Virginia Department of Education
A Mystery to Solve
Investigate field properties of real numbers. Scholars use a table for a given operation to determine the identity element. They use the same table to find a missing value in an equation.
Curated OER
What Do You SUBpose?
Submarines are the fous of this math and science activity. In it, learners explore the world of submarines: how they work, and what they are used for. They engage in hands-on activities, watch video clips, and work in cooperative groups...
Scientific American
Life-Sized Drawing
Ocean explorers or mathematicians research the wreck of the CSS H.L. Hunley. They investigate the actual dimensions of the Hunley using math and measuring skills. Afterward, they sketch a large scale drawing of the submarine outdoors on...
Curated OER
House and Holmes: A Guide to Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
Test your pupils' reasoning skills with several activities and a quick mystery to solve. Learners watch and analyze a few video clips that demonstrate reasoning in action, practice deduction with an interactive and collaborative...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Challenge: Code Breaker
Here is a code-breaker multiplication and division game which has learners find the missing letter in equations, then solve and use those letters to "break the code," which actually is the answer to a riddle. Make math fun with a...
Penguin Books
Educator's Guide: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code is filled with secrets. Help readers find the clues, solve the riddles and puzzles, and unwrap the mysteries with a six-page guide that includes before, during, and after reading discussion questions and...
Math Drills
Halloween Cartesian Art: Witch Hat
What is the mystery picture? After plotting points on the first quadrant of a Cartesian coordinate system, young mathematicians connect the points to create a Halloween-themed picture.
Math Drills
Thanksgiving Cartesian Art: Pumpkin
Not a Halloween jack-o-lantern, but a Thanksgiving pumpkin! Young mathematicians graph and connect points on a coordinate system to unveil the mystery picture.
Math Drills
Thanksgiving Cartesian Art: Pilgrim Hat
What did some Pilgrims wear on top of their heads? Individuals graph sets of ordered pairs, and connect the points to create a mystery Thanksgiving picture.
Math Drills
Thanksgiving Cartesian Art: Mayflower
How did the Pilgrims arrive to America? Middle schoolers graph ordered pairs on a coordinate system, connect the points, and discover a mystery picture—the Mayflower.
Coloring Squared
Snowman—Practice Multiplication
What has a carrot nose, wears a scarf, and is made out of snow? Looks like you'll have to solve the multiplication facts to figure out the colors of each box that makes up this multiplication color-by-number activity.
Curated OER
Investigation - The M & M Mystery
Sixth graders inspect M&M's to complete statistical data. Students interpret percent of colors represented. They convert data from decimals, fractions, and percents. Using the data, 6th graders create a bar graph and a circle graph.
CK-12 Foundation
Solving a Matrix Equation: Mystery Matrix
Solve a matrix in code—color code. Pupils use the interactive resource to set up the matrix equation and its solution path. Scholars use the created solution path to determine the entries of the 2 X 2 solution.
CK-12 Foundation
Monomial Factors of Polynomials: Mystery Boxes
Shortcut the work in finding total volumes. Pupils determine a polynomial expression that would represent the combined volume of three boxes. Each box has the same height, and the scholars rewrite the expression by factoring out the...
CK-12 Foundation
Venn Diagrams: T-Shirt Mystery
Sorting your t-shirts is easy with Venn diagrams. Individuals use a drag and drop interactive to classify shapes on t-shirts into Venn diagrams. A set of challenge questions tests whether the classification is correct.
Curated OER
Mystery Spinners
Take a spin with probability. Given a set of clues about the probability of events on a spinner, groups create their own device to match the clues. Using a jigsaw strategy, groups share their spinners and strategies with other groups....
Curated OER
Mystery Numbers
In this mystery numbers instructional activity, students solve 4 different word problems that include guessing numbers described. First, they determine a two digit number that has the sum equal to 6. Then, students determine a two digit...
Curated OER
"The Case of the Pilfered Pizza"
In this problem solving worksheet, students read a 2 page math mystery involving pizza. Students use their mathematical skills to solve the mystery of finding out who was the pizza thief.
Curated OER
Fractions IV - Equivalent Fractions by Monica Yuskaitis
Comparing equivalent fractions is one of the most difficult math concepts to teach to youngsters. How can numbers that look so different actually represent the same thing? This presentation takes a lot of the mystery out of equivalent...
Curated OER
The Mystery Math Ball: A Logic Based Mystery
For this logic worksheet, students read an "invitation to a mystery ball" and then use math clues to determine the date of the ball, the 5-digit house number where the ball will be held, and who is hosting.
Curated OER
Mystery Operations: Math, Patterns, Logic
In this activity the computer/teacher makes up a mystery operation, and you have to figure out what the operation is. You give the computer/teacher two numbers to calculate, and it tells you the answer. This is your first piece of...
Curated OER
Mystery Code
In this fractions secret code learning exercise, learners solve 9 problems that require them to add and subtract using fractions. Students use their answers to decode a mystery message.
Curated OER
Valentine's Day Chocolates Mystery: Sums to 198 (A)
For some Valentine's Day math fun, students solve a puzzle to find how many chocolates are in the candy box. Students add two digit numbers to other two digit numbers, and each answer over 98 represents a candy in the Valentine's candy box.
Curated OER
Crime School Investigations
Students solve a mystery at their school. In this classifying instructional activity, students find suspects who committed the crime. Students categorize them into race, sex, and fingerprint type. Students show their results in graphs.