🚀 SpaceGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mars Seed Heist
Someone has stolen the rare Glowing Moon-Berry seeds from Astro-Dome Delta! Space Patrol needs you to catch the cosmic bandit before they rocket out of the galaxy!
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 | Space Suit Gear | Ship Laser Color | Writing Hand | Helmet Tint | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunita Williams | Jetpack | Purple Beam | Left Handed | Silver Tint | Solar Flares |
| Jim Lovell | Gravity Belt | Yellow Beam | Left Handed | Silver Tint | Asteroid Ice |
| Alan Shepard | Magnetic Gloves | Blue Beam | Left Handed | Blue Tint | Space Dust |
| Pete Conrad | Magnetic Gloves | Purple Beam | Right Handed | Blue Tint | Solar Flares |
| Scott Kelly | Plasma Shield | Green Beam | Right Handed | Orange Tint | Asteroid Ice |
| Mark Kelly | Jetpack | Purple Beam | Right Handed | Silver Tint | Solar Flares |
| Valentina Tereshkova | Jetpack | Red Beam | Right Handed | Silver Tint | Solar Flares |
| Sally Ride | Plasma Shield | Red Beam | Right Handed | Silver Tint | Solar Flares |
| Mae Jemison | Magnetic Gloves | Blue Beam | Right Handed | Silver Tint | Solar Flares |
| Buzz Aldrin | Gravity Belt | Blue Beam | Left Handed | Orange Tint | Space Dust |
| Gene Cernan | Laser Boots | Purple Beam | Right Handed | Silver Tint | Space Dust |
| Charles Bolden | Jetpack | Purple Beam | Left Handed | Blue Tint | Asteroid Ice |
| John Glenn | Plasma Shield | Blue Beam | Right Handed | Silver Tint | Space Dust |
| Frank Borman | Jetpack | Green Beam | Left Handed | Silver Tint | Solar Flares |
| Yuri Gagarin | Jetpack | Purple Beam | Left Handed | Orange Tint | Solar Flares |
| Chris Hadfield | Gravity Belt | Red Beam | Right Handed | Blue Tint | Solar Flares |
| Neil Armstrong | Laser Boots | Blue Beam | Left Handed | Silver Tint | Asteroid Ice |
| Kalpana Chawla | Laser Boots | Green Beam | Left Handed | Orange Tint | Asteroid Ice |
| Peggy Whitson | Magnetic Gloves | Purple Beam | Left Handed | Blue Tint | Space Dust |
| Guion Bluford | Gravity Belt | Yellow Beam | Right Handed | Orange Tint | Asteroid Ice |
| Guy Laliberte | Magnetic Gloves | Yellow Beam | Right Handed | Silver Tint | Solar Flares |
Clue 1
Rounding
The starship radar took a fuzzy reading of the escape ship speed. To get the correct readout, you must round these launch codes to the nearest ten.
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
8000
20
90
60
900
400
6000
2000
T
8000
6000
500
90
700
400
500
T
8000
4000
700
90
900
3000
4000
80
3000
300
90
60
90
900
40
Round 8,145 to the nearest thousandT
Round 5,773 to the nearest thousandD
Round 489 to the nearest hundredO
Round 18 to the nearest tenH
Round 80 to the nearest tenR
Round 93 to the nearest tenE
Round 408 to the nearest hundredN
Round 308 to the nearest hundredL
Round 2,456 to the nearest thousandI
Round 43 to the nearest tenM
Round 4,202 to the nearest thousandU
Round 3,444 to the nearest thousandP
Round 64 to the nearest tenB
Round 910 to the nearest hundredA
Round 736 to the nearest hundredS
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We found the fuel canisters left behind in the hanger. Let us add up all the lost fuel cells to see which direction the ship headed.
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
949
432
348
776
470
217
432
T
949
432
231
221
780
217
776
231
715
715
348
780
T
949
432
348
686
762
221
T
949
776
762
204
948
633 + 316 =T
154 + 77 =A
384 + 378 =O
69 + 148 =G
272 + 160 =H
202 + 268 =I
515 + 261 =R
530 + 418 =S
310 + 376 =C
113 + 91 =L
119 + 102 =N
249 + 466 =B
361 + 419 =D
126 + 222 =E
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The bandit dropped cargo crates to make their getaway ship lighter. Subtract the missing crates to calculate the bandit's current weight.
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
707
492
514
288
441
241
347
682
598
596
A
707
514
345
596
A
707
514
806
492
596
288
741
651
806
651
347
241
806
345
598
806
917 - 210 =A
857 - 343 =R
817 - 219 =O
453 - 165 =I
471 - 124 =T
793 - 111 =S
1062 - 321 =N
683 - 191 =B
397 - 52 =F
901 - 305 =L
784 - 343 =G
407 - 166 =H
1012 - 206 =E
754 - 103 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The star map has rows of glowing warp gates. Multiply the gates in each sector to find the coordinates of the bandit's hideout.
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
9
88
84
121
21
16
35
30
121
36
81
18
84
84
18
1
36
18
42
35
121
66
25
96
A
9
30
36
18
1
35
88
18
16
121
25
70
1 × 9 =A
11 × 8 =B
7 × 3 =G
7 × 5 =T
6 × 5 =S
11 × 6 =O
9 × 9 =V
1 × 1 =F
6 × 3 =E
11 × 11 =I
12 × 7 =R
2 × 8 =H
5 × 5 =N
8 × 12 =W
7 × 10 =D
12 × 3 =L
6 × 7 =C
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to split the remaining power packs evenly among our patrol drones. Divide the packs so they can search the final asteroid field.
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
36 ÷ 3 = ?
66 ÷ 11 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blocked the security gate with a plasma shield, then cracked the safe with a purple beam.
2.The villain zoomed away using a jetpack, then zapped the lock with a red beam.
3.The villain dashed forward with laser boots, then melted the vault with a blue beam.
4.The villain floated over the lasers with a gravity belt, then cracked the safe with a purple beam.
5.The villain zoomed away using a jetpack, then melted the vault with a blue beam.
6.The villain climbed the metal walls with magnetic gloves, then melted the vault with a blue beam.
7.The villain climbed the metal walls with magnetic gloves, then cracked the safe with a purple beam.
8.The villain climbed the metal walls with magnetic gloves, then scrambled the cameras with a green beam.
9.The villain blocked the security gate with a plasma shield, then zapped the lock with a red beam.
10.The villain dashed forward with laser boots, then scrambled the cameras with a green beam.
11.The villain dashed forward with laser boots, then lit up the dark hall with a yellow beam.
12.The villain climbed the metal walls with magnetic gloves, then lit up the dark hall with a yellow beam.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mars Seed Heist
Culprit: Sally Ride (Plasma Shield · Red Beam · Right Handed · Silver Tint · Solar Flares)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE A PURPLE BEAM"Round 8,145 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (T) · Round 5,773 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (D) · Round 489 to the nearest hundred = 500 (O) · Round 18 to the nearest ten = 20 (H) · Round 80 to the nearest ten = 80 (R) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (E) · Round 408 to the nearest hundred = 400 (N) · Round 308 to the nearest hundred = 300 (L) · Round 2,456 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (I) · Round 43 to the nearest ten = 40 (M) · Round 4,202 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (U) · Round 3,444 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (P) · Round 64 to the nearest ten = 60 (B) · Round 910 to the nearest hundred = 900 (A) · Round 736 to the nearest hundred = 700 (S)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE RIGHT HAND GRABBED THE CONTROLS"633 + 316 = 949 (T) · 154 + 77 = 231 (A) · 384 + 378 = 762 (O) · 69 + 148 = 217 (G) · 272 + 160 = 432 (H) · 202 + 268 = 470 (I) · 515 + 261 = 776 (R) · 530 + 418 = 948 (S) · 310 + 376 = 686 (C) · 113 + 91 = 204 (L) · 119 + 102 = 221 (N) · 249 + 466 = 715 (B) · 361 + 419 = 780 (D) · 126 + 222 = 348 (E)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "A BRIGHT SOLAR FLARE BLINDED THE FOE"917 - 210 = 707 (A) · 857 - 343 = 514 (R) · 817 - 219 = 598 (O) · 453 - 165 = 288 (I) · 471 - 124 = 347 (T) · 793 - 111 = 682 (S) · 1062 - 321 = 741 (N) · 683 - 191 = 492 (B) · 397 - 52 = 345 (F) · 901 - 305 = 596 (L) · 784 - 343 = 441 (G) · 407 - 166 = 241 (H) · 1012 - 206 = 806 (E) · 754 - 103 = 651 (D)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A BRIGHT SILVER REFLECTION WAS LEFT BEHIND"1 × 9 = 9 (A) · 11 × 8 = 88 (B) · 7 × 3 = 21 (G) · 7 × 5 = 35 (T) · 6 × 5 = 30 (S) · 11 × 6 = 66 (O) · 9 × 9 = 81 (V) · 1 × 1 = 1 (F) · 6 × 3 = 18 (E) · 11 × 11 = 121 (I) · 12 × 7 = 84 (R) · 2 × 8 = 16 (H) · 5 × 5 = 25 (N) · 8 × 12 = 96 (W) · 7 × 10 = 70 (D) · 12 × 3 = 36 (L) · 6 × 7 = 42 (C)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Sally Ride36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mars Seed Heist — set in Astro-Dome Delta on Mars
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects