🌊 Mermaids, UnicornsGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Sparkle Reef Mystery
A sneaky thief has taken the Glittering Pearl from the deep water palace! Both mermaids and sea-unicorns live in Sparkle Reef, and one of them is the culprit. Help us track them down!
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 | Magic Spell | Water Power | Crown Emblem | Mane Color | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Splash | Star Sparkle | Ice Shield | Star Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Misty | Wave Ripple | Steam Blast | Star Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Ariel | Star Sparkle | Tide Wave | Star Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Sandy | Rainbow Dash | Steam Blast | Star Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Salty Sea Kelp |
| Comet | Rainbow Dash | Tide Wave | Shell Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Triton | Bubble Beam | Pearl Glow | Star Tiara | Sea Foam Blue | Sparkly Sea Glass |
| Nova | Wave Ripple | Pearl Glow | Star Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Aurora | Coral Freeze | Steam Blast | Star Tiara | Sea Foam Blue | Sparkly Sea Glass |
| Marina | Coral Freeze | Pearl Glow | Shell Tiara | Sea Foam Blue | Salty Sea Kelp |
| Aqua | Coral Freeze | Tide Wave | Star Tiara | Neon Coral Pink | Sparkly Sea Glass |
| Wave | Wave Ripple | Steam Blast | Shell Tiara | Sea Foam Blue | Sparkly Sea Glass |
| Storm | Rainbow Dash | Ice Shield | Star Tiara | Sea Foam Blue | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Barnacle | Coral Freeze | Ice Shield | Star Tiara | Neon Coral Pink | Sparkly Sea Glass |
| Sparkle | Bubble Beam | Pearl Glow | Shell Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Salty Sea Kelp |
| Shimmer | Bubble Beam | Steam Blast | Star Tiara | Neon Coral Pink | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Jewel | Wave Ripple | Sand Whirl | Star Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Sparkly Sea Glass |
| Crystal | Rainbow Dash | Sand Whirl | Star Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Glitter | Rainbow Dash | Sand Whirl | Shell Tiara | Neon Coral Pink | Salty Sea Kelp |
| Twinkle | Bubble Beam | Sand Whirl | Star Tiara | Bright Kelp Green | Salty Sea Kelp |
| Celeste | Wave Ripple | Ice Shield | Star Tiara | Sea Foam Blue | Noisy Clam Shells |
| Pearl | Bubble Beam | Sand Whirl | Star Tiara | Neon Coral Pink | Noisy Clam Shells |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To find the first clue, we must count the rows of magic sea stars. There are several equal rows on the wall.
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
54
100
60
T
54
100
108
60
70
36
96
60
7
80
96
T
54
15
7
60
7
27
80
36
90
100
108
66
49
9 × 6 =T
7 × 10 =F
9 × 12 =I
1 × 7 =S
10 × 8 =N
12 × 5 =E
7 × 7 =L
10 × 10 =H
4 × 9 =D
9 × 10 =W
3 × 9 =A
8 × 12 =O
5 × 3 =U
6 × 11 =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
We check the reef radar for the thief's energy level. The radar screen only shows the nearest rounded number.
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
200
600
70
8000
40
7000
4000
6000
2000
500
6000
60
500
3000
6000
60
6000
6000
500
500
9000
600
2000
80
600
7000
600
Round 202 to the nearest hundredW
Round 61 to the nearest tenR
Round 1,978 to the nearest thousandS
Round 81 to the nearest tenC
Round 7,036 to the nearest thousandN
Round 609 to the nearest hundredE
Round 3,995 to the nearest thousandD
Round 5,595 to the nearest thousandA
Round 40 to the nearest tenU
Round 70 to the nearest tenF
Round 9,241 to the nearest thousandH
Round 2,998 to the nearest thousandI
Round 527 to the nearest hundredT
Round 7,939 to the nearest thousandO
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
Let's gather all the glowing shells found in the sand. Adding them together will lead us to 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.
N
546
737
389
835
543
615
281
731
338
835
591
682
281
281
835
262
389
281
281
835
615
731
795
682
988
591
682
338
254 + 292 =N
276 + 455 =A
167 + 171 =M
275 + 462 =O
236 + 446 =E
514 + 474 =T
86 + 176 =W
291 + 300 =H
533 + 262 =R
183 + 360 =Y
413 + 422 =S
85 + 196 =L
266 + 123 =I
316 + 299 =C
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The thief dropped a bag of pearls while escaping. We must subtract the missing pearls from the total to learn more.
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
244
878
520
688
188
394
734
119
125
361
688
878
119
119
568
188
310
520
878
396
310
164
125
119
674
394
643 - 399 =B
581 - 220 =P
186 - 61 =L
1233 - 355 =R
615 - 305 =A
994 - 306 =G
622 - 228 =T
137 - 18 =E
493 - 329 =S
710 - 314 =W
840 - 166 =F
529 - 341 =H
808 - 74 =K
707 - 139 =N
749 - 229 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
To share the magical kelp treats equally among the reef helpers, we split them into equal groups for the last 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
60 ÷ 12 = ?
32 ÷ 8 = ?
45 ÷ 5 = ?
70 ÷ 7 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
120 ÷ 10 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
54 ÷ 9 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
33 ÷ 3 = ?
27 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain creates a soft wave ripple, then lights the way with pearl glow.
2.The villain creates a soft wave ripple, then blocks the path with an ice shield.
3.The villain freezes the surrounding coral, then rides away on a giant tide wave.
4.The villain shines a magical star sparkle, then blocks the path with an ice shield.
5.The villain creates a soft wave ripple, then escapes with a hot steam blast.
6.The villain creates a soft wave ripple, then stirs up a wild sand whirl.
7.The villain blasts a stream of bubbles, then lights the way with pearl glow.
8.The villain freezes the surrounding coral, then stirs up a wild sand whirl.
9.The villain shines a magical star sparkle, then rides away on a giant tide wave.
10.The villain dashes a bright rainbow, then rides away on a giant tide wave.
11.The villain shines a magical star sparkle, then lights the way with pearl glow.
12.The villain dashes a bright rainbow, then stirs up a wild sand whirl.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sparkle Reef Mystery
Culprit: Nova (Wave Ripple · Pearl Glow · Star Tiara · Bright Kelp Green · Noisy Clam Shells)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE SAND WHIRL"9 × 6 = 54 (T) · 7 × 10 = 70 (F) · 9 × 12 = 108 (I) · 1 × 7 = 7 (S) · 10 × 8 = 80 (N) · 12 × 5 = 60 (E) · 7 × 7 = 49 (L) · 10 × 10 = 100 (H) · 4 × 9 = 36 (D) · 9 × 10 = 90 (W) · 3 × 9 = 27 (A) · 8 × 12 = 96 (O) · 5 × 3 = 15 (U) · 6 × 11 = 66 (R)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "WE FOUND A STAR TIARA AT THE SCENE"Round 202 to the nearest hundred = 200 (W) · Round 61 to the nearest ten = 60 (R) · Round 1,978 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (S) · Round 81 to the nearest ten = 80 (C) · Round 7,036 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (N) · Round 609 to the nearest hundred = 600 (E) · Round 3,995 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (D) · Round 5,595 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (A) · Round 40 to the nearest ten = 40 (U) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (F) · Round 9,241 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (H) · Round 2,998 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (I) · Round 527 to the nearest hundred = 500 (T) · Round 7,939 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (O)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "NOISY CLAM SHELLS WILL SCARE THEM"254 + 292 = 546 (N) · 276 + 455 = 731 (A) · 167 + 171 = 338 (M) · 275 + 462 = 737 (O) · 236 + 446 = 682 (E) · 514 + 474 = 988 (T) · 86 + 176 = 262 (W) · 291 + 300 = 591 (H) · 533 + 262 = 795 (R) · 183 + 360 = 543 (Y) · 413 + 422 = 835 (S) · 85 + 196 = 281 (L) · 266 + 123 = 389 (I) · 316 + 299 = 615 (C)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "BRIGHT KELP GREEN HAIR WAS LEFT"643 - 399 = 244 (B) · 581 - 220 = 361 (P) · 186 - 61 = 125 (L) · 1233 - 355 = 878 (R) · 615 - 305 = 310 (A) · 994 - 306 = 688 (G) · 622 - 228 = 394 (T) · 137 - 18 = 119 (E) · 493 - 329 = 164 (S) · 710 - 314 = 396 (W) · 840 - 166 = 674 (F) · 529 - 341 = 188 (H) · 808 - 74 = 734 (K) · 707 - 139 = 568 (N) · 749 - 229 = 520 (I)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Nova60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Sparkle Reef Mystery — set in The Coral Castle of Sparkle Reef
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects