Are you looking for a no prep alternative assessment activity for 3rd grade addition and subtraction? With these engaging cryptogram worksheets, students will practice targeted math skills by solving equations and filling out the mystery message or joke!

This quiz alternative will appeal to all students, including homeschool, general ed, and gifted and talented students.

In this PDF, you will get 32 printable pages + bonus teacher pages:

• 8 unique cryptogram puzzles: 26 problems each featuring leveled skills in addition and subtraction within 1,000.
• 2 print options - full color or black and white
• Answer Keys
• Encrypted jokes (guarantied to bring a smile or laugh!)
• Author's Insights for Use

This resource includes the following skill sets:

Numbers Presented Vertically:

1. Addition within 1,000

2. Subtraction within 1,000

3. Subtraction within 1,000 with focus on regrouping across zero

4. Addition & Subtraction mixed practice

Numbers Presented Horizontally

5. Addition within 1,000

6. Subtraction within 1,000

7. Subtraction within 1,000 with focus on regrouping across zero

8. Addition & Subtraction mixed practice

Required Teacher Preparation & Grading

Zero prep! Simply print and distribute!

Instead of grading completed worksheet or reviewing answers to assess proficiency levels; skill mastery can be determined by who got the joke.

How to use the cryptograms in your classroom

These can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom including:

• A class-wide alternative to a traditional worksheet
• Homework
• Fun challenge for early finishers
• Extra practice
• Review
• Station activity

See Preview for more ideas on how to use effectively in your classroom!

Ideal for Gifted & Talented Students

I work exclusively with gifted and talented students who are often accelerated in math. I have several who don’t like to ask for help or admit that they don’t know everything. However, they are often happy to report a ‘mistake’ in the cryptogram because they believe that two questions have the same answer or that the decoded message has a spelling error. These reports are a great non-threatening way to identify students who need a little extra help while the students are working on the cryptogram rather than waiting until after they complete a worksheet, and it is graded.

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