Place Value CSI Math Mystery Worksheets | Grades 2–4 | Place Value Bandit in the Classroom

A bandit has struck the classroom and scrambled every number in sight — and only your students' place value skills can track them down. This printable Place Value CSI Math Mystery is designed for Grades 2–4 classroom teachers, homeschool parents, and tutors who want focused math practice wrapped in a story students actually care about solving.

Students work through a series of clue pages, use their answers to eliminate suspects, and race to crack the case — all while getting meaningful practice with place value and problem solving. No apps, no prep, no fuss.

Quick Details

Grade Levels: Grades 2–4 (mostly used with 4th — also suits advanced 2nd graders or older students needing reinforcement)
Format: Printable PDF
Resource Type: CSI Math Mystery worksheets
Math Skills: Reading and writing numbers in different forms, value of digits, 10 more / 10 less, comparing and ordering numbers to 1000, and greater than / less than
Pages: 15 pages including answer key
Best For: Back-to-school math, centers, sub plans, early finishers, review, and homeschool
Tech Needed: None — no apps, locks, passwords, or student logins required

Case Summary

A Place Value Bandit has struck the classroom overnight. Small numbers are suddenly bigger than big ones, digits have swapped places, and the greater-than and less-than signs have all been turned around. The whole class is in chaos — and your students are the only ones who can set the numbers right.

Each clue page puts place value to work: students read and write numbers in different forms, identify the value of digits, find 10 more and 10 less, and compare and order numbers to 1000. Every correct answer crosses another suspect off the list.

Because the suspect list runs on accurate place value, students self-check as they go — a wrong answer points to the wrong bandit, so they slow down and get it right. It's the focused number-sense practice you want, hidden inside a case students are desperate to close.

Can your class straighten out the numbers and catch the Place Value Bandit? Print the case file and let the investigation begin.

Skills Covered

Students will practice:

• Reading and writing numbers in different forms
• Identifying the value of digits
• Finding 10 more and 10 less
• Comparing and ordering numbers to 1000
• Greater than and less than
• Using answers to eliminate suspects
• Logic, reasoning, and problem solving

What's Included

• CSI-style place value math mystery activity
• Place value clue pages
• Comparing and ordering numbers activity
• Suspect elimination activity
• Answer key
• Print-and-go PDF format

Best Used For

This printable CSI Math Mystery works well for:

• Place value review and practice
• Back-to-school math activities
• Math centers and early finishers
• Substitute teacher plans
• Small groups and independent work
• Homeschool math