Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionRoundingDivision
The Whispering Woods Balloon Mystery
The Golden Propeller has been swiped from the Great Airship! The sky docks are in an uproar. We need to find the sneaky Sky-snatcher before they float away forever.
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 | Air Ability | Explorer Tool | Dominant Hand | Hair Feature | Secret Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ella | cloud-weaving | brass goggles | left-handed | blue streak | bright flashes |
| Mia | mist-melting | pocket compass | left-handed | blue streak | itchy feathers |
| Leo | sun-catching | glider wings | right-handed | silver tips | itchy feathers |
| Cleo | sun-catching | grappling hook | left-handed | blue streak | bright flashes |
| Maya | sun-catching | glider wings | left-handed | silver tips | bubble soap |
| Rose | mist-melting | pocket compass | right-handed | blue streak | bright flashes |
| Ivy | cloud-weaving | pocket compass | left-handed | blue streak | bright flashes |
| Finn | cloud-weaving | magnet boots | right-handed | neon orange | bubble soap |
| Ruby | wind-whistling | brass goggles | right-handed | blue streak | bubble soap |
| Max | cloud-weaving | pocket compass | left-handed | neon orange | bubble soap |
| Zack | cloud-weaving | grappling hook | right-handed | blue streak | bright flashes |
| Cole | wind-whistling | pocket compass | right-handed | silver tips | bright flashes |
| Nora | storm-chasing | brass goggles | left-handed | neon orange | bubble soap |
| Lily | sun-catching | glider wings | left-handed | silver tips | itchy feathers |
| Otis | wind-whistling | glider wings | left-handed | neon orange | bright flashes |
| Hugo | storm-chasing | pocket compass | left-handed | neon orange | bright flashes |
| Milo | mist-melting | magnet boots | left-handed | blue streak | itchy feathers |
| Luke | mist-melting | pocket compass | left-handed | blue streak | bright flashes |
| Zoe | mist-melting | glider wings | right-handed | neon orange | bright flashes |
| Jack | cloud-weaving | brass goggles | left-handed | blue streak | itchy feathers |
| Sam | storm-chasing | magnet boots | left-handed | blue streak | bright flashes |
Clue 1
Place value
We examine the digital dial on the airship door. Looking closely at the hundreds place gives us our first clue about the thief's gear.
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
4000
500
30
40
2000
100
100
1000
2000
700
3000
800
30
60
700
800
T
4000
7000
30
1000
9000
20
9000
1000
60
60
6000
800
6000
6000
100
30
60
What is the value of the 4 in 4,121?T
What is the value of the 1 in 103?L
What is the value of the 9 in 29,687?R
What is the value of the 2 in 52,445?I
What is the value of the 8 in 5,859?O
What is the value of the 6 in 967?S
What is the value of the 6 in 86,524?G
What is the value of the 3 in 5,231?E
What is the value of the 2 in 4,921?B
What is the value of the 4 in 540?V
What is the value of the 3 in 13,726?D
What is the value of the 5 in 2,531?H
What is the value of the 1 in 1,893?A
What is the value of the 7 in 7,360?W
What is the value of the 7 in 5,760?N
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We count the dropped gear bolts found on the floor. Adding these piles together shows us which glove the runner dropped.
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
523
880
623
210
784
210
602
623
450
T
523
882
698
386
602
602
623
882
439
269
623
632
T
523
880
439
952
882
623
882
522
269
386
219
623
210 + 313 =T
420 + 278 =R
69 + 141 =S
241 + 145 =O
270 + 353 =E
240 + 210 =C
398 + 482 =H
404 + 228 =F
221 + 301 =G
166 + 103 =L
180 + 259 =A
647 + 305 =N
113 + 106 =V
406 + 378 =U
460 + 422 =D
261 + 341 =P
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
A fuel canister is leaking slowly. Subtracting the leaked oil from the start amount reveals the villain's secret weakness.
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
224
533
360
455
401
625
625
361
401
323
467
533
401
360
625
310
360
310
360
866
360
467
823
456
603
550
823
625
361
467
533
360
467
513 - 289 =T
693 - 292 =I
984 - 118 =Y
461 - 101 =E
761 - 306 =V
745 - 142 =O
1221 - 398 =F
547 - 186 =A
703 - 380 =N
785 - 318 =S
721 - 188 =H
362 - 52 =D
698 - 73 =L
882 - 332 =M
680 - 224 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The wind speed radar shows a fuzzy number. Rounding it to the nearest ten reveals the color of the hair left on the escape ladder.
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
5000
300
90
200
9000
600
7000
70
300
2000
70
2000
60
T
5000
4000
2000
30
700
90
500
9000
7000
90
60
T
5000
4000
90
2000
40
80
30
80
T
5000
Round 5,334 to the nearest thousandT
Round 63 to the nearest tenS
Round 8,534 to the nearest thousandL
Round 27 to the nearest tenN
Round 210 to the nearest hundredC
Round 2,127 to the nearest thousandA
Round 714 to the nearest hundredG
Round 83 to the nearest tenI
Round 67 to the nearest tenD
Round 3,863 to the nearest thousandR
Round 36 to the nearest tenK
Round 7,441 to the nearest thousandU
Round 579 to the nearest hundredO
Round 89 to the nearest tenE
Round 515 to the nearest hundredB
Round 303 to the nearest hundredH
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The scout team has a bag of snack bars. Sharing them equally among the crew gives us the final detail we need to catch the suspect.
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
12 ÷ 3 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
27 ÷ 3 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scrambles up the rigging, then plucks the pilot badge.
2.The villain scrambles up the rigging, then swipes the compass.
3.The villain slips through the clouds, then steals the silver wrench.
4.The villain slips through the clouds, then plucks the pilot badge.
5.The villain leaps across the rope bridge, then grabs the shiny golden propeller.
6.The villain zooms past the guard towers, then pockets the secret map.
7.The villain sneaks aboard the airship, then steals the silver wrench.
8.The villain sneaks aboard the airship, then pockets the secret map.
9.The villain slips through the clouds, then pockets the secret map.
10.The villain sneaks aboard the airship, then swipes the compass.
11.The villain scrambles up the rigging, then grabs the shiny golden propeller.
12.The villain zooms past the guard towers, then grabs the shiny golden propeller.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Whispering Woods Balloon Mystery
Culprit: Cleo (sun-catching · grappling hook · left-handed · blue streak · bright flashes)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR BRASS GOGGLES"What is the value of the 4 in 4,121? = 4000 (T) · What is the value of the 1 in 103? = 100 (L) · What is the value of the 9 in 29,687? = 9000 (R) · What is the value of the 2 in 52,445? = 2000 (I) · What is the value of the 8 in 5,859? = 800 (O) · What is the value of the 6 in 967? = 60 (S) · What is the value of the 6 in 86,524? = 6000 (G) · What is the value of the 3 in 5,231? = 30 (E) · What is the value of the 2 in 4,921? = 20 (B) · What is the value of the 4 in 540? = 40 (V) · What is the value of the 3 in 13,726? = 3000 (D) · What is the value of the 5 in 2,531? = 500 (H) · What is the value of the 1 in 1,893? = 1000 (A) · What is the value of the 7 in 7,360? = 7000 (W) · What is the value of the 7 in 5,760? = 700 (N)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DROPPED A LEFT HANDED GLOVE"210 + 313 = 523 (T) · 420 + 278 = 698 (R) · 69 + 141 = 210 (S) · 241 + 145 = 386 (O) · 270 + 353 = 623 (E) · 240 + 210 = 450 (C) · 398 + 482 = 880 (H) · 404 + 228 = 632 (F) · 221 + 301 = 522 (G) · 166 + 103 = 269 (L) · 180 + 259 = 439 (A) · 647 + 305 = 952 (N) · 113 + 106 = 219 (V) · 406 + 378 = 784 (U) · 460 + 422 = 882 (D) · 261 + 341 = 602 (P)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN SHIELDED EYES FROM FLASHES"513 - 289 = 224 (T) · 693 - 292 = 401 (I) · 984 - 118 = 866 (Y) · 461 - 101 = 360 (E) · 761 - 306 = 455 (V) · 745 - 142 = 603 (O) · 1221 - 398 = 823 (F) · 547 - 186 = 361 (A) · 703 - 380 = 323 (N) · 785 - 318 = 467 (S) · 721 - 188 = 533 (H) · 362 - 52 = 310 (D) · 698 - 73 = 625 (L) · 882 - 332 = 550 (M) · 680 - 224 = 456 (R)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "THE CLOUD HAD A STRANGE BLUE STREAK IN IT"Round 5,334 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (T) · Round 63 to the nearest ten = 60 (S) · Round 8,534 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (L) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 210 to the nearest hundred = 200 (C) · Round 2,127 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A) · Round 714 to the nearest hundred = 700 (G) · Round 83 to the nearest ten = 80 (I) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (D) · Round 3,863 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (R) · Round 36 to the nearest ten = 40 (K) · Round 7,441 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (U) · Round 579 to the nearest hundred = 600 (O) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (E) · Round 515 to the nearest hundred = 500 (B) · Round 303 to the nearest hundred = 300 (H)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Cleo12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Whispering Woods Balloon Mystery — set in The Floating Sky Docks
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects