🔎 HarvestGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationSubtractionMulti-step word problemsFractions of a numberDivision
The Great Pumpkin Patch Mystery
The prize-winning Golden Pumpkin has vanished from the festival stage! The judging starts in one hour. We must search the farm and find which farmhand is the Pumpkin Pilferer before the festival is ruined.
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 | Harvest Skill | Festival Craft | Dominant Hand | Headwear | Favorite Feast Treat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gideon Fletcher | tractor driving | corn husking | right-handed shears | wheat yellow straw hat | warm maple syrup |
| Zeke Butterfield | apple picking speed | cider pressing | left-handed shears | clover green wool cap | apple cider donuts |
| Prudence Acre | corn maze navigation | pumpkin carving | left-handed shears | clover green wool cap | apple cider donuts |
| Mabel Bramble | tractor driving | wheelbarrow racing | right-handed shears | clover green wool cap | warm maple syrup |
| Rufus Barley | apple picking speed | pie baking | right-handed shears | clover green wool cap | warm maple syrup |
| Enoch Sower | tractor driving | cider pressing | right-handed shears | clover green wool cap | roasted sweet corn |
| Emmeline Vance | hay bale stacking | wheelbarrow racing | left-handed shears | pumpkin orange bandana | apple cider donuts |
| Silas Grist | tractor driving | cider pressing | right-handed shears | wheat yellow straw hat | roasted sweet corn |
| Grover Till | corn maze navigation | corn husking | left-handed shears | clover green wool cap | warm maple syrup |
| Maude Sweetwater | hay bale stacking | corn husking | left-handed shears | clover green wool cap | warm maple syrup |
| Gus Plowman | hay bale stacking | pie baking | left-handed shears | pumpkin orange bandana | warm maple syrup |
| Abigail Thorne | tractor driving | pumpkin carving | left-handed shears | clover green wool cap | roasted sweet corn |
| Tobias Clover | scarecrow building | corn husking | right-handed shears | pumpkin orange bandana | warm maple syrup |
| Amos Gardner | scarecrow building | cider pressing | right-handed shears | pumpkin orange bandana | apple cider donuts |
| Jasper Pippin | corn maze navigation | pie baking | left-handed shears | wheat yellow straw hat | warm maple syrup |
| Jebediah Corn | apple picking speed | cider pressing | left-handed shears | clover green wool cap | warm maple syrup |
| Nellie Shearer | scarecrow building | pumpkin carving | right-handed shears | wheat yellow straw hat | apple cider donuts |
| Clara Pumpkin | tractor driving | wheelbarrow racing | left-handed shears | clover green wool cap | warm maple syrup |
| Hazel Orchard | tractor driving | wheelbarrow racing | right-handed shears | clover green wool cap | roasted sweet corn |
| Clementine Moss | scarecrow building | pumpkin carving | left-handed shears | clover green wool cap | warm maple syrup |
| Otis Wheatley | apple picking speed | pie baking | left-handed shears | pumpkin orange bandana | roasted sweet corn |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The culprit left tracks in the cornfield. We found equal rows of squashed corn stalks. Let us multiply the rows to find the total ruined crop and 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
77
88
36
T
77
88
25
36
100
42
16
36
132
24
16
T
77
144
132
36
70
88
36
36
5
40
120
28
28
16
70
28
120
27
25
24
56
11 × 7 =T
5 × 8 =B
2 × 12 =N
4 × 9 =E
12 × 11 =S
10 × 7 =W
8 × 7 =G
6 × 7 =D
4 × 4 =O
4 × 7 =R
5 × 5 =I
12 × 10 =A
12 × 12 =U
10 × 10 =F
1 × 5 =L
8 × 11 =H
3 × 9 =C
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
We had a giant pile of prize apples, but some are missing. Subtract the remaining apples from the original count to see how many the thief took.
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
5001
6543
7819
T
5001
6543
6657
7819
7017
3182
5768
T
5001
5725
6977
6657
T
5001
6543
4748
7819
7017
T
5001
6543
1843
2473
2856
7819
2856
5725
6543
7819
1843
4952
5725
5414 - 413 =T
4501 - 2028 =N
5161 - 3318 =A
8366 - 547 =E
10628 - 4085 =H
10060 - 3083 =W
6534 - 3352 =C
8629 - 1972 =I
10020 - 4295 =S
8317 - 3569 =L
3613 - 757 =D
9942 - 2925 =F
10273 - 4505 =U
6150 - 1198 =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
The thief bought heavy rope at the farm stand. They paid with a big bill, bought several jars of jam too, and got some change back. Solve this multi-step problem to find the clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
W
83
46
61
88
88
46
19
34
67
S
Y
61
U
19
There were 527 apples in all. 29 apples were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 The Harvesters. How many apples did each get?W
There were 400 pumpkins in all. 2 The Harvesters used 17 pumpkins each. The other 6 The Harvesters shared the rest equally. How many pumpkins did each of the other The Harvesters get?R
Farmhand filled 3 boxes with 6 pumpkins each, then found 1 more pumpkins. How many pumpkins are there in all?P
Farmhand collected 143 cider jugs in the morning and 192 cider jugs in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 The Harvesters. How many cider jugs did each get?E
There were 114 apples in all. 12 apples were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 The Harvesters. How many apples did each get?L
There were 219 pumpkins in all. 3 The Harvesters used 27 pumpkins each. The other 3 The Harvesters shared the rest equally. How many pumpkins did each of the other The Harvesters get?A
Farmhand earned 7 corn ears in each of 4 rounds, plus 62 bonus corn ears. Then 2 corn ears were lost. How many corn ears are left?M
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Fractions of a number
A flock of crows flew over the pumpkin patch. Only a small fraction of them landed near the stolen prize. Find that fraction of the flock to get 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.
W
22
25
36
34
16
30
3
18
33
40
34
19
25
8
13
8
25
25
30
W
22
34
34
40
33
18
4
2/4 of 44 =W
2/4 of 80 =L
1/3 of 57 =V
1/8 of 200 =E
2/6 of 99 =C
1/5 of 150 =N
1/6 of 78 =G
1/8 of 64 =R
1/4 of 136 =O
4/10 of 40 =U
3/6 of 8 =P
1/3 of 108 =F
1/3 of 54 =A
2/10 of 15 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to split the heavy hay bales into equal groups to clear the path to the barn. Sharing them equally will reveal 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
100 ÷ 10 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
8 ÷ 1 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
5 ÷ 1 = ?
99 ÷ 9 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
20 ÷ 10 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
27 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain builds a spooky scarecrow, then carves a spooky face.
2.The villain stacks hay bales super high, then squeezes fresh sweet cider.
3.The villain runs through the corn maze, then bakes a giant pumpkin pie.
4.The villain stacks hay bales super high, then husks ten ears of corn.
5.The villain runs through the corn maze, then carves a spooky face.
6.The villain picks apples faster than anyone, then carves a spooky face.
7.The villain builds a spooky scarecrow, then husks ten ears of corn.
8.The villain picks apples faster than anyone, then squeezes fresh sweet cider.
9.The villain drives the old red tractor, then carves a spooky face.
10.The villain runs through the corn maze, then husks ten ears of corn.
11.The villain picks apples faster than anyone, then husks ten ears of corn.
12.The villain runs through the corn maze, then squeezes fresh sweet cider.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Pumpkin Patch Mystery
Culprit: Maude Sweetwater (hay bale stacking · corn husking · left-handed shears · clover green wool cap · warm maple syrup)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE WHEELBARROW RACING"11 × 7 = 77 (T) · 5 × 8 = 40 (B) · 2 × 12 = 24 (N) · 4 × 9 = 36 (E) · 12 × 11 = 132 (S) · 10 × 7 = 70 (W) · 8 × 7 = 56 (G) · 6 × 7 = 42 (D) · 4 × 4 = 16 (O) · 4 × 7 = 28 (R) · 5 × 5 = 25 (I) · 12 × 10 = 120 (A) · 12 × 12 = 144 (U) · 10 × 10 = 100 (F) · 1 × 5 = 5 (L) · 8 × 11 = 88 (H) · 3 × 9 = 27 (C)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF CUTS WITH LEFT HANDED SHEARS"5414 - 413 = 5001 (T) · 4501 - 2028 = 2473 (N) · 5161 - 3318 = 1843 (A) · 8366 - 547 = 7819 (E) · 10628 - 4085 = 6543 (H) · 10060 - 3083 = 6977 (W) · 6534 - 3352 = 3182 (C) · 8629 - 1972 = 6657 (I) · 10020 - 4295 = 5725 (S) · 8317 - 3569 = 4748 (L) · 3613 - 757 = 2856 (D) · 9942 - 2925 = 7017 (F) · 10273 - 4505 = 5768 (U) · 6150 - 1198 = 4952 (R)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "WARM MAPLE SYRUP"There were 527 apples in all. 29 apples were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 The Harvesters. How many apples did each get? = 83 (W) · There were 400 pumpkins in all. 2 The Harvesters used 17 pumpkins each. The other 6 The Harvesters shared the rest equally. How many pumpkins did each of the other The Harvesters get? = 61 (R) · Farmhand filled 3 boxes with 6 pumpkins each, then found 1 more pumpkins. How many pumpkins are there in all? = 19 (P) · Farmhand collected 143 cider jugs in the morning and 192 cider jugs in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 The Harvesters. How many cider jugs did each get? = 67 (E) · There were 114 apples in all. 12 apples were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 The Harvesters. How many apples did each get? = 34 (L) · There were 219 pumpkins in all. 3 The Harvesters used 27 pumpkins each. The other 3 The Harvesters shared the rest equally. How many pumpkins did each of the other The Harvesters get? = 46 (A) · Farmhand earned 7 corn ears in each of 4 rounds, plus 62 bonus corn ears. Then 2 corn ears were lost. How many corn ears are left? = 88 (M)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "WE FOUND A CLOVER GREEN WOOL CAP"2/4 of 44 = 22 (W) · 2/4 of 80 = 40 (L) · 1/3 of 57 = 19 (V) · 1/8 of 200 = 25 (E) · 2/6 of 99 = 33 (C) · 1/5 of 150 = 30 (N) · 1/6 of 78 = 13 (G) · 1/8 of 64 = 8 (R) · 1/4 of 136 = 34 (O) · 4/10 of 40 = 16 (U) · 3/6 of 8 = 4 (P) · 1/3 of 108 = 36 (F) · 1/3 of 54 = 18 (A) · 2/10 of 15 = 3 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Maude Sweetwater100 ÷ 10 = 10 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 99 ÷ 9 = 11 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Subtraction, Multi-step word problems, Fractions of a number, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Pumpkin Patch Mystery — set in Sunny Patch Farm during the Autumn Festival
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects