🦕 DinosaursGrade 1Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionSkip countingMissing addends
The Great Fossil Fiasco
A sneaky thief has snatched the golden T-Rex fossil right from the center of the dig site! The Head Paleontologist needs your help to crack the codes and track down the culprit before they escape the island.
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 Suit Power | Scouting Tool | Digger Hand | Helmet Color | Lure Bait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gideon Mantell | Raptor Dash | Sonic Roar | Left handed digger | Green helmet | Shiny quartz |
| Spike Taylor | Triceratops Shield | Lava Boots | Left handed digger | Red helmet | Sweet berries |
| Alan Grant | Raptor Dash | Sonic Roar | Left handed digger | Blue helmet | Sweet berries |
| Barnum Brown | T Rex Chomp | Night Goggles | Left handed digger | Red helmet | Sweet berries |
| Daisy Dig | Triceratops Shield | Vine Lasso | Left handed digger | Red helmet | Sweet berries |
| Paul Sereno | Pterodactyl Glide | Fossil Radar | Right handed digger | Red helmet | Sweet berries |
| Robert Bakker | Triceratops Shield | Night Goggles | Right handed digger | Green helmet | Sweet berries |
| Max Fossil | Pterodactyl Glide | Sonic Roar | Right handed digger | Green helmet | Squeaky toys |
| Terry Dactyl | Triceratops Shield | Sonic Roar | Right handed digger | Red helmet | Sweet berries |
| Ian Malcolm | Pterodactyl Glide | Vine Lasso | Left handed digger | Red helmet | Sweet berries |
| Sue Hendrickson | T Rex Chomp | Lava Boots | Left handed digger | Green helmet | Shiny quartz |
| Jack Horner | Triceratops Shield | Lava Boots | Left handed digger | Blue helmet | Shiny quartz |
| Danny Dino | T Rex Chomp | Lava Boots | Left handed digger | Red helmet | Shiny quartz |
| Edward Cope | Raptor Dash | Lava Boots | Right handed digger | Blue helmet | Squeaky toys |
| Penny Pyror | Triceratops Shield | Sonic Roar | Left handed digger | Green helmet | Sweet berries |
| Charles Marsh | Raptor Dash | Night Goggles | Left handed digger | Blue helmet | Sweet berries |
| Steggy Smith | Triceratops Shield | Night Goggles | Left handed digger | Red helmet | Shiny quartz |
| Rex Stone | Ankylosaurus Smash | Night Goggles | Right handed digger | Blue helmet | Sweet berries |
| Ellie Sattler | Raptor Dash | Night Goggles | Left handed digger | Green helmet | Squeaky toys |
| Roxy Raptor | Ankylosaurus Smash | Fossil Radar | Left handed digger | Red helmet | Squeaky toys |
| Roy Andrews | Ankylosaurus Smash | Night Goggles | Left handed digger | Red helmet | Sweet berries |
Clue 1
Place value
A computer terminal at the fossil lab displays the thief's escape speed, but the tens digit is blurry.
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
12
85
57
T
12
85
82
57
97
68
78
57
25
17
78
T
12
28
57
16
43
71
16
64
16
95
78
78
T
12
25
What number has 1 ten and 2 ones?T
What number has 8 tens and 2 ones?I
What number has 1 ten and 6 ones?A
What number has 8 tens and 5 ones?H
What number has 1 ten and 7 ones?N
What number has 2 tens and 5 ones?S
What number has 6 tens and 4 ones?V
What number has 6 tens and 8 ones?D
What number has 7 tens and 1 one?L
What number has 5 tens and 7 ones?E
What number has 9 tens and 5 ones?B
What number has 7 tens and 8 ones?O
What number has 2 tens and 8 ones?W
What number has 9 tens and 7 ones?F
What number has 4 tens and 3 ones?R
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
To track the footsteps, we must count the total dinosaur tracks found in the eastern canyon.
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
17
12
6
T
17
12
20
6
19
8
11
18
16
20
T
17
12
T
17
12
6
20
5
13
6
19
T
17
12
4
15
8
6 + 11 =T
12 + 8 =I
7 + 6 =L
11 + 5 =W
5 + 1 =E
6 + 2 =D
3 + 2 =R
3 + 8 =U
12 + 7 =F
6 + 12 =G
10 + 5 =N
1 + 3 =A
4 + 8 =H
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Some giant ferns were crushed by the fleeing suspect, leaving only a few standing in the valley.
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
6
15
T
13
6
8
15
7
12
T
13
10
1
1
15
3
T
13
10
15
4
T
13
12
16
15
15
T
13
2
15
5
5
8
15
12
16 - 3 =T
15 - 7 =I
3 - 1 =B
14 - 4 =O
5 - 4 =P
14 - 9 =R
15 - 9 =H
14 - 7 =F
9 - 6 =D
19 - 3 =W
13 - 1 =S
11 - 7 =A
20 - 5 =E
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Skip counting
The thief dropped clues along the rock path every few steps. We must jump from stone to stone to collect them.
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
39
55
60
T
39
55
100
60
6
70
16
25
T
39
27
24
60
130
55
60
70
14
60
T
39
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45T
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ___, 26, 28R
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20O
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35S
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18M
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33A
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, ___, 70, 80E
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ___, 75, 80L
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150D
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65H
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120I
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10F
0/12 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The camp kitchen was raided. We know how many Dino-bites were cooked, but some are missing.
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
3 + ___ = 6
9 + ___ = 15
4 + ___ = 14
8 + ___ = 20
6 + ___ = 13
3 + ___ = 5
6 + ___ = 10
7 + ___ = 16
1 + ___ = 9
7 + ___ = 12
7 + ___ = 8
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain crunched a boulder with T-Rex Chomp, then scanned for hidden gold with Fossil Radar.
2.The villain blocked the security net with Triceratops Shield, then shattered the glass cases with Sonic Roar.
3.The villain broke the laboratory lock with Ankylosaurus Smash, then sneaked through the dark with Night Goggles.
4.The villain sprinted past the gates with Raptor Dash, then walked right over the hot vents with Lava Boots.
5.The villain crunched a boulder with T-Rex Chomp, then swung up to the canopy with Vine Lasso.
6.The villain crunched a boulder with T-Rex Chomp, then sneaked through the dark with Night Goggles.
7.The villain blocked the security net with Triceratops Shield, then walked right over the hot vents with Lava Boots.
8.The villain soared over the canyon with Pterodactyl Glide, then shattered the glass cases with Sonic Roar.
9.The villain blocked the security net with Triceratops Shield, then scanned for hidden gold with Fossil Radar.
10.The villain soared over the canyon with Pterodactyl Glide, then swung up to the canopy with Vine Lasso.
11.The villain blocked the security net with Triceratops Shield, then swung up to the canopy with Vine Lasso.
12.The villain blocked the security net with Triceratops Shield, then sneaked through the dark with Night Goggles.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Fossil Fiasco
Culprit: Daisy Dig (Triceratops Shield · Vine Lasso · Left handed digger · Red helmet · Sweet berries)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR LAVA BOOTS"What number has 1 ten and 2 ones? = 12 (T) · What number has 8 tens and 2 ones? = 82 (I) · What number has 1 ten and 6 ones? = 16 (A) · What number has 8 tens and 5 ones? = 85 (H) · What number has 1 ten and 7 ones? = 17 (N) · What number has 2 tens and 5 ones? = 25 (S) · What number has 6 tens and 4 ones? = 64 (V) · What number has 6 tens and 8 ones? = 68 (D) · What number has 7 tens and 1 one? = 71 (L) · What number has 5 tens and 7 ones? = 57 (E) · What number has 9 tens and 5 ones? = 95 (B) · What number has 7 tens and 8 ones? = 78 (O) · What number has 2 tens and 8 ones? = 28 (W) · What number has 9 tens and 7 ones? = 97 (F) · What number has 4 tens and 3 ones? = 43 (R)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE THIEF DUG WITH THEIR LEFT HAND"6 + 11 = 17 (T) · 12 + 8 = 20 (I) · 7 + 6 = 13 (L) · 11 + 5 = 16 (W) · 5 + 1 = 6 (E) · 6 + 2 = 8 (D) · 3 + 2 = 5 (R) · 3 + 8 = 11 (U) · 12 + 7 = 19 (F) · 6 + 12 = 18 (G) · 10 + 5 = 15 (N) · 1 + 3 = 4 (A) · 4 + 8 = 12 (H)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF STOPPED TO EAT SWEET BERRIES"16 - 3 = 13 (T) · 15 - 7 = 8 (I) · 3 - 1 = 2 (B) · 14 - 4 = 10 (O) · 5 - 4 = 1 (P) · 14 - 9 = 5 (R) · 15 - 9 = 6 (H) · 14 - 7 = 7 (F) · 9 - 6 = 3 (D) · 19 - 3 = 16 (W) · 13 - 1 = 12 (S) · 11 - 7 = 4 (A) · 20 - 5 = 15 (E)
- Clue 4 (Skip counting): "THE THIEF LOST A RED HELMET"Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (T) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ___, 26, 28 = 24 (R) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20 = 16 (O) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (S) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18 = 14 (M) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33 = 27 (A) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, ___, 70, 80 = 60 (E) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ___, 75, 80 = 70 (L) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150 = 130 (D) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65 = 55 (H) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120 = 100 (I) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (F)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 11) → Daisy Dig3 + ___ = 6 = 3 · 9 + ___ = 15 = 6 · 4 + ___ = 14 = 10 · 8 + ___ = 20 = 12 · 6 + ___ = 13 = 7 · 3 + ___ = 5 = 2 · 6 + ___ = 10 = 4 · 7 + ___ = 16 = 9 · 1 + ___ = 9 = 8 · 7 + ___ = 12 = 5 · 7 + ___ = 8 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Skip counting, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Fossil Fiasco — set in Sauria Island Science Outpost
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects