These liquid volume and mass word problems are for 3rd grade, and they come as ten CSI Mini Mystery Detective case files, math worksheets set in a potion shop. Students add, subtract, multiply and divide with grams, kilograms and liters, and the later cases bring in two-step word problems. It's 3.MD.A.2 measurement word problem practice for math centers, morning work or homework, and it's a good pick for early finishers. You don't have to prep anything. Each case has its own answer key.
The stories in these 3rd grade word problems all happen in and around the shop. A barrel of potion leaks onto the floor, a troll drinks from the pond, and the genie fills vases with water. There are 15 short problems on a page. Students write each answer, find it on the suspect list and cross that suspect off. Only correct answers match a name, and the one left at the end is the villain.
What's Inside
- 10 one-page cases with 15 word problems each, and an answer key for every case
- Problems in grams, kilograms and liters
- Adding, subtracting and "how many more" problems, then multiplying and dividing, then two-step problems
- A reference page that shows when to add, subtract, multiply or divide. You can project it or copy it
- Contents page, teacher instructions, a case log and a certificate
- 30 pages in black and white
The Cases
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The Dragon Scale Deal - adding and subtracting mass
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The Sleeping Potion Spill - adding and subtracting liters
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The Crown Jewel Caper - how many more, how many fewer
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The Genie Lamp Mystery - multiplying equal groups
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The Wizard Hat Heist - multiplying and dividing
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The Broomstick Break-In - all four operations
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The Missing Quill - all four operations
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The Empty Treasure Chest - two-step problems
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The Invisible Cloak - two-step problems
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The Storeroom Ghost - mixed review with one- and two-step problems
When to Use This Resource
Start with Case 1 once your class has met grams, kilograms and liters. The first two cases are adding and subtracting, Case 3 is comparing, and Cases 4 and 5 bring in multiplying and dividing. From Case 6 the operations are mixed on the page, and Cases 8 to 10 include two-step problems, which makes them handy for test prep. A single case works for a small group, a sub plan or homeschool, and the potion shop stories fit nicely around Halloween. For practice reading jugs and scales, there's a companion pack, Measuring Liquid Volume and Mass, with ten more potion shop cases.
Grade Levels
Written for 3rd grade (3.MD.A.2, with two-step problems for 3.OA.D.8). 4th grade classes can use it to review metric word problems.
Why Teachers Love Mystery Detectives
- No prep. Print a case and hand it out
- The suspect list lets students see if an answer is right before they move on
- Short problems, one or two lines each
- Black and white pages that photocopy well
Want more cases like these?
Follow Kiwiland Education to discover more CSI Mini Mystery Detective cases, no-prep math activities, and detective-themed printables for elementary classrooms.
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