🔎 Lego organizing, Lego team, Grade 1Reading: grades 1-2AdditionSubtractionMulti-step word problemsPlace valueMissing addends
The Great Lego Mix-Up
Oh no! Someone scrambled the perfectly sorted Lego bins at the Brick Academy. The Master Builder needs your help to find the Messy Mixer who mixed the plates with the bricks!
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 brick | sorting style | builder hand | cap color | favorite snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zack Zinc | green baseplate | sorting by height | right handed build | neon yellow cap | sweet gummy bears |
| Gaby Gray | one by two blue plate | sorting by color | right handed build | dark red cap | cheesy popcorn |
| Gavin Gear | black wheel axle | sorting by weight | right handed build | neon yellow cap | apple slices |
| Leo Lego | yellow roof slope | sorting by type | left handed build | bright blue cap | sweet gummy bears |
| Fiona Flat | two by four red brick | sorting by weight | right handed build | bright blue cap | apple slices |
| Danny Dot | two by four red brick | sorting by type | right handed build | bright blue cap | apple slices |
| Mia Mix | black wheel axle | sorting by weight | right handed build | bright blue cap | apple slices |
| Zoe Zone | yellow roof slope | sorting by height | right handed build | bright blue cap | apple slices |
| Cody Cone | green baseplate | sorting by size | right handed build | bright blue cap | apple slices |
| Bella Block | green baseplate | sorting by color | left handed build | neon yellow cap | cheesy popcorn |
| Owen Orange | two by four red brick | sorting by type | left handed build | bright blue cap | apple slices |
| Eli Edge | yellow roof slope | sorting by weight | left handed build | bright blue cap | apple slices |
| Andy Angle | green baseplate | sorting by type | right handed build | bright blue cap | sweet gummy bears |
| Toby Tile | black wheel axle | sorting by height | right handed build | bright blue cap | cheesy popcorn |
| Peter Peg | green baseplate | sorting by type | right handed build | neon yellow cap | apple slices |
| Penny Plate | green baseplate | sorting by height | right handed build | dark red cap | sweet gummy bears |
| Benny Blue | yellow roof slope | sorting by weight | left handed build | dark red cap | sweet gummy bears |
| Daisy Dome | black wheel axle | sorting by size | left handed build | dark red cap | sweet gummy bears |
| Tina Tiny | yellow roof slope | sorting by weight | left handed build | bright blue cap | cheesy popcorn |
| Billy Brick | yellow roof slope | sorting by color | right handed build | neon yellow cap | cheesy popcorn |
| Carla Clip | black wheel axle | sorting by height | right handed build | neon yellow cap | apple slices |
Clue 1
Addition
The Lego Team counts the red bricks. We add two small piles together to get a total. This tells us about their sorting style.
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
4
2
11
16
14
6
9
6
T
4
20
6
13
T
4
3
16
2
11
12
19
2
T
4
1 + 3 =T
1 + 1 =H
2 + 1 =B
8 + 3 =E
8 + 8 =Y
8 + 12 =S
3 + 3 =O
5 + 14 =G
4 + 5 =N
6 + 8 =D
4 + 9 =R
5 + 7 =I
0/12 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
We had a big box of blue plates but some went missing. We subtract the leftover plates to find out how many were taken.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
12
2
5
7
3
7
15
1
6
16
6
11
R
12
2
13
4
8
15
R
12
4
10
18
9
19
1
6
19 - 7 =R
14 - 7 =H
16 - 5 =B
8 - 6 =I
14 - 1 =C
19 - 4 =A
15 - 6 =O
17 - 1 =E
7 - 2 =G
7 - 3 =K
7 - 1 =D
20 - 2 =F
20 - 1 =U
6 - 5 =N
18 - 8 =S
11 - 8 =T
16 - 8 =M
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
We find some green bricks. First we add the piles on the table. Then we take away the broken ones. This helps us find a snack clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith.
A
17
15
15
19
34
31
19
26
24
34
31
There were 159 red bricks in all. 6 red bricks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 The Sorting Squad. How many red bricks did each get?A
Coach Block collected 68 blue plates in the morning and 34 blue plates in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 The Sorting Squad. How many blue plates did each get?E
There were 187 brick separators in all. 16 brick separators were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 The Sorting Squad. How many brick separators did each get?L
There were 157 yellow studs in all. 22 yellow studs were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 The Sorting Squad. How many yellow studs did each get?P
Coach Block filled 6 boxes with 4 blue plates each, then found 7 more blue plates. How many blue plates are there in all?S
There were 145 red bricks in all. 25 red bricks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 The Sorting Squad. How many red bricks did each get?C
Coach Block collected 76 brick separators in the morning and 28 brick separators in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 The Sorting Squad. How many brick separators did each get?I
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Place value
Look at the stacks of ten bricks and single ones. We count the tens and ones to read the secret code on the cap.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
69
71
29
67
98
21
84
64
21
B
69
24
38
98
80
23
82
70
67
B
69
21
17
67
84
71
21
82
67
What number has 6 tens and 9 ones?B
What number has 6 tens and 7 ones?E
What number has 3 tens and 8 ones?I
What number has 6 tens and 4 ones?F
What number has 7 tens and 1 one?L
What number has 2 tens and 9 ones?U
What number has 8 tens and 4 ones?P
What number has 9 tens and 8 ones?C
What number has 8 tens and 0 ones?O
What number has 2 tens and 3 ones?N
What number has 2 tens and 4 ones?R
What number has 2 tens and 1 one?A
What number has 8 tens and 2 ones?T
What number has 1 ten and 7 ones?S
What number has 7 tens and 0 ones?H
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The bin needs ten yellow blocks. We only have six. We find how many more we need to solve the last puzzle.
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
5 + ___ = 14
10 + ___ = 16
8 + ___ = 13
5 + ___ = 7
9 + ___ = 16
8 + ___ = 20
5 + ___ = 8
3 + ___ = 4
2 + ___ = 12
8 + ___ = 19
9 + ___ = 13
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain hides the yellow bricks, then messes up the color wheel.
2.The villain mixes the plates and bricks, then runs away with the brick separator.
3.The villain swaps the green plates, then scatters the baseplates.
4.The villain dumps the blue bin, then messes up the color wheel.
5.The villain scrambles the red bricks, then scatters the baseplates.
6.The villain scrambles the red bricks, then runs away with the brick separator.
7.The villain dumps the blue bin, then scatters the baseplates.
8.The villain dumps the blue bin, then knocks over the sorted bins.
9.The villain hides the yellow bricks, then runs away with the brick separator.
10.The villain mixes the plates and bricks, then scatters the baseplates.
11.The villain mixes the plates and bricks, then leaves a messy pile.
12.The villain swaps the green plates, then leaves a messy pile.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Lego Mix-Up
Culprit: Cody Cone (green baseplate · sorting by size · right handed build · bright blue cap · apple slices)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THEY DO NOT SORT BY HEIGHT"1 + 3 = 4 (T) · 1 + 1 = 2 (H) · 2 + 1 = 3 (B) · 8 + 3 = 11 (E) · 8 + 8 = 16 (Y) · 8 + 12 = 20 (S) · 3 + 3 = 6 (O) · 5 + 14 = 19 (G) · 4 + 5 = 9 (N) · 6 + 8 = 14 (D) · 4 + 9 = 13 (R) · 5 + 7 = 12 (I)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "RIGHT HANDED BRICK MARKS FOUND"19 - 7 = 12 (R) · 14 - 7 = 7 (H) · 16 - 5 = 11 (B) · 8 - 6 = 2 (I) · 14 - 1 = 13 (C) · 19 - 4 = 15 (A) · 15 - 6 = 9 (O) · 17 - 1 = 16 (E) · 7 - 2 = 5 (G) · 7 - 3 = 4 (K) · 7 - 1 = 6 (D) · 20 - 2 = 18 (F) · 20 - 1 = 19 (U) · 6 - 5 = 1 (N) · 18 - 8 = 10 (S) · 11 - 8 = 3 (T) · 16 - 8 = 8 (M)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "APPLE SLICES"There were 159 red bricks in all. 6 red bricks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 The Sorting Squad. How many red bricks did each get? = 17 (A) · Coach Block collected 68 blue plates in the morning and 34 blue plates in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 The Sorting Squad. How many blue plates did each get? = 34 (E) · There were 187 brick separators in all. 16 brick separators were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 The Sorting Squad. How many brick separators did each get? = 19 (L) · There were 157 yellow studs in all. 22 yellow studs were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 9 The Sorting Squad. How many yellow studs did each get? = 15 (P) · Coach Block filled 6 boxes with 4 blue plates each, then found 7 more blue plates. How many blue plates are there in all? = 31 (S) · There were 145 red bricks in all. 25 red bricks were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 The Sorting Squad. How many red bricks did each get? = 24 (C) · Coach Block collected 76 brick separators in the morning and 28 brick separators in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 The Sorting Squad. How many brick separators did each get? = 26 (I)
- Clue 4 (Place value): "BLUE CAP FABRIC ON THE BASEPLATE"What number has 6 tens and 9 ones? = 69 (B) · What number has 6 tens and 7 ones? = 67 (E) · What number has 3 tens and 8 ones? = 38 (I) · What number has 6 tens and 4 ones? = 64 (F) · What number has 7 tens and 1 one? = 71 (L) · What number has 2 tens and 9 ones? = 29 (U) · What number has 8 tens and 4 ones? = 84 (P) · What number has 9 tens and 8 ones? = 98 (C) · What number has 8 tens and 0 ones? = 80 (O) · What number has 2 tens and 3 ones? = 23 (N) · What number has 2 tens and 4 ones? = 24 (R) · What number has 2 tens and 1 one? = 21 (A) · What number has 8 tens and 2 ones? = 82 (T) · What number has 1 ten and 7 ones? = 17 (S) · What number has 7 tens and 0 ones? = 70 (H)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 8) → Cody Cone5 + ___ = 14 = 9 · 10 + ___ = 16 = 6 · 8 + ___ = 13 = 5 · 5 + ___ = 7 = 2 · 9 + ___ = 16 = 7 · 8 + ___ = 20 = 12 · 5 + ___ = 8 = 3 · 3 + ___ = 4 = 1 · 2 + ___ = 12 = 10 · 8 + ___ = 19 = 11 · 9 + ___ = 13 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multi-step word problems, Place value, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Great Lego Mix-Up — set in The Brick Academy Clubroom
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects