This is a math mystery that is specifically aligned to the 3rd grade Engage NY and Eureka math module 4 on area. This resource would also be a great for review of area for 4th grade students prior to the state test. This resource includes a scenario, a suspect list, 5 clues that students will solve to find the culprit and answers keys to all pages. Area concepts practiced in this are: determining multiplying length x width, determining area using tiling, finding the missing side length, find area of irregular shapes by decomposing rectangles and area word problems.

This resource would be great to use as a review before the end of module assessment, before state tests, as a math lesson to leave for a substitute teacher, uses individual clues as daily center work over the course of a week, etc.

My students absolutely love doing these! They especially love predicting who the culprit is prior to beginning the clues to see if they could guess it correctly!