🦕 DinosaursGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Great Dinosaur Incubator Caper
A sneaky troublemaker has locked up the precious T-Rex egg inside the Dino Valley incubator! We must find out which wrangler did it before the egg hatches.
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 | Favorite Dinosaur | Gear Tool | Writing hand | Helmet color | Distraction item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toby Digg | Triceratops | Laser pointer | Right handed | Fossil gray | Squeaky bone |
| Jack Horner | Triceratops | Laser pointer | Right handed | Amber orange | Sprinkler spray |
| Ellie Sattler | Triceratops | Mega-lasso | Right handed | Fossil gray | Sprinkler spray |
| Edward Cope | T-Rex | Night goggles | Right handed | Forest green | Squeaky bone |
| Owen Grady | Brachiosaurus | GPS tracker | Right handed | Fossil gray | Sprinkler spray |
| Sue Hendrickson | T-Rex | GPS tracker | Left handed | Fossil gray | Squeaky bone |
| Ranger Rita | Brachiosaurus | Mega-lasso | Right handed | Amber orange | Shiny mirror |
| Alan Grant | Stegosaurus | Laser pointer | Left handed | Fossil gray | Shiny mirror |
| Roy Andrews | Stegosaurus | Fossil brush | Left handed | Amber orange | Sprinkler spray |
| Bucky Bone | Raptor | Mega-lasso | Left handed | Forest green | Sprinkler spray |
| Barnum Brown | Raptor | Mega-lasso | Left handed | Amber orange | Squeaky bone |
| Claire Dearing | Brachiosaurus | Night goggles | Right handed | Fossil gray | Squeaky bone |
| Luis Alvarez | Stegosaurus | Mega-lasso | Right handed | Forest green | Squeaky bone |
| Penny Raptor | Brachiosaurus | Fossil brush | Right handed | Fossil gray | Sprinkler spray |
| Ian Malcolm | Triceratops | Laser pointer | Left handed | Fossil gray | Sprinkler spray |
| Othniel Marsh | Triceratops | GPS tracker | Left handed | Fossil gray | Squeaky bone |
| Ginger Andrews | Brachiosaurus | Mega-lasso | Right handed | Fossil gray | Sprinkler spray |
| Mary Anning | Triceratops | Laser pointer | Left handed | Forest green | Squeaky bone |
| Robert Bakker | Raptor | Laser pointer | Right handed | Fossil gray | Sprinkler spray |
| Dino Dan | Brachiosaurus | Laser pointer | Left handed | Fossil gray | Sprinkler spray |
| Paul Sereno | Stegosaurus | Mega-lasso | Left handed | Forest green | Squeaky bone |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We count the rows of dinosaur fossil crates loaded onto the truck. Multiply the crates in each row to unlock the 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
120
44
6
27
12
6
50
45
9
21
100
70
70
50
100
12
25
4
6
27
12
4
T
120
110
27
6
50
72
49
27
T
120
132
50
3
45
6
132
10 × 12 =T
9 × 8 =G
5 × 5 =D
4 × 1 =O
1 × 3 =C
2 × 3 =E
9 × 5 =K
3 × 9 =S
7 × 10 =L
10 × 11 =U
1 × 12 =N
7 × 7 =P
12 × 11 =R
5 × 10 =A
7 × 3 =V
11 × 4 =H
9 × 1 =Y
10 × 10 =I
0/18 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The radar scans the baby raptor paddock. It only shows rounded numbers. Round the dino counts to the nearest ten to reveal the 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
800
6000
60
7000
20
7000
90
60
40
T
800
500
30
400
T
800
60
7000
500
400
T
800
6000
T
800
6000
60
400
30
30
400
50
6000
T
800
6000
700
8000
300
Round 836 to the nearest hundredT
Round 6,867 to the nearest thousandS
Round 8,087 to the nearest thousandN
Round 90 to the nearest tenP
Round 486 to the nearest hundredW
Round 661 to the nearest hundredA
Round 409 to the nearest hundredI
Round 33 to the nearest tenR
Round 58 to the nearest tenE
Round 24 to the nearest tenU
Round 257 to the nearest hundredD
Round 49 to the nearest tenG
Round 5,547 to the nearest thousandH
Round 38 to the nearest tenC
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
The rangers gather the fresh fern bundles to feed the triceratops. Add up all the bundles to find the third 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.
A
930
751
713
258
663
653
826
915
542
258
751
713
258
A
930
327
751
412
A
930
258
542
708
801
410
542
801
258
455
436
878
915
542
241
A
930
826
542
258
420 + 510 =A
145 + 113 =R
217 + 110 =Y
420 + 293 =P
383 + 325 =D
302 + 134 =U
363 + 179 =E
590 + 325 =L
415 + 463 =B
256 + 495 =S
178 + 232 =H
244 + 409 =N
180 + 232 =C
100 + 141 =M
328 + 498 =K
141 + 314 =O
451 + 350 =T
220 + 443 =I
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
A herd of gallimimus ran past the gate, leaving footprints. Subtract the muddy prints from the clean prints to get the fourth 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
594
512
423
877
795
877
736
423
271
T
594
230
339
864
736
736
423
230
260
428
864
877
877
347
481
213
339
260
699
512
423
481
375
423
T
594
836 - 242 =T
986 - 287 =Y
810 - 15 =U
734 - 306 =F
314 - 101 =G
692 - 211 =L
271 - 41 =D
751 - 239 =H
382 - 111 =C
932 - 196 =P
935 - 58 =S
419 - 80 =R
450 - 27 =E
486 - 226 =A
987 - 123 =O
627 - 252 =M
408 - 61 =I
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We have a batch of tasty leaves to share equally among the hungry stegosaurs. Divide the leaves to solve 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 ÷ 5 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
8 ÷ 2 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
45 ÷ 9 = ?
27 ÷ 3 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
63 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain roared at the sky, then escaped on a jeep.
2.The villain chased a raptor, then shook the camp bridge.
3.The villain roared at the sky, then dropped a walkie talkie.
4.The villain stomped through the mud, then hid in the fern forest.
5.The villain smashed a wooden fence, then dropped a walkie talkie.
6.The villain chased a raptor, then dropped a walkie talkie.
7.The villain roared at the sky, then hid in the fern forest.
8.The villain smashed a wooden fence, then shook the camp bridge.
9.The villain stole the golden fossil, then escaped on a jeep.
10.The villain stole the golden fossil, then scared the tourists.
11.The villain stole the golden fossil, then shook the camp bridge.
12.The villain chased a raptor, then escaped on a jeep.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Dinosaur Incubator Caper
Culprit: Ginger Andrews (Brachiosaurus · Mega-lasso · Right handed · Fossil gray · Sprinkler spray)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SNEAKY VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A GPS TRACKER"10 × 12 = 120 (T) · 9 × 8 = 72 (G) · 5 × 5 = 25 (D) · 4 × 1 = 4 (O) · 1 × 3 = 3 (C) · 2 × 3 = 6 (E) · 9 × 5 = 45 (K) · 3 × 9 = 27 (S) · 7 × 10 = 70 (L) · 10 × 11 = 110 (U) · 1 × 12 = 12 (N) · 7 × 7 = 49 (P) · 12 × 11 = 132 (R) · 5 × 10 = 50 (A) · 7 × 3 = 21 (V) · 11 × 4 = 44 (H) · 9 × 1 = 9 (Y) · 10 × 10 = 100 (I)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT WRITES WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"Round 836 to the nearest hundred = 800 (T) · Round 6,867 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (S) · Round 8,087 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (N) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (P) · Round 486 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 661 to the nearest hundred = 700 (A) · Round 409 to the nearest hundred = 400 (I) · Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (R) · Round 58 to the nearest ten = 60 (E) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (U) · Round 257 to the nearest hundred = 300 (D) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (G) · Round 5,547 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (H) · Round 38 to the nearest ten = 40 (C)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "A SPRINKLER SPRAY SCARED THE TROUBLEMAKER"420 + 510 = 930 (A) · 145 + 113 = 258 (R) · 217 + 110 = 327 (Y) · 420 + 293 = 713 (P) · 383 + 325 = 708 (D) · 302 + 134 = 436 (U) · 363 + 179 = 542 (E) · 590 + 325 = 915 (L) · 415 + 463 = 878 (B) · 256 + 495 = 751 (S) · 178 + 232 = 410 (H) · 244 + 409 = 653 (N) · 180 + 232 = 412 (C) · 100 + 141 = 241 (M) · 328 + 498 = 826 (K) · 141 + 314 = 455 (O) · 451 + 350 = 801 (T) · 220 + 443 = 663 (I)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT DROPPED A FOSSIL GRAY HELMET"836 - 242 = 594 (T) · 986 - 287 = 699 (Y) · 810 - 15 = 795 (U) · 734 - 306 = 428 (F) · 314 - 101 = 213 (G) · 692 - 211 = 481 (L) · 271 - 41 = 230 (D) · 751 - 239 = 512 (H) · 382 - 111 = 271 (C) · 932 - 196 = 736 (P) · 935 - 58 = 877 (S) · 419 - 80 = 339 (R) · 450 - 27 = 423 (E) · 486 - 226 = 260 (A) · 987 - 123 = 864 (O) · 627 - 252 = 375 (M) · 408 - 61 = 347 (I)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Ginger Andrews10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 63 ÷ 9 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Dinosaur Incubator Caper — set in Dino Valley Research Park
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects