5th Grade Math Mystery Activity | End-of-Year Review & Fun Test Prep Game
Make math test prep exciting, stress-free, and fun with "The Case of the Terrible Test Twist!" This 5th-grade math mystery transforms test preparation into a thrilling detective adventure that keeps students motivated and engaged. It’s the perfect solution for an end-of-year review or test prep activity that feels like play instead of work.
- Bonus Clues: Includes eight clues (instead of the usual five) for extended engagement and challenge!
- Comprehensive Practice: Each page features a mix of skills, hitting multiple standards to ensure a well-rounded review.
- Minimal Prep: Save time with ready-to-use printable or digital worksheets. Simply print it, or assign the digital version for seamless online learning.
- Interactive Fun: Students collect clues, solve puzzles, and "crack the case" while reinforcing essential math concepts.
Flexible Formats
- Printable Version (PDF): Just print and your student detectives are ready to jump into the mystery!
- Digital Google Slides: Easily assign the digital version through Google Slides for paperless activities.
- Easel by TPT: Complete the worksheets digitally for hassle-free online learning.
Extra Features to Boost Engagement
- Start the activity with an exciting video hook and end with a celebratory clip to reward your students!
- Printable detective awards are included to recognize students' hard work.
⭐Math Skills Covered⭐
This resource ensures a thorough review across multiple domains.
Please note: Sometimes, there is only one question addressing a skill.
This resource is designed for test-prep or review.
Each clue focuses on key math concepts, including:
- Decimals and Place Value - Models of Decimal numbers illustrated, convert decimals from expanded form to standard form, write decimals expressed in words using digits, multiply/divide decimals by 10 or 100, rounding decimals, and comparing decimals.
- Operations with Decimals - Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals
- Order of Operations - mixed operations (add, subtract, multiply, and divide), exponents included, with brackets and nested parentheses.
- Word Problems - Mixed operations (add, subtract, multiply, and divide), multi-step, multicative comparison, whole numbers and decimals, measurement with length and money, fractions
- Coordinates - Locate objects on a coordinate plane (one positive quadrant only)
- Measurement - US Customary and metric unit options available to choose from, convert units within a given measurement system (length, mass, capacity), andmeasurement word problems.
- Create and Interpret Line Plots with Fractions - make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit and answer questions to interpret that data
- Angles - Additive angles on a straight line - solve for the missing value of x, angle measurement with a protractor (protractor provided on the page)
- Volume - Calculate the volume of rectangular prisms made of unit cubes, apply the formula V = l x w x h for rectangular prisms to find the volume with whole number edges, volume of compound figures, word problem for volume using formula V = b x h involving decimals
- Fractions - Add, subtract, multiply fractions and mixed numbers, divide fractions by fractions,and fraction word problems
Why You’ll Love This Resource
- For Teachers: Say goodbye to overwhelming prep times. This ready-to-go resource saves you time while delivering meaningful and engaging learning experiences.
- For Students: Builds confidence in key math skills while motivating even reluctant learners with the thrill of solving a mystery.
Tips for Best Implementation
Due to the length of this activity, spread it out over a few days to keep students focused and engaged rather than completing it in one session.
Don’t miss the chance to transform test prep into an engaging, detective-style adventure!
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Check out more 5th Grade Math Mystery activities below:
Back to School Math Mystery: Case of the School Invaders - 5th Grade Edition
Back to School Math Mystery: the Case of the School Invaders. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Growth Mindset Math Mystery: Case of the Magnificent Growth Mindset - 5th Grade Edition
Growth Mindset Math Mystery: the Case of the Magnificent Growth Mindset. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
⭐Optional video hook included for introducing the case!
⭐BONUS: Ending video added to wrap up the case!
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Place Value Review: Case of the Puzzled Pirate - 5th Grade Edition
Place Value Review Math Mystery: the Case of the Puzzled Pirate. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Number Patterns Review Math Mystery: Case of the Poisonous Pizzas - 5th Grade Edition
Number Patterns Review Math Mystery: the Case of the Poisonous Pizzas. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Docs option provided within your download.
NEW - Distance Learning Update: I've added a Word Document within the folder that contains a Google Slides link to share this resource with your students via Google Classroom or Drive. Parts of the pages are editable so that your students can complete without having to print the pages. Please note, you will need to make a copy of the Google Slides to your drive before you can edit.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Rounding Decimals Math Mystery: Case of the Robot Robbery - 5th Grade Edition
Rounding Decimals Math Mystery: the Case of the Robot Robbery. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Video Hook and Ending Video included.
Addition Math Mystery: Case of the Angry Adder - 5th Grade Edition
Addition Math Mystery: the Case of the Angry Adder. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Docs option provided within your download.
Distance Learning Update: I've added a Word Document within the folder that contains a Google Doc link to share this resource with your students via Google Classroom or Drive. Parts of the pages are editable so that your students can complete them without printing the pages. Please note that you will need to make a copy of the Google Slides to your drive before you can edit.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Simplifying Fractions Math Mystery: Case of the Shogun's Sword - 5th Grade Edition
Simplifying Fractions Math Mystery: the Case of the Shogun’s Sword. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
EASY PREP, print and solve! Or go paperless with the worksheets also on Google Slides.
⭐Optional video hook included for introducing the case!
⭐BONUS: Ending video added to wrap up the case!
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Free Math Mystery: Case of the Super Bad Superhero - 5th Grade Edition
Free Math Mystery: the Case of the Super Bad Superhero. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Docs option provided within your download.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Subtraction Review Math Mystery: Case of the Dream Snatcher - 5th Grade Edition
Subtraction Review Math Mystery: the Case of the Dream Snatcher. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Fall Math Mystery: Case of the Furious Fall Winds - 5th Grade Edition
Fall Math Mystery: the Case of the Furious Fall Winds. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
EASY PREP, print and solve!
Distance Learning Update: I've added a Word Document within the folder that contains a Google Doc link to share this resource with your students via Google Classroom or Drive.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Halloween Math Mystery: Case of the Tricking Treat - 5th Grade Edition
Halloween Math Mystery: the Case of the Tricking Treat. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!
Halloween Math Mystery: Case of the Jumpy Jack-O-Lanterns - 5th Grade Edition
Halloween Math Mystery: the Case of the Jumpy Jack-O-Lantern. This math activity is a fun way to review and practice mathematical skills in the classroom or at home. Ideal for spiral review, consolidation, math centers, homework, enrichment, early-finisher or the sub-tub.
Easy prep! Just Print & Solve! Or go paperless with the new Google Slides option provided within your download.
Students must complete math worksheets to unlock clues. Then, use their powers of deduction to narrow down the list of possibilities to solve the mystery case!