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Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
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Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)
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What others say

"My students absolutely loved this escape room. They were working so hard to find out who the bad guy litterbug was. "
star
Michele V.
"I recently purchased this product and have been quite impressed with the overall quality and performance so far. It definitely met my expectations and provides great value for the price. I would certainly recommend it to others looking for something reliable."
star
Abby H.

Description

Earth Day Math Mystery 3rd Grade Edition “The Case of The Litterbug”. EASY PREP, just print and solve! Your students will be engaged and motivated by this fun detective story, which also encourages critical thinking as they must reason their way through eliminating suspects. Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.


A video hook is provided to set the stage to engage! Check out the video hook in the preview section.

A bonus ENDING VIDEO clip is included to celebrate finishing the mystery

Update: >>The Videos now have voiceovers<<


Easy Prep!

  • PDF printable version - print and copy the worksheets, and your student detectives are ready to solve!
  • Google Slides Digital version - Find the link in the Teacher Instructions section to open the worksheets digitally in Google Slides. Make a copy for your students and assign it. Students must be in 'edit' mode to enter answers.


<<<<>>>>

  • Clue 1: Roman Numerals (Numbers between 1-50) (Read Clue 1 guide here)
  • Clue 2: Estimating Sums – up to 1000 (Round to the nearest 10 and then add.)
  • Clue 3: Balancing Subtraction Equations (2-Digit and 3-Digit numbers) - Please note that this clue is quite challenging, so I've added the substitute page from 2nd grade inside the pack to swap out if needed.
  • Clue 4: Identifying 2D and 3D Shapes
  • Clue 5: Multiplication and Division (Facts between 1-12)

⭐Also included:

  • Answer key
  • The worksheets in Google Slides
  • Printable certificates
  • Editable Suspects list! This way you can change the suspect names and alter the mystery outcome. There are also two alternative pre-made lists you can use instead. This is a great option if your students have already done this mystery story before and you need to change the mystery answer.


How long will this activity take?

The time to complete will vary anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours! It mainly depends on how familiar your students are with the math mystery format and how difficult they find math skills covered in the particular mystery. Please check the math skills outlined in the clues above to help determine suitability for your class. I recommend pacing this activity by giving students one clue at a time. Once the whole class has completed a clue, move on to the next clue within the same lesson or the next math session. New math content presented? Make a lesson out of it by modeling the math before diving into the clue. I like to say, "We must learn something new before attempting the next clue." There are lots of ways to implement this activity in your classroom; learn more in the blog post link below:

Read Blog Post: Five Easy Ways to use Math Mysteries in your Classroom.



Multiple Uses

Great for:

  • Review
  • Consolidation
  • Math Centers
  • Extra Practice
  • Enrichment
  • Early Finishers
  • Homework
  • Substitute Teachers

Great Earth Day Math Activity!


This Earth Day Math Mystery activity is available for GRADES 1-6!

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 1== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 2== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 3== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 4== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 5== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 6== Click here

You may also like:

Earth Day READING MYSTERY: Once Upon a Crime, Forest Grime!


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 3

HOLIDAY Math Mysteries Bundle Pack GRADE 3

SKILLS Math Mystery Bundle (3rd Grade)

SEASONS Math Mystery Bundle Pack (GRADE 3)

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

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 3rd Grade Range:

>>Download the FREE 3rd Grade Checklist here:<<

>> CLICK HERE to follow my store <<

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

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

Instagram @mrsjsresourcecreations

___________________________________________________________________

Thank you!

Mrs. J.

© 2016

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.
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Earth Day Activity: Case of the Litterbug (Grade 3 Earth Day Math Mystery)

Mrs J's Resource Creations
41.6k Followers
$4.95

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Digital downloads
Grades icon
Grades
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Answer Key
Included

What others say

"My students absolutely loved this escape room. They were working so hard to find out who the bad guy litterbug was. "
star
Michele V.
"I recently purchased this product and have been quite impressed with the overall quality and performance so far. It definitely met my expectations and provides great value for the price. I would certainly recommend it to others looking for something reliable."
star
Abby H.

Save even more with bundles

CSI Math Mysteries for the holidays! 3rd Grade Edition. These fun math mystery activities will get your students excited about doing math review! Save time and money with this Math Mystery HOLIDAY bundle for Grade 3!Easy prep! Just Print &amp; Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option
Price $96.70Original Price $138.15Save $41.45
28
Math Mysteries COMPLETE 3rd Grade Collection! This complete Math Mystery bundle contains all of my math mysteries for Grade 3 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 &amp; Solve! Or go pa
Price $235.43Original Price $336.35Save $100.92
72
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 $1046.48Original Price $1745.75Save $699.27
368

Description

Earth Day Math Mystery 3rd Grade Edition “The Case of The Litterbug”. EASY PREP, just print and solve! Your students will be engaged and motivated by this fun detective story, which also encourages critical thinking as they must reason their way through eliminating suspects. Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.


A video hook is provided to set the stage to engage! Check out the video hook in the preview section.

A bonus ENDING VIDEO clip is included to celebrate finishing the mystery

Update: >>The Videos now have voiceovers<<


Easy Prep!

  • PDF printable version - print and copy the worksheets, and your student detectives are ready to solve!
  • Google Slides Digital version - Find the link in the Teacher Instructions section to open the worksheets digitally in Google Slides. Make a copy for your students and assign it. Students must be in 'edit' mode to enter answers.


<<<<>>>>

  • Clue 1: Roman Numerals (Numbers between 1-50) (Read Clue 1 guide here)
  • Clue 2: Estimating Sums – up to 1000 (Round to the nearest 10 and then add.)
  • Clue 3: Balancing Subtraction Equations (2-Digit and 3-Digit numbers) - Please note that this clue is quite challenging, so I've added the substitute page from 2nd grade inside the pack to swap out if needed.
  • Clue 4: Identifying 2D and 3D Shapes
  • Clue 5: Multiplication and Division (Facts between 1-12)

⭐Also included:

  • Answer key
  • The worksheets in Google Slides
  • Printable certificates
  • Editable Suspects list! This way you can change the suspect names and alter the mystery outcome. There are also two alternative pre-made lists you can use instead. This is a great option if your students have already done this mystery story before and you need to change the mystery answer.


How long will this activity take?

The time to complete will vary anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours! It mainly depends on how familiar your students are with the math mystery format and how difficult they find math skills covered in the particular mystery. Please check the math skills outlined in the clues above to help determine suitability for your class. I recommend pacing this activity by giving students one clue at a time. Once the whole class has completed a clue, move on to the next clue within the same lesson or the next math session. New math content presented? Make a lesson out of it by modeling the math before diving into the clue. I like to say, "We must learn something new before attempting the next clue." There are lots of ways to implement this activity in your classroom; learn more in the blog post link below:

Read Blog Post: Five Easy Ways to use Math Mysteries in your Classroom.



Multiple Uses

Great for:

  • Review
  • Consolidation
  • Math Centers
  • Extra Practice
  • Enrichment
  • Early Finishers
  • Homework
  • Substitute Teachers

Great Earth Day Math Activity!


This Earth Day Math Mystery activity is available for GRADES 1-6!

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 1== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 2== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 3== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 4== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 5== Click here

Case of the Litterbug ==Grade 6== Click here

You may also like:

Earth Day READING MYSTERY: Once Upon a Crime, Forest Grime!


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 3

HOLIDAY Math Mysteries Bundle Pack GRADE 3

SKILLS Math Mystery Bundle (3rd Grade)

SEASONS Math Mystery Bundle Pack (GRADE 3)

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

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 3rd Grade Range:

>>Download the FREE 3rd Grade Checklist here:<<

>> CLICK HERE to follow my store <<

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

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

Instagram @mrsjsresourcecreations

___________________________________________________________________

Thank you!

Mrs. J.

© 2016

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.

Reviews

4.8
Rated 4.84 out of 5, based on 542 reviews
542
ratings
5
487
4
50
3
3
2
2
1
0
Mostly used with 3rd grade
Reviews
4
18
206
35
10
6
3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
What customers are saying
Met expectations
92%
Is a great value
92%
Is standards-aligned
92%
All verified TPT purchases
Great Resource
Rated 5 out of 5
June 1, 2026
Loved doing this activity with my students! Great Resource!
Melissa G.
366 reviews • Nevada
Grades taught: 1st
Awesome Resource!
Rated 5 out of 5
May 27, 2026
Met expectations
Great value
Standards-aligned
Worked perfectly! This was a great resource for my 3rd graders.
Tracey G.
1,025 reviews • Connecticut
Grades taught: 3rd
Great Resource
Rated 5 out of 5
May 26, 2026
Met expectations
Great value
Standards-aligned
I love using math mysteries in my classroom as a review. My students love them too!
Elizabeth L.
221 reviews • Arizona
Grades taught: 2nd, 6th
Super Engaging
Rated 5 out of 5
May 18, 2026
Met expectations
Great value
Standards-aligned
I probably have one for every holiday! I have taught 2nd and 3rd and will keep buying over and over!
Kelsey H.
156 reviews • Florida
Grades taught: 2nd, 3rd
Litterbug bandit
Rated 5 out of 5
May 17, 2026
Met expectations
Great value
Standards-aligned
My students absolutely loved this escape room. They were working so hard to find out who the bad guy litterbug was.
Michele V.
525 reviews • Texas
Grades taught: 3rd, 4th
Student populations: Emerging bilinguals, Learning difficulties
Great Resource
Rated 5 out of 5
May 12, 2026
I recently purchased this product and have been quite impressed with the overall quality and performance so far. It definitely met my expectations and provides great value for the price. I would certainly recommend it to others looking for something reliable.
Abby H.
358 reviews • Utah
My kids BEG for these mysteries!
Rated 5 out of 5
May 8, 2026
Met expectations
Great value
Standards-aligned
These are an awesome way to practice problem solving, following directions, and math skills. I've bought so many, and I'm sure I'll buy many more!
Melissa Berberich
(TPT Seller)
36 reviews • Wisconsin
Grades taught: 3rd
Student populations: Autism, Learning difficulties
LOVE THESE
Rated 5 out of 5
May 1, 2026
Met expectations
Great value
Standards-aligned
I have all of the 2nd grade and am now buying 3rd grade!! I love these!!
Lauren D.
452 reviews • Georgia
Grades taught: 3rd

Questions & Answers

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Standards

to see state-specific standards (only available in the US).
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.
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.
Interpret whole-number quotients of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 56 ÷ 8 as the number of objects in each share when 56 objects are partitioned equally into 8 shares, or as a number of shares when 56 objects are partitioned into equal shares of 8 objects each. For example, describe a context in which a number of shares or a number of groups can be expressed as 56 ÷ 8.
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