🚀 Outer spaceGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingWord problemsAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Space Station Shenanigans

A mystery has hit the Starlight Orbit Station! Someone snuck into the control room and reprogrammed the rocket launchers. Chief Flight Director Higgins found a trail of shiny stardust. We must find the Space Bandit before the rockets launch into the wrong orbit!

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 Upgrade	Gadget Tool	Signature Move	Helmet Glow Color	Space Fright
Leland	Cosmic Glider Wings	Plasma Welder	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Afraid of cosmic dust
Sunita	Magnetic Gloves	Solar Flashlight	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Jim	Cosmic Glider Wings	Starlight Scanner	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Yuri	Laser Jetpack	Asteroid Drill	Waving right hand	Bright Orange Glow	Afraid of cosmic dust
Victor	Rocket Roller Skates	Starlight Scanner	Waving right hand	Bright Orange Glow	Afraid of cosmic dust
Jeanette	Anti Gravity Boots	Starlight Scanner	Waving left hand	Bright Orange Glow	Afraid of cosmic dust
Alan	Cosmic Glider Wings	Starlight Scanner	Waving left hand	Bright Orange Glow	Afraid of cosmic dust
Valentina	Magnetic Gloves	Starlight Scanner	Waving left hand	Neon Green Glow	Scared of space frogs
Scott	Magnetic Gloves	Asteroid Drill	Waving right hand	Bright Orange Glow	Afraid of cosmic dust
Frank	Anti Gravity Boots	Lunar Grapple Hook	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Jessica	Laser Jetpack	Solar Flashlight	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Kalpana	Laser Jetpack	Asteroid Drill	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Scared of space frogs
Neil	Rocket Roller Skates	Plasma Welder	Waving left hand	Neon Green Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Peggy	Magnetic Gloves	Plasma Welder	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Scared of space frogs
Ellen	Anti Gravity Boots	Plasma Welder	Waving right hand	Neon Green Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Buzz	Laser Jetpack	Starlight Scanner	Waving right hand	Electric Blue Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Sally	Anti Gravity Boots	Solar Flashlight	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Gennady	Cosmic Glider Wings	Solar Flashlight	Waving left hand	Neon Green Glow	Scared of space frogs
Mae	Magnetic Gloves	Lunar Grapple Hook	Waving left hand	Electric Blue Glow	Allergic to moon rocks
Chris	Laser Jetpack	Lunar Grapple Hook	Waving right hand	Neon Green Glow	Afraid of cosmic dust
Christina	Cosmic Glider Wings	Solar Flashlight	Waving left hand	Bright Orange Glow	Scared of space frogs

Clue 1

Rounding

To unlock the first lock on the suspect diary, we need to solve the word problems left on the computer 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.

5000

370

2900

110

700

110

3000

2900

5000

4300

290

2900

110

3700

290

5000

290

500

3700

900

1100

700

3700

900

430

230

430

900

3000

1100

2900

370

290

Round 5,041 to the nearest thousandT

Round 374 to the nearest tenH

Round 226 to the nearest tenG

Round 429 to the nearest tenR

Round 2,909 to the nearest hundredE

Round 1,128 to the nearest hundredL

Round 467 to the nearest hundredW

Round 31 to the nearest tenC

Round 873 to the nearest hundredA

Round 23 to the nearest tenK

Round 3,696 to the nearest hundredN

Round 3,250 to the nearest thousandP

Round 4,323 to the nearest hundredD

Round 110 to the nearest tenS

Round 292 to the nearest tenO

Round 737 to the nearest hundredU

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Word problems

The radar scanner shows a blurry signal of the suspect's getaway path. We must round the numbers to get a clear reading.

Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.

Awitnesssawthevillainwas

Astronaut found 23 oxygen tanks yesterday and 30 more today. How many oxygen tanks in all?W

Astronaut found 3 space rations yesterday and 19 more today. How many space rations in all?N

There were 49 batteries. 19 were used up. How many batteries are left?L

There were 69 star maps. 11 were used up. How many star maps are left?A

There are 9 crew with 7 moon crystals in each. How many moon crystals in all?G

There are 2 crew with 4 moon crystals in each. How many moon crystals in all?I

There were 24 space rations. 12 were used up. How many space rations are left?V

0/7 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

Let us tally up the total number of battery packs left in the storage unit to find out 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.

7667

8328

5300

5431

5066

5431

4556

5300

8835

7667

5431

9632

5300

2757

5300

2737

9632

5300

7617

9663

7667

8328

5300

3281

9335

9632

9663

9335

8835

5037

5431

3144 + 4523 =T

5395 + 2933 =H

1111 + 2170 =M

4951 + 4384 =O

1631 + 3435 =U

4378 + 5285 =R

1689 + 1068 =Z

2287 + 5330 =A

1461 + 1276 =D

5472 + 4160 =N

2726 + 1830 =P

3079 + 1958 =K

3539 + 5296 =C

2586 + 2714 =E

2082 + 3349 =S

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The fuel tank is leaking rapidly. Subtract the lost fuel from the starting amount to find the final 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.

6446

3253

7216

4951

7216

6085

4951

7755

2076

4299

7216

6446

7216

1561

6446

7216

4299

4333

6085

7216

3449

7216

1561

6446

2076

5969

1561

1447

3449

3766

7216

8962

3449

7755

3083

8226 - 1780 =T

5551 - 2468 =W

12063 - 4847 =E

3652 - 1576 =R

6970 - 3204 =U

6654 - 3401 =H

9749 - 3780 =I

7890 - 3591 =D

12517 - 4762 =O

10597 - 4512 =N

5694 - 1361 =A

5434 - 1985 =L

11307 - 2345 =G

5407 - 456 =S

5657 - 4210 =B

4854 - 3293 =C

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

We found a pile of stolen moon crystals. Let's split them equally among our crew members to crack the final code.

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 ÷ 3 = ?

80 ÷ 8 = ?

44 ÷ 4 = ?

20 ÷ 5 = ?

66 ÷ 11 = ?

6 ÷ 3 = ?

45 ÷ 5 = ?

88 ÷ 11 = ?

40 ÷ 8 = ?

28 ÷ 4 = ?

15 ÷ 5 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain marched across the launchpad, then locked the control panel door.

2.The villain zoomed past the solar panels, then turned off the artificial gravity.

3.The villain slipped through the cargo bay, then zapped the main computer screen.

4.The villain marched across the launchpad, then swiped the navigation maps.

5.The villain soared over the radar dish, then scrambled the radio codes.

6.The villain floated through the airlock, then turned off the artificial gravity.

7.The villain floated through the airlock, then scrambled the radio codes.

8.The villain zoomed past the solar panels, then swiped the navigation maps.

9.The villain marched across the launchpad, then scrambled the radio codes.

10.The villain floated through the airlock, then locked the control panel door.

11.The villain soared over the radar dish, then swiped the navigation maps.

12.The villain zoomed past the solar panels, then locked the control panel door.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Space Station Shenanigans

Culprit: Jessica (Laser Jetpack · Solar Flashlight · Waving left hand · Electric Blue Glow · Allergic to moon rocks)

Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT OWN A LUNAR GRAPPLE HOOK"
Round 5,041 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (T) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (H) · Round 226 to the nearest ten = 230 (G) · Round 429 to the nearest ten = 430 (R) · Round 2,909 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (E) · Round 1,128 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (L) · Round 467 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 31 to the nearest ten = 30 (C) · Round 873 to the nearest hundred = 900 (A) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (K) · Round 3,696 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (N) · Round 3,250 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (P) · Round 4,323 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (D) · Round 110 to the nearest ten = 110 (S) · Round 292 to the nearest ten = 290 (O) · Round 737 to the nearest hundred = 700 (U)
Clue 2 (Word problems): "WAVING LEFT HAND"
Astronaut found 23 oxygen tanks yesterday and 30 more today. How many oxygen tanks in all? = 53 (W) · Astronaut found 3 space rations yesterday and 19 more today. How many space rations in all? = 22 (N) · There were 49 batteries. 19 were used up. How many batteries are left? = 30 (L) · There were 69 star maps. 11 were used up. How many star maps are left? = 58 (A) · There are 9 crew with 7 moon crystals in each. How many moon crystals in all? = 63 (G) · There are 2 crew with 4 moon crystals in each. How many moon crystals in all? = 8 (I) · There were 24 space rations. 12 were used up. How many space rations are left? = 12 (V)
Clue 3 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT SNEEZED NEAR THE MOON ROCKS"
3144 + 4523 = 7667 (T) · 5395 + 2933 = 8328 (H) · 1111 + 2170 = 3281 (M) · 4951 + 4384 = 9335 (O) · 1631 + 3435 = 5066 (U) · 4378 + 5285 = 9663 (R) · 1689 + 1068 = 2757 (Z) · 2287 + 5330 = 7617 (A) · 1461 + 1276 = 2737 (D) · 5472 + 4160 = 9632 (N) · 2726 + 1830 = 4556 (P) · 3079 + 1958 = 5037 (K) · 3539 + 5296 = 8835 (C) · 2586 + 2714 = 5300 (E) · 2082 + 3349 = 5431 (S)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "THE SENSOR DETECTED AN ELECTRIC BLUE GLOW"
8226 - 1780 = 6446 (T) · 5551 - 2468 = 3083 (W) · 12063 - 4847 = 7216 (E) · 3652 - 1576 = 2076 (R) · 6970 - 3204 = 3766 (U) · 6654 - 3401 = 3253 (H) · 9749 - 3780 = 5969 (I) · 7890 - 3591 = 4299 (D) · 12517 - 4762 = 7755 (O) · 10597 - 4512 = 6085 (N) · 5694 - 1361 = 4333 (A) · 5434 - 1985 = 3449 (L) · 11307 - 2345 = 8962 (G) · 5407 - 456 = 4951 (S) · 5657 - 4210 = 1447 (B) · 4854 - 3293 = 1561 (C)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Jessica
3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Rounding, Word problems, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Space Station Shenanigans — set in Starlight Orbit Station
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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