Description
Halloween Math Mystery 6th Grade: The Case of the Tricking Treat is a no-prep Halloween math review for 6th Grade students. Get ready for Halloween with this Halloween math activity 6th Grade: ‘The Case of the Tricking Treat’ is a high-engagement October math activity that turns a challenging 6th Grade review into an exciting case-solving mission. It’s the perfect no-prep math activity, with an optional video hook to set the stage.
The Story: The Case of the Tricking Treat
Someone has taken Larry the Wizard’s magic treats and given them to the children of Mathhattan! These treats were not meant to be eaten, and all the children have turned into PUMPKINS! Larry needs your students’ help to find out who took the treats and which batch was used, so that he can make a cure to turn the children back. Whatever you do… don’t eat any pumpkins!
Set the scene with the optional video hook for the Case of the Tricking Treat on your whiteboard or screen, then wrap up the case with the ending video. Students solve the math worksheets to unlock clues and eliminate possibilities after each clue to crack the case.
Math Skills Required to Unlock Clues
There are five clues to crack to solve the mystery:
- Clue 1: Finding Unit Rates
- Clue 2: Percents of Numbers (50%, 25%, 10%, 150%, 200%, 100%)
- Clue 3: Adding and Subtracting Decimals
- Clue 4: Greatest Common Factor (GCF)
- Clue 5: Adding and Subtracting Fractions (Unlike Denominators. Simplifying Answers Required)
Students must use critical thinking skills to work out what each clue is telling them to eliminate from the list of possibilities.
What is Included in this Math Mystery?
- Optional video hook to introduce the case (watch it here).
- Ending video to wrap up the case.
- Printable PDF case file: the mystery story, list of suspects, and five clue worksheets.
- Google Slides digital version: 100% paperless. Assign it in Google Classroom. (Students must be in edit mode to type.)
- Printable awards to celebrate your detectives.
- Complete answer key.
Easy prep: Print the student pages, staple or place them in a folder, and your students are ready to start. Or assign the digital version for a paperless option.
Halloween Math Activity 6th Grade: Who It Is For
This edition is written for 6th Grade students and works in October and the lead-up to Halloween, or any time of year as a spiral review. Use it for:
- A fun spiral review
- Math centers or stations
- Homework or enrichment
- Your “early finisher” tub
- A lifesaver for your sub-tub!
Pacing and Timing: Time to complete will vary anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours or more. It mainly depends on how familiar your students are with the math mystery format, and how difficult they find the math skills covered in the clues. Please check the skills 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, either within the same lesson or in 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.”
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Easy Grade-Level Differentiation
The Case of the Tricking Treat is available in 8 grade editions. The story is the same; the math is different, so you can match each group to its level:
- 1st Grade Edition (cannot be clue-swapped with the other grades)
- 2nd Grade Edition
- 3rd Grade Edition
- 4th Grade Edition
- 5th Grade Edition
- 7th Grade Edition
- 8th Grade Edition
The 2nd-8th Grade editions can “clue swap” between editions to differentiate within one class. Grade 1 Math Mysteries are formatted for early learners and cannot be clue-swapped with the other grade versions. Read more: How to differentiate using Math Mysteries.
More Halloween and Fall Math for 6th Grade
- Fall Math Mystery 6th Grade: The Case of the Furious Fall Winds
- Oktoberfest Math Mystery 6th Grade: The Case of the Pretzel Puzzle
- Halloween Math Mystery 6th Grade: The Case of the Jumpy Jack-O-Lanterns
- Halloween Math Mystery 6th Grade: The Case of the Halloween Heist
- Halloween Word Search Puzzle (free)
- Halloween Math Word Problem Prompt Cards (free)
- Fall Word Search Puzzle (free)
- Fall Math ‘What is the Question?’ Prompt Cards (free)
- Browse all Fall resources
Skills and Common Core Standards
- 6.RP.A.2 – Understand the concept of a unit rate a/b associated with a ratio a:b with b != 0, and use rate language (finding unit rates (Clue 1))
- 6.RP.A.3c – Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (percents of numbers: 50%, 25%, 10%, 150%, 200%, 100% (Clue 2))
- 6.NS.B.3 – Fluently add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm for each operation (adding and subtracting decimals (Clue 3))
- 6.NS.B.4 – Find the greatest common factor of two whole numbers less than or equal to 100 and the least common multiple of two whole numbers less than or equal to 12 (greatest common factor (Clue 4))
- 5.NF.A.1 – Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) (adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, simplifying answers required (Clue 5))
Looking for more? The Case of the Tricking Treat is part of the 6th Grade Math Mystery Bundle, if you’d like a full set of resources in one place.
Not sure what a math mystery is? Read What is a Math Mystery? on my blog, or watch a short video about Math Mysteries.
Add extra motivation with the free Detective Rank Chart and Mystery Record. New to math mysteries? Try the free Case of the Super Bad Superhero first.
FAQ
Is this just a Halloween math activity 6th Grade?
This mystery has a fun “Tricking Treat” theme, making it the perfect October math activity. However, it’s a powerful 6th Grade math review printable that you can use any time of year!
What skills does this mystery cover?
This is a comprehensive review. Students will practice finding unit rates, calculating percents of numbers, adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, and finding the Greatest Common Factor (GCF).
How long will this activity take?
Time to complete varies between 30 minutes and 2 hours or more, depending on how familiar your students are with the math mystery format and how difficult they find the math skills. I recommend giving students one clue at a time.
Is an answer key included?
Yes. A complete answer key is included, along with printable awards.
Can I use this with other grades?
Yes. The Case of the Tricking Treat comes in 8 grade editions with the same story and different math, so you can match the edition to your students.
Technical issues? See my Troubleshooting Tips and FAQ page, or email me at jjresourcecreations@gmail.com.
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Thank you!
Jacqui J.
Mrs. J’s Resource Creations








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