🦕 DinosaursGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationMulti-step word problemsWord problemsRoundingDivision
The Great Fossil Caper
Someone sneaked into the Dino-Valley Lab and took the glowing golden T-Rex egg! The Head Paleontologist needs your help. Look at the clues, solve the math, and find the sneaky Dino-Thief 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 | Dinosaur Handling | Tech Gear | Writing Style | Hair Color | Favorite Dino Food |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owen Grady | Ankylosaurus Groomer | Night Vision Goggles | Right-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Mary Anning | Raptor Whisperer | Night Vision Goggles | Right-handed notepad | Sandy Brown Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Jack Horner | Triceratops Rider | Thermal Scanner | Right-handed notepad | Sandy Brown Hair | Salty Kelp Snacks |
| Pete Peterson | Pterodactyl Flyer | Fossil GPS | Left-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Fern Crunchies |
| Alan Grant | T-Rex Feeder | Fossil GPS | Left-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Salty Kelp Snacks |
| Valerie Raptor | Raptor Whisperer | Night Vision Goggles | Right-handed notepad | Basalt Black Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Fiona Fern | Triceratops Rider | Thermal Scanner | Right-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Zack Zalmoxes | Triceratops Rider | Sonic Whistle | Right-handed notepad | Sandy Brown Hair | Fern Crunchies |
| Digby Bone | T-Rex Feeder | Fossil GPS | Right-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Trixie Trike | Triceratops Rider | Night Vision Goggles | Right-handed notepad | Basalt Black Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Roy Chapman | Ankylosaurus Groomer | Thermal Scanner | Right-handed notepad | Basalt Black Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Gideon Mantell | Pterodactyl Flyer | Sonic Whistle | Right-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Sandy Sediment | Triceratops Rider | Night Vision Goggles | Left-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Penny Raptor | Ankylosaurus Groomer | Sonic Whistle | Right-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Salty Kelp Snacks |
| Maeve Fossil | Raptor Whisperer | Fossil GPS | Right-handed notepad | Sandy Brown Hair | Fern Crunchies |
| Ellie Sattler | Raptor Whisperer | Night Vision Goggles | Right-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Lava Berry Jam |
| Rex Tracker | Pterodactyl Flyer | Laser Pointer | Left-handed notepad | Sandy Brown Hair | Fern Crunchies |
| Rocky Ridge | Raptor Whisperer | Sonic Whistle | Right-handed notepad | Sandy Brown Hair | Salty Kelp Snacks |
| Barnum Brown | Raptor Whisperer | Thermal Scanner | Left-handed notepad | Sandy Brown Hair | Salty Kelp Snacks |
| Buster Boulder | Ankylosaurus Groomer | Fossil GPS | Right-handed notepad | Basalt Black Hair | Fern Crunchies |
| Dino Dan | Ankylosaurus Groomer | Sonic Whistle | Right-handed notepad | Amber Hair | Fern Crunchies |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We found crates of dino snacks stacked in rows. If we count the groups of snacks, we can decode the thief's gear 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
5
100
54
T
5
100
72
54
80
30
14
54
120
6
14
T
5
100
2
20
54
T
5
100
54
80
14
120
120
72
8
32
10
120
5 × 1 =T
10 × 3 =D
12 × 10 =S
9 × 6 =E
2 × 10 =V
10 × 10 =H
7 × 2 =O
6 × 1 =N
8 × 9 =I
5 × 2 =P
4 × 8 =G
8 × 10 =F
2 × 1 =A
1 × 8 =L
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Multi-step word problems
The lab track system shows footprints. By adding the dino steps and subtracting the human ones, we can find the hand tell.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
36
40
8
31
27
31
25
26
D
E
D
26
O
27
E
P
25
D
There were 129 fossil brushes in all. 3 Dino Patrol used 7 fossil brushes each. The other 3 Dino Patrol shared the rest equally. How many fossil brushes did each of the other Dino Patrol get?R
Ranger Rex filled 2 boxes with 4 egg warmers each, then found 19 more egg warmers. How many egg warmers are there in all?T
There were 77 egg warmers in all. 5 egg warmers were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 Dino Patrol. How many egg warmers did each get?G
Ranger Rex earned 3 fossil brushes in each of 5 rounds, plus 14 bonus fossil brushes. Then 4 fossil brushes were lost. How many fossil brushes are left?A
Ranger Rex filled 9 boxes with 3 toy raptors each, then found 13 more toy raptors. How many toy raptors are there in all?I
There were 118 toy raptors in all. 2 Dino Patrol used 7 toy raptors each. The other 4 Dino Patrol shared the rest equally. How many toy raptors did each of the other Dino Patrol get?N
Ranger Rex filled 8 boxes with 2 dino treats each, then found 15 more dino treats. How many dino treats are there in all?H
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
A baby raptor chewed up some lab charts! We must figure out how many charts are left to reveal the secret hair clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
L
56
28
47
28
59
27
38
38
43
J
28
M
Ranger Rex found 35 egg warmers yesterday and 21 more today. How many egg warmers in all?L
Ranger Rex lined up 4 rows of 7 dino treats. How many dino treats in all?A
There were 64 egg warmers. 26 were used up. How many egg warmers are left?R
Ranger Rex lined up 3 rows of 9 egg warmers. How many egg warmers in all?E
There were 82 toy raptors. 39 were used up. How many toy raptors are left?Y
There were 71 fossil brushes. 12 were used up. How many fossil brushes are left?B
There were 67 dig spades. 20 were used up. How many dig spades are left?V
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The radar scanner only shows rounded numbers for weight limits. Rounding the weight of this footprint unlocks the weakness 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
20
80
800
6000
400
30
A
20
600
400
50
A
20
7000
4000
A
20
900
700
30
500
3000
40
500
30
6000
4000
A
20
700
6000
700
A
20
500
6000
Round 16 to the nearest tenA
Round 932 to the nearest hundredU
Round 44 to the nearest tenN
Round 7,051 to the nearest thousandS
Round 553 to the nearest hundredI
Round 78 to the nearest tenM
Round 824 to the nearest hundredB
Round 701 to the nearest hundredG
Round 5,592 to the nearest thousandE
Round 546 to the nearest hundredT
Round 52 to the nearest tenW
Round 31 to the nearest tenH
Round 3,510 to the nearest thousandC
Round 368 to the nearest hundredR
Round 3,164 to the nearest thousandO
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We must share the dino treats equally among the baby stegos. Splitting them up fairly 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
12 ÷ 12 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
90 ÷ 10 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
12 ÷ 4 = ?
35 ÷ 5 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
10 ÷ 5 = ?
10 ÷ 2 = ?
48 ÷ 4 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain disguises themselves as a triceratops, then checks a glowing screen.
2.The villain sails down on a glider, then checks a glowing screen.
3.The villain sneaks past the sleeping t-rex, then taps on a pocket map.
4.The villain sails down on a glider, then puts on dark green glasses.
5.The villain shuffles through the swamp, then taps on a pocket map.
6.The villain sails down on a glider, then blows a tiny whistle.
7.The villain rides a giant raptor into the lab, then blows a tiny whistle.
8.The villain shuffles through the swamp, then puts on dark green glasses.
9.The villain rides a giant raptor into the lab, then puts on dark green glasses.
10.The villain sails down on a glider, then taps on a pocket map.
11.The villain rides a giant raptor into the lab, then checks a glowing screen.
12.The villain disguises themselves as a triceratops, then taps on a pocket map.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Fossil Caper
Culprit: Owen Grady (Ankylosaurus Groomer · Night Vision Goggles · Right-handed notepad · Amber Hair · Lava Berry Jam)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE THE FOSSIL GPS"5 × 1 = 5 (T) · 10 × 3 = 30 (D) · 12 × 10 = 120 (S) · 9 × 6 = 54 (E) · 2 × 10 = 20 (V) · 10 × 10 = 100 (H) · 7 × 2 = 14 (O) · 6 × 1 = 6 (N) · 8 × 9 = 72 (I) · 5 × 2 = 10 (P) · 4 × 8 = 32 (G) · 8 × 10 = 80 (F) · 2 × 1 = 2 (A) · 1 × 8 = 8 (L)
- Clue 2 (Multi-step word problems): "RIGHT HANDED NOTEPAD"There were 129 fossil brushes in all. 3 Dino Patrol used 7 fossil brushes each. The other 3 Dino Patrol shared the rest equally. How many fossil brushes did each of the other Dino Patrol get? = 36 (R) · Ranger Rex filled 2 boxes with 4 egg warmers each, then found 19 more egg warmers. How many egg warmers are there in all? = 27 (T) · There were 77 egg warmers in all. 5 egg warmers were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 Dino Patrol. How many egg warmers did each get? = 8 (G) · Ranger Rex earned 3 fossil brushes in each of 5 rounds, plus 14 bonus fossil brushes. Then 4 fossil brushes were lost. How many fossil brushes are left? = 25 (A) · Ranger Rex filled 9 boxes with 3 toy raptors each, then found 13 more toy raptors. How many toy raptors are there in all? = 40 (I) · There were 118 toy raptors in all. 2 Dino Patrol used 7 toy raptors each. The other 4 Dino Patrol shared the rest equally. How many toy raptors did each of the other Dino Patrol get? = 26 (N) · Ranger Rex filled 8 boxes with 2 dino treats each, then found 15 more dino treats. How many dino treats are there in all? = 31 (H)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "LAVA BERRY JAM"Ranger Rex found 35 egg warmers yesterday and 21 more today. How many egg warmers in all? = 56 (L) · Ranger Rex lined up 4 rows of 7 dino treats. How many dino treats in all? = 28 (A) · There were 64 egg warmers. 26 were used up. How many egg warmers are left? = 38 (R) · Ranger Rex lined up 3 rows of 9 egg warmers. How many egg warmers in all? = 27 (E) · There were 82 toy raptors. 39 were used up. How many toy raptors are left? = 43 (Y) · There were 71 fossil brushes. 12 were used up. How many fossil brushes are left? = 59 (B) · There were 67 dig spades. 20 were used up. How many dig spades are left? = 47 (V)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "AMBER HAIR WAS CAUGHT ON THE CAGE GATE"Round 16 to the nearest ten = 20 (A) · Round 932 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 44 to the nearest ten = 40 (N) · Round 7,051 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (S) · Round 553 to the nearest hundred = 600 (I) · Round 78 to the nearest ten = 80 (M) · Round 824 to the nearest hundred = 800 (B) · Round 701 to the nearest hundred = 700 (G) · Round 5,592 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (E) · Round 546 to the nearest hundred = 500 (T) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (W) · Round 31 to the nearest ten = 30 (H) · Round 3,510 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (C) · Round 368 to the nearest hundred = 400 (R) · Round 3,164 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (O)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Owen Grady12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 35 ÷ 5 = 7 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Multi-step word problems, Word problems, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Fossil Caper — set in Dino-Valley Lab
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects