🚀 SpaceGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4Skip countingAdditionSubtractionRoundingDivision
The Nebula Station Theft
Oh no! A rogue astronaut has broken into the main control deck of Nebula Station Seven and stolen the golden star-chart! Chief Astronomer Leo needs your help. Look at the clues, solve the math, and find the thief before they escape into deep space!
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 | Main Space Power | Extra Gear | Helmet Patch | Astronaut Hair | Space Hazard Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim | gravity control | starlight cloak | right sleeve patch | cosmic purple | cosmic dust |
| Peggy | laser welding | freeze beam | left sleeve patch | cosmic purple | cosmic dust |
| Mae | gravity control | starlight cloak | left sleeve patch | star silver | cosmic dust |
| Kalpana | solar flight | force fields | right sleeve patch | star silver | black holes |
| Alex | gravity control | magnet boots | left sleeve patch | cosmic purple | cosmic dust |
| Samantha | solar flight | starlight cloak | left sleeve patch | star silver | solar flares |
| Anousheh | warp speed | starlight cloak | left sleeve patch | star silver | black holes |
| Yi | solar flight | freeze beam | right sleeve patch | star silver | solar flares |
| Gennady | gravity control | freeze beam | left sleeve patch | cosmic purple | black holes |
| Buzz | warp speed | starlight cloak | left sleeve patch | star silver | solar flares |
| Yuri | asteroid blasting | freeze beam | left sleeve patch | star silver | solar flares |
| Rodolfo | warp speed | starlight cloak | left sleeve patch | cosmic purple | solar flares |
| Guion | laser welding | robot helper | left sleeve patch | star silver | cosmic dust |
| Valery | warp speed | force fields | right sleeve patch | neon blue | solar flares |
| Helen | warp speed | starlight cloak | left sleeve patch | cosmic purple | cosmic dust |
| Elena | gravity control | magnet boots | left sleeve patch | star silver | black holes |
| Sunita | gravity control | force fields | right sleeve patch | cosmic purple | cosmic dust |
| Wubbo | warp speed | robot helper | left sleeve patch | cosmic purple | cosmic dust |
| Jordan | gravity control | freeze beam | left sleeve patch | star silver | solar flares |
| Neil | laser welding | force fields | left sleeve patch | cosmic purple | cosmic dust |
| Sally | gravity control | force fields | left sleeve patch | cosmic purple | solar flares |
Clue 1
Skip counting
We need to count the emergency oxygen canisters. They are stacked in rows on the supply shelf. Skip count the canisters to find the total and unlock the first clue file.
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
28
30
24
T
28
30
25
24
14
100
6
24
65
45
6
T
28
10
24
120
9
12
120
27
45
24
T
28
35
6
6
T
28
65
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32T
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35I
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33G
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, ___, 40, 45B
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10O
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15R
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55N
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, ___, 130, 140A
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75S
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14W
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ___, 26, 28E
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ___, 35, 40H
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120D
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, ___, 15, 18M
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18F
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The robot helper gathered energy batteries from the solar dock. Add the dock batteries to the reserve batteries to see if we have enough power to run the scanner.
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
257
638
942
562
547
942
408
942
638
749
562
749
897
942
366
T
257
562
897
942
942
635
942
504
749
T
257
547
638
504
643
721
408
T
257
144 + 113 =T
369 + 269 =H
259 + 288 =C
420 + 477 =L
244 + 122 =F
281 + 223 =P
350 + 285 =V
214 + 348 =S
337 + 306 =R
500 + 221 =I
458 + 291 =A
184 + 224 =N
317 + 625 =E
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Our fuel levels are dropping fast. Subtract the leaked rocket fuel from the starting tank amount to find how much fuel we have left to chase the suspect.
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
651
732
229
T
651
732
776
229
184
441
797
285
797
673
797
248
184
441
618
340
238
618
780
340
776
238
291
171
780
T
651
922 - 271 =T
883 - 210 =W
527 - 298 =E
1152 - 355 =A
619 - 334 =N
516 - 332 =F
934 - 316 =O
247 - 76 =U
1002 - 270 =H
625 - 377 =Y
543 - 305 =C
919 - 143 =I
698 - 257 =R
537 - 246 =D
632 - 292 =M
938 - 158 =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The long-range radar is blurry because of space dust. It can only show rounded numbers. Round the distance of the escaping pod to the nearest ten to clear up the screen.
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
5000
700
60
50
A
5000
300
30
600
400
500
600
700
3000
70
500
800
6000
50
800
8000
900
9000
A
5000
70
50
80
A
5000
700
400
600
6000
300
30
Round 5,092 to the nearest thousandA
Round 8,687 to the nearest thousandH
Round 31 to the nearest tenD
Round 81 to the nearest tenW
Round 252 to the nearest hundredN
Round 70 to the nearest tenI
Round 604 to the nearest hundredO
Round 507 to the nearest hundredC
Round 49 to the nearest tenR
Round 5,796 to the nearest thousandU
Round 7,754 to the nearest thousandL
Round 795 to the nearest hundredP
Round 3,359 to the nearest thousandM
Round 709 to the nearest hundredS
Round 60 to the nearest tenT
Round 389 to the nearest hundredF
Round 896 to the nearest hundredE
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We have a crate of moon rocks to analyze. If we share them equally among the science teams, how many rocks does each team get? Solve this to unlock the final file.
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
55 ÷ 11 = ?
10 ÷ 10 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
44 ÷ 4 = ?
108 ÷ 9 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scrambles the radar, then escapes through the waste chute.
2.The villain hacks the main terminal, then escapes through the waste chute.
3.The villain scrambles the radar, then slips into the dark nebula.
4.The villain disables the solar shield, then flees in a mini shuttle.
5.The villain scrambles the radar, then jumps into the hyperdrive pod.
6.The villain blocks the airlock, then slips into the dark nebula.
7.The villain blocks the airlock, then zooms away on a space jetpack.
8.The villain scrambles the radar, then zooms away on a space jetpack.
9.The villain zaps the control panel, then flees in a mini shuttle.
10.The villain disables the solar shield, then zooms away on a space jetpack.
11.The villain scrambles the radar, then flees in a mini shuttle.
12.The villain disables the solar shield, then escapes through the waste chute.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Nebula Station Theft
Culprit: Peggy (laser welding · freeze beam · left sleeve patch · cosmic purple · cosmic dust)
- Clue 1 (Skip counting): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR MAGNET BOOTS"Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (T) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (I) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33 = 27 (G) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, ___, 40, 45 = 35 (B) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (O) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15 = 9 (R) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (N) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, ___, 130, 140 = 120 (A) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75 = 65 (S) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14 = 10 (W) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ___, 26, 28 = 24 (E) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ___, 35, 40 = 30 (H) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120 = 100 (D) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, ___, 15, 18 = 12 (M) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18 = 14 (F)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SCENE HAS A LEFT SLEEVE PATCH PRINT"144 + 113 = 257 (T) · 369 + 269 = 638 (H) · 259 + 288 = 547 (C) · 420 + 477 = 897 (L) · 244 + 122 = 366 (F) · 281 + 223 = 504 (P) · 350 + 285 = 635 (V) · 214 + 348 = 562 (S) · 337 + 306 = 643 (R) · 500 + 221 = 721 (I) · 458 + 291 = 749 (A) · 184 + 224 = 408 (N) · 317 + 625 = 942 (E)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF RAN AWAY FROM COSMIC DUST"922 - 271 = 651 (T) · 883 - 210 = 673 (W) · 527 - 298 = 229 (E) · 1152 - 355 = 797 (A) · 619 - 334 = 285 (N) · 516 - 332 = 184 (F) · 934 - 316 = 618 (O) · 247 - 76 = 171 (U) · 1002 - 270 = 732 (H) · 625 - 377 = 248 (Y) · 543 - 305 = 238 (C) · 919 - 143 = 776 (I) · 698 - 257 = 441 (R) · 537 - 246 = 291 (D) · 632 - 292 = 340 (M) · 938 - 158 = 780 (S)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A STRAND OF COSMIC PURPLE HAIR WAS FOUND"Round 5,092 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (A) · Round 8,687 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (H) · Round 31 to the nearest ten = 30 (D) · Round 81 to the nearest ten = 80 (W) · Round 252 to the nearest hundred = 300 (N) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (I) · Round 604 to the nearest hundred = 600 (O) · Round 507 to the nearest hundred = 500 (C) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (R) · Round 5,796 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (U) · Round 7,754 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (L) · Round 795 to the nearest hundred = 800 (P) · Round 3,359 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (M) · Round 709 to the nearest hundred = 700 (S) · Round 60 to the nearest ten = 60 (T) · Round 389 to the nearest hundred = 400 (F) · Round 896 to the nearest hundred = 900 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Peggy55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 108 ÷ 9 = 12 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Skip counting, Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Nebula Station Theft — set in Nebula Station Seven
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects