🔎 Missing cupcake, surprise paGrade 1Reading: grades 1-2AdditionSubtractionWord problemsSkip countingMissing addends
The Great Cupcake Caper
The big surprise party for our spelling bee winner is about to start! But oh no! The giant golden-frosted trophy cupcake is missing from the main table! We must look for clues and find out who took the sweet prize.
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 | Spelling Skill | Party Trick | Writing Hand | Frosting Crumbs | Party Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robby | rhyme jump | sparkler wave | right handed writer | yellow hair | loud balloons |
| Timmy | double letter skip | sparkler wave | left handed writer | pink hair | loud party horns |
| Billy | double letter skip | balloon pop | left handed writer | pink hair | loud balloons |
| Jenny | silent e blast | sparkler wave | right handed writer | pink hair | loud party horns |
| Abby | phonics shout | confetti throw | right handed writer | yellow hair | loud balloons |
| Tommy | phonics shout | ribbon twirl | left handed writer | yellow hair | loud cheers |
| Sally | rhyme jump | ribbon twirl | right handed writer | yellow hair | loud balloons |
| Lily | phonics shout | sparkler wave | right handed writer | blue hair | loud balloons |
| Gaby | prefix dash | ribbon twirl | left handed writer | blue hair | loud party horns |
| Cody | prefix dash | ribbon twirl | right handed writer | pink hair | loud cheers |
| Molly | phonics shout | balloon pop | right handed writer | yellow hair | loud balloons |
| Rudy | prefix dash | sparkler wave | right handed writer | pink hair | loud balloons |
| Danny | silent e blast | confetti throw | left handed writer | blue hair | loud party horns |
| Suzy | silent e blast | balloon pop | right handed writer | yellow hair | loud balloons |
| Willy | prefix dash | sparkler wave | left handed writer | blue hair | loud cheers |
| Max | prefix dash | confetti throw | right handed writer | blue hair | loud cheers |
| Penny | rhyme jump | balloon pop | left handed writer | yellow hair | loud balloons |
| Toby | silent e blast | balloon pop | left handed writer | blue hair | loud party horns |
| Katy | double letter skip | ribbon twirl | left handed writer | pink hair | loud balloons |
| Zoe | double letter skip | ribbon twirl | left handed writer | yellow hair | loud party horns |
| Benny | prefix dash | confetti throw | right handed writer | yellow hair | loud cheers |
Clue 1
Addition
We need to count the balloons on the gym wall. Let us add the red ones and the blue ones to find our first secret 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
11
15
7
17
10
20
19
12
T
11
19
13
7
16
20
13
T
11
19
13
T
11
15
7
18
12
17
17
13
20
T
11
5
12
18
2
6 + 5 =T
8 + 7 =H
7 + 13 =N
2 + 5 =E
4 + 9 =O
6 + 4 =A
3 + 2 =W
8 + 9 =B
6 + 6 =I
1 + 1 =L
14 + 5 =D
9 + 9 =R
4 + 12 =S
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
Someone popped some party balloons by mistake. Subtract the popped ones from the total to get our next 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
13
16
6
11
17
15
T
13
6
17
19
1
6
18
T
13
16
6
15
17
17
15
5
16
T
13
16
7
12
18
T
13
3
1
10
17
15
4
4
9
6
17 - 4 =T
12 - 3 =L
7 - 1 =E
17 - 1 =H
20 - 2 =D
10 - 5 =G
20 - 5 =I
7 - 4 =O
8 - 7 =S
15 - 4 =W
20 - 8 =N
11 - 7 =B
18 - 1 =R
11 - 1 =C
20 - 1 =U
12 - 5 =A
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
Our friend has a word puzzle about spelling bee flashcards. Solve it to unlock the secret desk drawer.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
L
21
12
24
33
10
16
L
21
L
21
12
12
22
S
Spelling Bee Judge lined up 7 rows of 3 spelling card. How many spelling card in all?L
There were 36 party hat. 3 were used up. How many party hat are left?D
Spelling Bee Judge lined up 4 rows of 4 gold star. How many gold star in all?A
Spelling Bee Judge found 9 gold star yesterday and 13 more today. How many gold star in all?N
Spelling Bee Judge lined up 2 rows of 12 shiny balloon. How many shiny balloon in all?U
There were 22 shiny balloon. 10 were used up. How many shiny balloon are left?O
There were 15 mini cupcake. 5 were used up. How many mini cupcake are left?B
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Skip counting
The cupcakes are lined up in neat rows on the desk. Let us skip count them to find the hidden box under the table.
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
45
55
50
70
110
27
36
12
55
16
16
70
W
45
140
9
25
8
25
27
100
140
55
28
W
45
55
55
100
50
8
70
28
100
25
27
15
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55W
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35I
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160H
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65E
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ___, 14, 16Y
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12R
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130U
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20L
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70F
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120T
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42D
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33N
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90O
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32S
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21G
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15A
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The spelling banner had ten letters but some fell off the wall. Find the missing number to open the box.
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
6 + ___ = 17
6 + ___ = 13
2 + ___ = 3
5 + ___ = 8
7 + ___ = 13
5 + ___ = 9
1 + ___ = 10
1 + ___ = 6
2 + ___ = 14
9 + ___ = 19
8 + ___ = 10
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain uses a silent e blast, then pops a giant balloon.
2.The villain does a loud phonics shout, then does a quick ribbon twirl.
3.The villain uses a silent e blast, then throws sparkly confetti.
4.The villain uses a silent e blast, then does a quick ribbon twirl.
5.The villain does a fast prefix dash, then steals a giant cake slice.
6.The villain does a loud phonics shout, then waves a glowing sparkler.
7.The villain does a loud phonics shout, then pops a giant balloon.
8.The villain does a loud phonics shout, then throws sparkly confetti.
9.The villain does a loud phonics shout, then steals a giant cake slice.
10.The villain takes a double letter skip, then waves a glowing sparkler.
11.The villain makes a quick rhyme jump, then waves a glowing sparkler.
12.The villain takes a double letter skip, then throws sparkly confetti.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Cupcake Caper
Culprit: Abby (phonics shout · confetti throw · right handed writer · yellow hair · loud balloons)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT DO THE RIBBON TWIRL"6 + 5 = 11 (T) · 8 + 7 = 15 (H) · 7 + 13 = 20 (N) · 2 + 5 = 7 (E) · 4 + 9 = 13 (O) · 6 + 4 = 10 (A) · 3 + 2 = 5 (W) · 8 + 9 = 17 (B) · 6 + 6 = 12 (I) · 1 + 1 = 2 (L) · 14 + 5 = 19 (D) · 9 + 9 = 18 (R) · 4 + 12 = 16 (S)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE WRITER USED THEIR RIGHT HAND TO SCRIBBLE"17 - 4 = 13 (T) · 12 - 3 = 9 (L) · 7 - 1 = 6 (E) · 17 - 1 = 16 (H) · 20 - 2 = 18 (D) · 10 - 5 = 5 (G) · 20 - 5 = 15 (I) · 7 - 4 = 3 (O) · 8 - 7 = 1 (S) · 15 - 4 = 11 (W) · 20 - 8 = 12 (N) · 11 - 7 = 4 (B) · 18 - 1 = 17 (R) · 11 - 1 = 10 (C) · 20 - 1 = 19 (U) · 12 - 5 = 7 (A)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "LOUD BALLOONS"Spelling Bee Judge lined up 7 rows of 3 spelling card. How many spelling card in all? = 21 (L) · There were 36 party hat. 3 were used up. How many party hat are left? = 33 (D) · Spelling Bee Judge lined up 4 rows of 4 gold star. How many gold star in all? = 16 (A) · Spelling Bee Judge found 9 gold star yesterday and 13 more today. How many gold star in all? = 22 (N) · Spelling Bee Judge lined up 2 rows of 12 shiny balloon. How many shiny balloon in all? = 24 (U) · There were 22 shiny balloon. 10 were used up. How many shiny balloon are left? = 12 (O) · There were 15 mini cupcake. 5 were used up. How many mini cupcake are left? = 10 (B)
- Clue 4 (Skip counting): "WE FOUND YELLOW HAIR IN THE SWEET FROSTING"Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (W) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (I) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160 = 140 (H) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65 = 55 (E) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ___, 14, 16 = 12 (Y) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12 = 8 (R) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130 = 110 (U) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20 = 16 (L) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70 = 50 (F) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120 = 100 (T) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (D) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33 = 27 (N) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ___, 80, 90 = 70 (O) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (S) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21 = 15 (G) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15 = 9 (A)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 8) → Abby6 + ___ = 17 = 11 · 6 + ___ = 13 = 7 · 2 + ___ = 3 = 1 · 5 + ___ = 8 = 3 · 7 + ___ = 13 = 6 · 5 + ___ = 9 = 4 · 1 + ___ = 10 = 9 · 1 + ___ = 6 = 5 · 2 + ___ = 14 = 12 · 9 + ___ = 19 = 10 · 8 + ___ = 10 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Word problems, Skip counting, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Great Cupcake Caper — set in The Maple School Gym
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects