🔎 AnimaniacsGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberBar modelsOrder of operationsMultiplicationMissing addends
The Water Tower Capers
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are ready to film, but someone has locked up their beloved water tower! Worse, they stole the giant golden mallet used for sound effects. It is up to you to search the soundstages, follow the goofy tracks, and unmask the toon thief before the cartoon is cancelled!
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 | Signature Gag | Cartoon Gear | Anvil Grip | Toon Hair Style | How To Stop Them |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Boo | Pie Toss | ACME Rocket | Left Handed | Slicked Back | Squirting Flower |
| Ralph Guard | Pie Toss | ACME Rocket | Left Handed | Spiky Ears | Banana Peel |
| Dot Warner | Pie Toss | ACME Rocket | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Banana Peel |
| Hello Nurse | Pie Toss | Portable Hole | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Banana Peel |
| Buttons Dog | Seltzer Spray | ACME Rocket | Left Handed | Spiky Ears | Banana Peel |
| Sid Squid | Seltzer Spray | Giant Magnet | Right Handed | Spiky Ears | Loud Gong |
| Skippy Squirrel | Pie Toss | Giant Magnet | Left Handed | Floppy Hair | Loud Gong |
| Thaddeus Plotz | Opera Sing | Portable Hole | Left Handed | Spiky Ears | Banana Peel |
| Pinky | Seltzer Spray | Giant Magnet | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Banana Peel |
| Wakko Warner | Opera Sing | ACME Rocket | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Squirting Flower |
| Dr Scratchansniff | Rapid Talk | Giant Magnet | Right Handed | Floppy Hair | Loud Gong |
| Yakko Warner | Mallet Smash | Whoopee Cushion | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Loud Gong |
| Rita Cat | Pie Toss | Fake Mustache | Left Handed | Slicked Back | Loud Gong |
| Bobby Pigeon | Opera Sing | Giant Magnet | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Banana Peel |
| Pip Pipsqueak | Mallet Smash | Whoopee Cushion | Left Handed | Slicked Back | Banana Peel |
| Squit Pigeon | Mallet Smash | Whoopee Cushion | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Banana Peel |
| The Brain | Rapid Talk | ACME Rocket | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Loud Gong |
| Pesto Pigeon | Mallet Smash | Whoopee Cushion | Right Handed | Floppy Hair | Banana Peel |
| Runt Dog | Mallet Smash | Fake Mustache | Left Handed | Floppy Hair | Squirting Flower |
| Slappy Squirrel | Seltzer Spray | Fake Mustache | Right Handed | Slicked Back | Squirting Flower |
| Baloney Dinosaur | Seltzer Spray | Giant Magnet | Right Handed | Floppy Hair | Loud Gong |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
Yakko helps you divide a giant stack of movie scripts into equal fractions to find a page of the secret case 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
11
15
22
10
2
38
38
12
2
13
30
2
30
13
25
T
11
40
33
22
12
17
25
27
T
11
12
16
38
22
15
25
38
22
1/8 of 88 =T
1/5 of 125 =O
2/8 of 68 =P
1/2 of 20 =V
2/6 of 99 =S
2/4 of 26 =N
3/4 of 36 =R
4/8 of 44 =E
1/5 of 75 =H
2/8 of 160 =U
2/10 of 60 =A
3/4 of 40 =D
2/3 of 24 =B
2/3 of 3 =I
2/4 of 76 =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Bar model word problems
Wakko draws bar models on the pavement with chalk to compare the lengths of chewed-up film reels left behind.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
26
37
45
13
70
13
127
66
D
E
D
The red team has 52 anvils and the blue team has 26 anvils. How many more anvils does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→R
One group collected 97 mallets and another group collected 30 mallets. How many mallets in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
Wakko used 1/2 of the balloons on the first day. The other 33 balloons were used the next day. How many balloons were there in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→N
One group collected 42 anvils and another group collected 3 anvils. How many anvils in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→G
Wakko shares 148 pies equally among 4 teams. How many pies does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→I
Wakko shares 140 pies equally among 2 teams. How many pies does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
Wakko has 78 balloons, packed 6 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→H
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
Dot participates in a wacky studio game show where solving a multi-step math puzzle unlocks the next hint.
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
75
73
66
T
75
73
33
66
14
60
68
33
12
12
66
74
13
45
79
6
79
45
79
45
79
12
66
66
68
9 × 11 - 24 =T
59 + 3 × 3 =L
9 × 4 - 30 =B
9 × 11 - 25 =D
12 × 8 - 17 =A
24 + 4 × 9 =S
17 + 4 × 4 =I
5 + 3 × 3 =F
56 + 5 × 2 =E
7 + 2 × 3 =O
3 × 11 - 21 =P
9 × 10 - 17 =H
8 × 7 - 11 =N
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Ralph the Guard counts rows of fallen heavy anvils by multiplying them to figure out which stage was raided.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
54
40
70
120
81
72
11
14
96
120
81
4
96
70
90
S
54
88
90
96
56
11
S
54
3
72
90
72
40
72
9
88
14
72
4
70
56
11
9 × 6 =S
9 × 9 =K
7 × 2 =B
10 × 12 =C
7 × 8 =N
10 × 7 =I
10 × 9 =R
8 × 12 =A
4 × 1 =H
4 × 10 =L
8 × 9 =E
11 × 8 =T
1 × 3 =W
1 × 11 =D
3 × 3 =F
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Dr Scratchansniff notices several sound effect records are missing from his shelf and calculates the exact number left.
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
14 + ___ = 26
6 + ___ = 11
21 + ___ = 31
22 + ___ = 25
4 + ___ = 12
33 + ___ = 34
34 + ___ = 38
1 + ___ = 7
7 + ___ = 9
35 + ___ = 44
22 + ___ = 29
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain talked in rapid-fire riddles, then placed a sneaky whoopee cushion.
2.The villain sang a dramatic opera song, then escaped through a portable hole.
3.The villain sang a dramatic opera song, then placed a sneaky whoopee cushion.
4.The villain tossed a custard pie, then placed a sneaky whoopee cushion.
5.The villain sprayed fizzy seltzer water, then dragged a giant magnet.
6.The villain sprayed fizzy seltzer water, then donned a fake mustache.
7.The villain sprayed fizzy seltzer water, then blasted away on an ACME rocket.
8.The villain tossed a custard pie, then donned a fake mustache.
9.The villain tossed a custard pie, then dragged a giant magnet.
10.The villain tossed a custard pie, then blasted away on an ACME rocket.
11.The villain sang a dramatic opera song, then dragged a giant magnet.
12.The villain smashed a giant mallet, then placed a sneaky whoopee cushion.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Water Tower Capers
Culprit: Bobby Pigeon (Opera Sing · Giant Magnet · Right Handed · Slicked Back · Banana Peel)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DID NOT USE A PORTABLE HOLE"1/8 of 88 = 11 (T) · 1/5 of 125 = 25 (O) · 2/8 of 68 = 17 (P) · 1/2 of 20 = 10 (V) · 2/6 of 99 = 33 (S) · 2/4 of 26 = 13 (N) · 3/4 of 36 = 27 (R) · 4/8 of 44 = 22 (E) · 1/5 of 75 = 15 (H) · 2/8 of 160 = 40 (U) · 2/10 of 60 = 12 (A) · 3/4 of 40 = 30 (D) · 2/3 of 24 = 16 (B) · 2/3 of 3 = 2 (I) · 2/4 of 76 = 38 (L)
- Clue 2 (Bar model word problems): "RIGHT HANDED"The red team has 52 anvils and the blue team has 26 anvils. How many more anvils does the red team have? = 26 (R) · One group collected 97 mallets and another group collected 30 mallets. How many mallets in all? = 127 (A) · Wakko used 1/2 of the balloons on the first day. The other 33 balloons were used the next day. How many balloons were there in all? = 66 (N) · One group collected 42 anvils and another group collected 3 anvils. How many anvils in all? = 45 (G) · Wakko shares 148 pies equally among 4 teams. How many pies does each team get? = 37 (I) · Wakko shares 140 pies equally among 2 teams. How many pies does each team get? = 70 (T) · Wakko has 78 balloons, packed 6 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 13 (H)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE THIEF SLIPPED ON A BANANA PEEL"9 × 11 - 24 = 75 (T) · 59 + 3 × 3 = 68 (L) · 9 × 4 - 30 = 6 (B) · 9 × 11 - 25 = 74 (D) · 12 × 8 - 17 = 79 (A) · 24 + 4 × 9 = 60 (S) · 17 + 4 × 4 = 33 (I) · 5 + 3 × 3 = 14 (F) · 56 + 5 × 2 = 66 (E) · 7 + 2 × 3 = 13 (O) · 3 × 11 - 21 = 12 (P) · 9 × 10 - 17 = 73 (H) · 8 × 7 - 11 = 45 (N)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SLICKED BACK HAIR STRANDS WERE LEFT BEHIND"9 × 6 = 54 (S) · 9 × 9 = 81 (K) · 7 × 2 = 14 (B) · 10 × 12 = 120 (C) · 7 × 8 = 56 (N) · 10 × 7 = 70 (I) · 10 × 9 = 90 (R) · 8 × 12 = 96 (A) · 4 × 1 = 4 (H) · 4 × 10 = 40 (L) · 8 × 9 = 72 (E) · 11 × 8 = 88 (T) · 1 × 3 = 3 (W) · 1 × 11 = 11 (D) · 3 × 3 = 9 (F)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 11) → Bobby Pigeon14 + ___ = 26 = 12 · 6 + ___ = 11 = 5 · 21 + ___ = 31 = 10 · 22 + ___ = 25 = 3 · 4 + ___ = 12 = 8 · 33 + ___ = 34 = 1 · 34 + ___ = 38 = 4 · 1 + ___ = 7 = 6 · 7 + ___ = 9 = 2 · 35 + ___ = 44 = 9 · 22 + ___ = 29 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Bar models, Order of operations, Multiplication, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Water Tower Capers — set in Warner Bros. Studio Lot
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects