 12 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Cosmic Yarn Heist — set in The Starlight Nebula
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects