🦕 DinosaursGrade 2Reading: grades 3-4AdditionWord problemsPlace valueSubtractionMissing addends
The Great Fossil Caper
A sneaky rogue wrangler has broken into the Dino Valley Research Station! They snatched the rare golden T-Rex egg right out of the nursery incubator. Chief Paleontologist Dr. Bones needs your help to track down the thief before the prehistoric 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 | dino mount | special tool | writing hand | hat color | favorite treat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steggy Stone | Pterodactyl | night vision goggles | left handed | bright red helmet | maple dino oatmeal |
| Peggy Pegomastax | Pterodactyl | gps map tracker | left handed | bright red helmet | maple dino oatmeal |
| Gerry Geode | Ankylosaurus | thermal heat scanner | right handed | khaki bucket hat | crunchy rock candy |
| Clay Canyon | Ankylosaurus | sonic dino whistle | right handed | safari explorer cap | maple dino oatmeal |
| Sammy Spino | Ankylosaurus | laser fossil brush | left handed | bright red helmet | crunchy rock candy |
| Fiona Fern | Pterodactyl | laser fossil brush | left handed | khaki bucket hat | crunchy rock candy |
| Ian Malcolm | Pterodactyl | laser fossil brush | right handed | safari explorer cap | crunchy rock candy |
| Marnie Mud | Pterodactyl | night vision goggles | left handed | bright red helmet | crunchy rock candy |
| Daisy Digger | Stegosaurus | thermal heat scanner | left handed | bright red helmet | maple dino oatmeal |
| Toby Trex | Ankylosaurus | laser fossil brush | right handed | bright red helmet | crunchy rock candy |
| Rocky Ridge | Velociraptor | laser fossil brush | right handed | bright red helmet | crunchy rock candy |
| Mary Anning | Velociraptor | night vision goggles | left handed | bright red helmet | maple dino oatmeal |
| Val Raptor | Ankylosaurus | sonic dino whistle | left handed | safari explorer cap | maple dino oatmeal |
| Penny Fossil | Triceratops | sonic dino whistle | left handed | khaki bucket hat | crunchy rock candy |
| Jack Horner | Stegosaurus | thermal heat scanner | right handed | khaki bucket hat | fizzy swamp soda |
| Owen Raptor | Ankylosaurus | thermal heat scanner | left handed | safari explorer cap | maple dino oatmeal |
| Alan Grant | Velociraptor | gps map tracker | left handed | bright red helmet | maple dino oatmeal |
| Barney Bones | Stegosaurus | sonic dino whistle | left handed | bright red helmet | crunchy rock candy |
| Ellie Sattler | Pterodactyl | laser fossil brush | right handed | khaki bucket hat | fizzy swamp soda |
| Roy Andrews | Pterodactyl | laser fossil brush | right handed | bright red helmet | maple dino oatmeal |
| Dino Dan | Velociraptor | sonic dino whistle | left handed | khaki bucket hat | maple dino oatmeal |
Clue 1
Addition
To find which way the suspect ran, we must count the fossil tracks in the dirt. Let's add the footprints together 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
27
95
34
T
27
95
49
34
77
40
50
86
98
29
T
27
95
34
T
27
95
34
59
51
50
40
95
34
50
T
27
29
86
50
56
56
34
59
17 + 10 =T
12 + 28 =L
48 + 29 =F
39 + 20 =R
19 + 10 =S
18 + 16 =E
35 + 16 =M
18 + 31 =I
15 + 35 =A
32 + 66 =K
25 + 61 =C
37 + 19 =N
59 + 36 =H
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
The suspect swiped some tools from our main supply tent. Solve this math word problem to see how many gear items are missing!
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
6
30
7
34
19
32
24
D
30
D
Ranger found 2 tracking badges yesterday and 4 more today. How many tracking badges in all?L
There were 13 dino bones. 6 were used up. How many dino bones are left?F
Ranger lined up 8 rows of 4 tracking badges. How many tracking badges in all?A
Ranger lined up 6 rows of 4 fossil brushes. How many fossil brushes in all?N
Ranger found 19 dino bones yesterday and 11 more today. How many dino bones in all?E
There were 28 dino treats. 9 were used up. How many dino treats are left?H
There were 40 water canteens. 6 were used up. How many water canteens are left?T
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Place value
The security lock has a glowing digital screen. Read the digit in each place value column to crack the secret keypad code!
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
32
52
11
76
38
87
68
21
88
61
20
20
52
68
62
13
88
20
52
68
61
87
76
76
13
43
62
52
13
20
What number has 3 tens and 2 ones?W
What number has 2 tens and 1 one?S
What number has 4 tens and 3 ones?T
What number has 5 tens and 2 ones?E
What number has 3 tens and 8 ones?U
What number has 7 tens and 6 ones?O
What number has 6 tens and 8 ones?D
What number has 8 tens and 8 ones?P
What number has 8 tens and 7 ones?N
What number has 2 tens and 0 ones?L
What number has 6 tens and 2 ones?M
What number has 6 tens and 1 one?I
What number has 1 ten and 3 ones?A
What number has 1 ten and 1 one?F
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
We had a full basket of clean brushes, but the sneaky thief tossed some into the mud. Subtract the remaining ones to see how many they ruined!
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
30
59
42
24
26
12
16
42
29
46
12
29
63
65
29
16
83
A
30
39
63
29
20
16
59
29
12
24
38
46
68 - 38 =A
55 - 9 =D
68 - 5 =L
64 - 38 =G
89 - 6 =W
40 - 11 =E
49 - 10 =S
35 - 23 =H
51 - 35 =T
48 - 10 =N
78 - 19 =B
48 - 6 =R
42 - 18 =I
51 - 31 =F
74 - 9 =M
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Our heavy fossil scale needs to balance perfectly. Find the missing number to match the total weight and open the heavy iron vault!
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
1 + ___ = 8
7 + ___ = 15
6 + ___ = 17
10 + ___ = 15
10 + ___ = 16
1 + ___ = 4
5 + ___ = 17
3 + ___ = 4
2 + ___ = 4
7 + ___ = 17
8 + ___ = 17
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain lumbers away on a stegosaurus, then checks the escape route on a gps map tracker.
2.The villain lumbers away on a stegosaurus, then cleans the tracks with a laser fossil brush.
3.The villain soars off on a pterodactyl, then hides their warm tracks from the thermal scanner.
4.The villain dashes off on a velociraptor, then sneaks through the dark using night vision goggles.
5.The villain soars off on a pterodactyl, then quiets the wild baby dinos with a sonic whistle.
6.The villain rides away on a triceratops, then hides their warm tracks from the thermal scanner.
7.The villain soars off on a pterodactyl, then checks the escape route on a gps map tracker.
8.The villain soars off on a pterodactyl, then sneaks through the dark using night vision goggles.
9.The villain stomps away on an ankylosaurus, then cleans the tracks with a laser fossil brush.
10.The villain rides away on a triceratops, then cleans the tracks with a laser fossil brush.
11.The villain dashes off on a velociraptor, then checks the escape route on a gps map tracker.
12.The villain lumbers away on a stegosaurus, then quiets the wild baby dinos with a sonic whistle.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Fossil Caper
Culprit: Mary Anning (Velociraptor · night vision goggles · left handed · bright red helmet · maple dino oatmeal)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF LACKS THE THERMAL HEAT SCANNER"17 + 10 = 27 (T) · 12 + 28 = 40 (L) · 48 + 29 = 77 (F) · 39 + 20 = 59 (R) · 19 + 10 = 29 (S) · 18 + 16 = 34 (E) · 35 + 16 = 51 (M) · 18 + 31 = 49 (I) · 15 + 35 = 50 (A) · 32 + 66 = 98 (K) · 25 + 61 = 86 (C) · 37 + 19 = 56 (N) · 59 + 36 = 95 (H)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED"Ranger found 2 tracking badges yesterday and 4 more today. How many tracking badges in all? = 6 (L) · There were 13 dino bones. 6 were used up. How many dino bones are left? = 7 (F) · Ranger lined up 8 rows of 4 tracking badges. How many tracking badges in all? = 32 (A) · Ranger lined up 6 rows of 4 fossil brushes. How many fossil brushes in all? = 24 (N) · Ranger found 19 dino bones yesterday and 11 more today. How many dino bones in all? = 30 (E) · There were 28 dino treats. 9 were used up. How many dino treats are left? = 19 (H) · There were 40 water canteens. 6 were used up. How many water canteens are left? = 34 (T)
- Clue 3 (Place value): "WE FOUND SPILLED MAPLE DINO OATMEAL"What number has 3 tens and 2 ones? = 32 (W) · What number has 2 tens and 1 one? = 21 (S) · What number has 4 tens and 3 ones? = 43 (T) · What number has 5 tens and 2 ones? = 52 (E) · What number has 3 tens and 8 ones? = 38 (U) · What number has 7 tens and 6 ones? = 76 (O) · What number has 6 tens and 8 ones? = 68 (D) · What number has 8 tens and 8 ones? = 88 (P) · What number has 8 tens and 7 ones? = 87 (N) · What number has 2 tens and 0 ones? = 20 (L) · What number has 6 tens and 2 ones? = 62 (M) · What number has 6 tens and 1 one? = 61 (I) · What number has 1 ten and 3 ones? = 13 (A) · What number has 1 ten and 1 one? = 11 (F)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A BRIGHT RED HELMET WAS LEFT BEHIND"68 - 38 = 30 (A) · 55 - 9 = 46 (D) · 68 - 5 = 63 (L) · 64 - 38 = 26 (G) · 89 - 6 = 83 (W) · 40 - 11 = 29 (E) · 49 - 10 = 39 (S) · 35 - 23 = 12 (H) · 51 - 35 = 16 (T) · 48 - 10 = 38 (N) · 78 - 19 = 59 (B) · 48 - 6 = 42 (R) · 42 - 18 = 24 (I) · 51 - 31 = 20 (F) · 74 - 9 = 65 (M)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 4) → Mary Anning1 + ___ = 8 = 7 · 7 + ___ = 15 = 8 · 6 + ___ = 17 = 11 · 10 + ___ = 15 = 5 · 10 + ___ = 16 = 6 · 1 + ___ = 4 = 3 · 5 + ___ = 17 = 12 · 3 + ___ = 4 = 1 · 2 + ___ = 4 = 2 · 7 + ___ = 17 = 10 · 8 + ___ = 17 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 2 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Word problems, Place value, Subtraction, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Fossil Caper — set in Dino Valley Research Station
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects