Back to School Math Activity: 4th Grade Math Mystery Game

What others say

"I love these mysteries, and I love that this one is a nice way for me to see where students are at and their understanding of the concepts we will be covering during the year, and it is also nice to use it as a review when we are in the middle of long division, and their brains are fried"

Kaitlyn G.

"I have bought numerous Math Mysteries and have loved each one. They always keep students engaged while practicing relevant math skills. Thanks again!"

Kendra D.

Description

Back to School Math Mystery Activity - 4th Grade Edition Math Worksheets (Reviews 3rd Grade Math Skills - ideal for assessment at the beginning of the school year). Useful as a fun way to practice and review math skills early in the school year.

Mystery Case: The Case of the Cursed Classrooms

Students must use their math skills to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the suspects to find who cursed the classrooms!

Easy prep!

Printable PDF - print, copy, solve!
Digital worksheets with Google Slides or EASEL

Suggestion: Pace the clues one by one to keep the class at the same point. If using the clues in a different order, keep the suspect list away from students until all five clues are completed and discovered.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⭐Optional video hook included for introducing the case! Check out in the preview section.

⭐Ending Video Clip is also included to wrap up the mystery!

⭐Math Skills Required to Unlock Clues⭐

There are five clues to crack to solve the mystery:

Clue 1: Adding triple-digit numbers (with regrouping)
Clue 2: Rounding Numbers to the nearest ten & hundred
Clue 3: Mix of Multiplication Facts (1-12)
Clue 4: Subtracting triple-digit numbers (with regrouping)
Clue 5: Ordering numbers up to 1,000

Students must use critical thinking skills to figure out what the clue is telling them to eliminate from the list of possibilities.

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⭐Multiple Uses⭐

- Consolidation

- Practice and Review

- Math Centers

- Early Finishers

- Substitute Teachers

- Assessment for learning

- Homework

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How long will this activity take?

Time to complete varies depending on your student's familiarity with the math mystery format and the skills required to unlock clues. You can pace it out by completing one clue a day --> there are five clues!

Need different math skills? Check out the other grade editions available below to solve the Case of the Cursed Classrooms (great for differentiating in your classrooms too):

This Math Mystery Story is also available in a DIGITAL Game version with three math levels in one! (Please note that this is different from the Google Slides digital option).

>> Click Here to check out the paperless option - see product description for a free trial<<

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may also be interested in these other 4th Grade Math Mysteries

You might also like to try my Reading Mysteries.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Add extra motivation with this Detective Rank Chart Download the Mystery Record & Rank Chart FREEBIE HERE

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bundle and Save!

COMPLETE Math Mystery Bundle for GRADE 4

Holiday Math Mystery Bundle {GRADE 4}

Seasons Math Mystery Bundle Pack (GRADE 4)

SKILLS Math Mystery Bundle (4th Grade)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not sure what a math mystery is? CLICK HERE to watch a video about Math Mysteries

TRY A FULL FREE MATH MYSTERY HERE (GRADES 1 - 6 DIFFERENTIATED BUNDLE)

Browse the 4th Grade Range:

>>Download the FREE 4th Grade Math Mystery Checklist here<<

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more ideas, activities, and resources, follow my store (by clicking the little green star) to stay updated on new releases. We can also stay connected via:

Blog

Pinterest

Facebook

___________________________________________________________________>>

⭐CLICK HERE to follow my store <<⭐

Thank you!

Mrs. J.

Report this resource to TPT

Reported resources will be reviewed by our team. Report this resource to let us know if this resource violates TPT's content guidelines.

Back to School Math Activity: 4th Grade Math Mystery Game

Name: Back to School Math Activity: 4th Grade Math Mystery Game
Brand: Mrs J's Resource Creations
SKU: 5856079
Price: 4.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.83 (111 reviews)

Mrs J's Resource Creations

41.6k Followers

$4.95

Highlights

Digital downloads

Easel Activities, Google Apps

Grades

3rd - 5th

Subjects

Math, Mental Math

Standards

CCSS3.NBT.A.1

CCSS3.NBT.A.2

CCSS3.OA.A.1

What others say

Kaitlyn G.

"I have bought numerous Math Mysteries and have loved each one. They always keep students engaged while practicing relevant math skills. Thanks again!"

Kendra D.

Save even more with bundles

Complete Math Mystery Tri-Grade Bundle for 4th, 5th, & 6th Grade Math Mysteries

This Complete Math Mystery Tri-Grade Bundle contains all of my math mysteries currently in the range available for Grades 4, 5, and 6!Make math fun and exciting by adding a mystery twist to your worksheets. Your students will gain lots of math practice while also developing their critical thinking a

Price $626.63Original Price $895.20Save $268.57

189

4th Grade Math Mysteries Holiday Bundle: Fun Math Review Activities

Math Mysteries for the HOLIDAYS bundle! 4th Grade Edition. These fun math mystery activities will excite your students about doing math reviews! Save time and money with this Math Mystery HOLIDAY bundle for Grade 4!Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Docs option pr

Price $96.39Original Price $137.70Save $41.31

Math Mystery Games COMPLETE Bundle 4th Grade Math Review Activities Escape Room

Math Mysteries, the COMPLETE collection for 4th Grade. This complete math mystery bundle contains all of my math mysteries for Grade 4 up to date! Make math fun and exciting with these engaging activities that will motivate even some of your most reluctant learners.Easy prep! Just Print & Solve!

Price $235.43Original Price $336.35Save $100.92

MEGA MRS. J's MATH MYSTERY BUNDLE (GRADES 1 - 6)

Mrs. J's Math Mystery collection from 1st to 6th grade.Grab all of the math mysteries to engage and motivate your students and differentiate across grade levels! FAQ: Will I be adding more math mysteries to this bundle?A: Yes, I will add new 1st-6th Grade Math Mysteries to this bundle until it reach

Price $1049.45Original Price $1750.70Save $701.25

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Complete Math Mystery Tri-Grade Bundle for 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Grade Math Mysteries

This Complete Math Mystery Tri-Grade Bundle contains all of my math mysteries currently in the range available for Grades 2, 3, and 4!Make math fun and exciting by adding a mystery twist to your worksheets. Your students will gain lots of math practice, while also developing their critical thinking

Price $637.96Original Price $911.35Save $273.39

192

Complete Math Mystery Tri-Grade Bundle for 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Review

This Complete Math Mystery Tri-Grade Bundle contains all of my math mysteries currently in the range available for Grades 3, 4, and 5!Make math fun and exciting by adding a mystery twist to your worksheets. Your students will gain lots of math practice, while also developing their critical thinking

Price $667.92Original Price $954.15Save $286.23

201

Back to School Math Mystery Differentiated GRADE BUNDLE - Cursed Classrooms

This Back to School Math Mystery Differentiated Bundle contains all of the printable and Google Slide worksheet grade versions for the Case of The Cursed Classrooms available (Grades 1-8). This bundle is great if you need to differentiate within your classroom because the clues are interchangeable

Price $12.95Original Price $36.00Save $23.05

Description

Mystery Case: The Case of the Cursed Classrooms

Students must use their math skills to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the suspects to find who cursed the classrooms!

Easy prep!

Printable PDF - print, copy, solve!
Digital worksheets with Google Slides or EASEL

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⭐Optional video hook included for introducing the case! Check out in the preview section.

⭐Ending Video Clip is also included to wrap up the mystery!

⭐Math Skills Required to Unlock Clues⭐

There are five clues to crack to solve the mystery:

Clue 1: Adding triple-digit numbers (with regrouping)
Clue 2: Rounding Numbers to the nearest ten & hundred
Clue 3: Mix of Multiplication Facts (1-12)
Clue 4: Subtracting triple-digit numbers (with regrouping)
Clue 5: Ordering numbers up to 1,000

Students must use critical thinking skills to figure out what the clue is telling them to eliminate from the list of possibilities.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⭐Multiple Uses⭐

- Consolidation

- Practice and Review

- Math Centers

- Early Finishers

- Substitute Teachers

- Assessment for learning

- Homework

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How long will this activity take?

Need different math skills? Check out the other grade editions available below to solve the Case of the Cursed Classrooms (great for differentiating in your classrooms too):

This Math Mystery Story is also available in a DIGITAL Game version with three math levels in one! (Please note that this is different from the Google Slides digital option).

>> Click Here to check out the paperless option - see product description for a free trial<<

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may also be interested in these other 4th Grade Math Mysteries

You might also like to try my Reading Mysteries.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Add extra motivation with this Detective Rank Chart Download the Mystery Record & Rank Chart FREEBIE HERE

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bundle and Save!

COMPLETE Math Mystery Bundle for GRADE 4

Holiday Math Mystery Bundle {GRADE 4}

Seasons Math Mystery Bundle Pack (GRADE 4)

SKILLS Math Mystery Bundle (4th Grade)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not sure what a math mystery is? CLICK HERE to watch a video about Math Mysteries

TRY A FULL FREE MATH MYSTERY HERE (GRADES 1 - 6 DIFFERENTIATED BUNDLE)

Browse the 4th Grade Range:

>>Download the FREE 4th Grade Math Mystery Checklist here<<

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more ideas, activities, and resources, follow my store (by clicking the little green star) to stay updated on new releases. We can also stay connected via:

Blog

Pinterest

Facebook

___________________________________________________________________>>

⭐CLICK HERE to follow my store <<⭐

Thank you!

Mrs. J.

Report this resource to TPT

Reported resources will be reviewed by our team. Report this resource to let us know if this resource violates TPT's content guidelines.

4.8

Rated 4.83 out of 5, based on 111 reviews

111
ratings

Mostly used with 4th grade

Reviews

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

What customers are saying

Met expectations

100%

Is a great value

100%

Is standards-aligned

100%

All verified TPT purchases

Always requested!

Rated 5 out of 5

June 5, 2026

Met expectations

Great value

Standards-aligned

My students love these mystery games! They are always requesting to have me find more!

2 Chicago Teachers

(TPT Seller)

176 reviews • Illinois

Grades taught: 3rd, 4th, 5th

Another amazing math mystery!

Rated 5 out of 5

February 26, 2026

Met expectations

Great value

Standards-aligned

I love these mysteries, and I love that this one is a nice way for me to see where students are at and their understanding of the concepts we will be covering during the year, and it is also nice to use it as a review when we are in the middle of long division, and their brains are fried

Kaitlyn Geasley

(TPT Seller)

43 reviews • Illinois

Grades taught: 4th

great review

Rated 5 out of 5

November 17, 2025

This was a great review for my after school kiddos who are slightly below grade level.

Constance H.

654 reviews • Florida

Grades taught: 5th

Quick beginning of the year sub work

Rated 5 out of 5

November 1, 2025

Met expectations

Great value

Standards-aligned

I had an emergency the first week of school, and this fit the bill. The students love working on these, and they're easy to use when I have a sub. I can print off the answer key for the sub so he or she can help the students. It's quick and easy, and is a great review for standards they learned in 3rd grade.

Trudi L.

8 reviews • Oklahoma

Grades taught: 4th

Student populations: Autism, Emerging bilinguals, Learning difficulties

awersome resource

Rated 5 out of 5

October 26, 2025

Met expectations

Great value

Standards-aligned

Such a helpful resource for review — concise, aligned, and student-friendly!

Traniqua M.

1,220 reviews • Texas

Grades taught: 4th, 5th

Student populations: Emerging bilinguals, Learning difficulties

Love Math Mysteries!

Rated 5 out of 5

October 24, 2025

Met expectations

Great value

Standards-aligned

I have bought numerous Math Mysteries and have loved each one. They always keep students engaged while practicing relevant math skills. Thanks again!

Kendra DeLong

(TPT Seller)

169 reviews • Wisconsin

Grades taught: 5th

Great Math Activity

Rated 5 out of 5

October 13, 2025

Met expectations

Great value

Standards-aligned

Great activity used at the start of school to review math skills.

Susan Chisholm

(TPT Seller)

265 reviews • Outside the United States

Grades taught: 4th

Fun and Engaging Back-to-School Math Review!

Rated 5 out of 5

October 8, 2025

My students had so much fun solving this math mystery! It was the perfect way to review key skills from last year while keeping everyone engaged and excited to learn—great for the first week back!

Courtney Karst

(TPT Seller)

1,859 reviews • Outside the United States

Grades taught: 3rd, 4th, 5th

Questions & Answers

Standards

to see state-specific standards (only available in the US).

CCSS3.NBT.A.1

Use place value understanding to round whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100.

CCSS3.NBT.A.2

Fluently add and subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.

CCSS3.OA.A.1

Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 × 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each. For example, describe a context in which a total number of objects can be expressed as 5 × 7.