CASE FILE MATH CHALLENGES

THE CASE OF THE incognito crewmate

Tanya Yero Teaching
 TANYA YERO Teaching
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Copyright © Tanya Yero. All rights reserved by creator. This product is to be

used by the original downloader only. Copying for more than one
teacher, classroom, team, grade level, department, school, or school
system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed
digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and
a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and
elements found in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and
used outside of this file without permission or license. Please contact me if
you wish to be granted special authorizations.
 TANYA YERO Teaching
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OUR HOLIDAY CASE FILE
MATH CHALLENGES!
 Info and credits
This READY TO PRINT Case File
Math Challenge is a FUN
holiday activity that promotes
collaboration and problem
solving. Your students will love
working together to gather
clues to solve a mystery.
Everything you need to
implement this activity is inside
this PDF. Please carefully read
over all the directions and tips.
Have fun!

Clipart Credit:
 Getting started
What is a Case File Math Challenge?
A Case File Math Challenge is a logic puzzle and a mystery
rolled into one fun, collaborative Math review game.
Students will begin with a short themed introductory
passage which will outline the mystery or problem that
needs to be solved. Next, students will complete fun math
problem solving challenges to receive clues to the case file.
The clues from correctly solving the math challenges will
help students solve the greater mystery or problem
introduced in the passage. There are built in checkpoints
along the way so it is easy to monitor group progress and
keep everyone on the right track to solving the case.

What does a Case File Math Challenge look like?

A Case File Math Challenge is designed to be LOW PREP

for teachers. No locks or additional materials are needed.
Just print and go 5 pages of tasks along with the student
recording sheet and you are all set!!

What sort of prep can I expect?

LOW PREP!! Just print and go. I do recommend storing the
task cards in folders or Ziploc bags so you can reuse the
materials each year, but it’s not required. You will print 5
pages of tasks for each group and a copy of the recording
sheet for every student and that’s it!
© Tanya Yero Teaching
Prep before the ACTIVITY
How are you grouping your students?
You need to decide how you want to group your
students. Groups can be as small as two students to
ensure participation from each student. I recommend
keeping groups as small as you can, so no more than
four-five students. Consider behavior and academic
needs as well to maximize success.

Prepare the Setup

For EVERY group of students you will need to make
copies of pages 16-20.

This is the story page.

These are the task

cards. Fold these in half.
© Tanya Yero Teaching
Prep before the ACTIVITY
Prepare Teacher & Students Copies
Each group needs
these 4 pages. Print
these pages on
cardstock so the cards
will stand on their own.
Pages 16-20

Each student needs

a copy of the
recording sheet.
You can print these
two pages front
and back.
Pages 21-22

Make a copy of the teacher

cheat sheet for you to use
during the challenge for easy
reference. This sheet is NOT for
students. Also print out the
ANSWER KEY for the recording
sheet. Again, this answer key is
NOT for students.
Pages 13-15
***Page 23 is an optional ready
to print certificate for pictures.
© Tanya Yero Teaching
 introduce THE ACTIVITY
Introduce/Explain the Challenge
There are a few parts of this challenge that you want to
explain to students:

 Review the grid board at the top of the recording

sheet. Explain to students that as they advance from
task to task they will fill in each section of the grid.

 Review the task

cards. Explain to
students that each
card has a side 1
and 2. Students
should always start
with side 1.

© Tanya Yero Teaching

 introduce THE ACTIVITY
Introduce/Explain the Challenge
 Explain to students that at the end of side 1 of every
task they will be left with one answer. They are looking
for this answer on the second side of the task card. If
they don’t find their answer on side 2 they need to
rework side 1.

 Once they find their answer, they are to use the clues
under that answer to fill in a section of the grid board.

© Tanya Yero Teaching

 introduce THE ACTIVITY
Introduce/Explain the Challenge
 Encourage students to use their recording sheet!! This
will help them stay organized as they move from task
to task and it will also help you find the error(s) in
student work if a group does not have the correct
final code.

© Tanya Yero Teaching

 introduce THE ACTIVITY
Review How To Solve A Logic Grid
Logic grids simply help you match up categories of options from a
set of clues. Your goal is to figure out which options go together by
using the clues and marking the connections you make with a dot
and the options you eliminate with an X.

Example:
Match the child with their socks.

1.) The socks with circles on them belong to Sally.

2.) Ted did not have plain socks.
From clue 1 we know Sally
had the polka dot socks,
so we mark a dot or circle
by Sally under polka dot
socks and also an X for the
other children since they
can’t also have polka dots
and also for stripes and
plain next to Sally since we
know she has polka dots.

From clue 2 we know Ted

did not have plain socks,
so we mark an X by Ted
below plain socks. Now we
can solve our grid because
there is only one possible
choice left for Ted, he must
have the striped socks and
John the plain.

© Tanya Yero Teaching

 During the ACTIVITY
What does the teacher do?
Monitor your students to ensure that the challenge is being
completed appropriately. Observe the dynamics of each
group. Are there students that are trying to hog the activities?
Are there students that are sitting back and not participating?
Encourage proper behavior.

You will need to review each group’s final code. If it is not

correct review the group’s recording sheets and provide
feedback on where they went wrong.

What do I do if a group is struggling?

Expect some confusion if this is their first time completing a
Case File Math Challenge from Tanya Yero Teaching. But rest
assured, with the proper frontloading and support when
needed it will click and get easier. Each Case File Math
Challenge has the same layout, but different tasks and
activities!

The side 2 of each task card is designed to be a checkpoint for

students. If they cannot find their answer on side 2 then they
completed side 1 incorrectly. This prevents a group from
completing the entire challenge incorrectly.

Answer questions a group may have. Use your teacher cheat

sheet along with the answer key for quick and easy reference.

© Tanya Yero Teaching

 TEACHER CHEAT SHEET
BEFORE YOU LOOK AT THIS, HAVE YOU READ OVER THE DIRECTIONS???
USE THIS SHEET & THE ANSWER KEY FOR THE RECORDING SHEET TO HELP STUDENTS

Students need to read the story first to set up the challenge. Once
they complete the story, they can move on to task card #1.

Task #1
Task #1 is an activity where students need to use the symbol cipher
to decode the secret message. SECRET MESSAGE IS: THE SUM OF
EIGHTY TWO AND FIFTY NINE. Students will need to look at side 2 of
the card to find their answer in one of the three options. Once
they find their answer they use the clues provided to complete the
Task #1 section of the grid.
ANSWER TO TASK #1- 141

Task #2
Task #2 is a letter cipher where students need to find the letter
that matches where the 2 symbols meet on the grid to reveal
the answer. The phrase reads: ONE FIVE ZERO TIMES NINE
ANSWER TO TASK #2- 1,350

Task #3
Task #3 is a brain teaser where students must find the code for the
lock using the clues provided.
ANSWER TO TASK #3- 170

Task #4
The last task requires students to match each child’s name with the
item they purchased. Correctly matching each child to their item
will leave the crewmate number of the imposter.
ANSWER TO TASK #4- CREWMATE #4 IS THE IMPOSTER.
© Tanya Yero Teaching
 THE CASE OF THE incognito crewmate RECORDING SHEET ANSWER KEY
Name: _______________________
GRID TASK #1 TASK #2 TASK #3
BOARD BIRTH MONTH PERSONAL ITEM ARRIVAL TIME
1:30 12:00 8:15 9:05 10:45
PM PM AM AM AM

Feb. July Oct. Dec. March

Crewmate #1 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Crewmate #2 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Crewmate #3 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Crewmate #4 X X X X X X X X X X X X
Crewmate #5 X X X X X X X X X X X X
TASK #1 TASK #2
______ ______ ______
T H E ______ S ______
U ______
M ______ ______ ______
O N E
______
O ______
F ______
F ______
I ______ E
V ______
______
E ______
I ______ H ______
G ______ T ______
Y
______
Z ______
E ______ O
R ______
______
T ______
W ______
O ______A ______
N ______
D
______
T ______
I ______ E ______
M ______ S
______
F ______
I ______ T ______
F ______ Y
______
N ______
I ______ E
N ______
______
N ______
I ______
N ______
E 141
THE CASE OF THE incognito crewmate RECORDING SHEET
TASK #3
6 4 1 ______ ______ ______
Cross out
numbers as you 6 8 4 ______ ______ ______
work your way
through the clues 0 1 2 ______ ______ ______
on side 1. Use the
blank spaces to 2 7 5 ______ ______ ______
write digits you 1 7 0
think are in the 2 4 0 ______ ______ ______
secret code. SECRET CODE
7 2 0 ______ ______ ______

TASK #4

Take this information to your

teacher to see if you
successfully solved this case!

Crewmate #____4
is the Imposter! © Tanya Yero Teaching
 THE CASE OF THE incognito crewmate
The Grand Council has just approved a mission to Trimopolis.
A select group of math ambassadors will prepare the ship
and depart soon to provide math assistance to the students
at Trimopolis Elementary School. But not everyone in the
galaxy is a fan of academic mastery.

An Imposter has been sent to sabotage the math mission and

the mission captain has asked for your assistance to help
identify the Imposter and save the mission. Five crewmates
arrived at the mission control center for the trip in their
spacesuits with all of their gear. Only four crewmates were
assigned to the mission by the Grand Council.

Your team of math superstars must solve the challenges and

puzzlers to decode the crewmate details that the Grand
Council sent over to help the captain identify the assigned
ambassadors. Complete each challenge to receive a set of
coded clues from the Grand Council detailing each
crewmates birth month, a personal item they brought and
the arrival time on their mission orders.
Then for the final challenge,
match the information you
have collected to the key
from the Grand Council
with the crewmates names
and identify which one
must be the Imposter. Take
your Imposter “Sus”pect to
your teacher to see if you
have solved the case and
saved the mission.
© Tanya Yero Teaching
© Tanya Yero Teaching
Side 1
I
F

to match each crewmate with their birthday.

sheet. Take your answer to side 2 of this card
Task #1
Decode the message using your recording
Use the answer key below to gather the clues to match each
crewmate with their birth months. Use your recording sheet
Task #1 to match each child with the month they were born. Use a
to make a match and an X to eliminate a month.
Side 2 When you complete challenge move on to task #2!
© Tanya Yero Teaching
© Tanya Yero Teaching
Side 1
Z
Y
X VW U
T S Q R P
O N L M K
J I G H F
E D B C A
secret message for this task: Task #2
Use the cipher to decode the
Use the answer key below to gather your clues on the
personal item of each crewmate. Use your recording
Task #2 sheet to match each child with their item. Use a to
make a match and an X to eliminate an item.
Side 2 When you complete this challenge move on to task #3!
© Tanya Yero Teaching
 © Tanya Yero Teaching
When you complete this challenge move on to task #4! Side 2

make a match and an X to eliminate a bag.

to match each child with the correct time. Use a to Task #3
at crewmate arrived at the space. Use your recording sheet
Use the answer key below to gather your clues on what time

The mission control center sent the captain a diplomatic

Task #3 pouch with coded clues for the arrival times of the
crewmates. But first you will need to solve the cipher
below to get the combination to unlock the pouch.

6 4 1
One number is correct
but in the wrong place

6 8 4 Nothing is correct

0 1 2
Two numbers are correct
but in the wrong places

2 7 5
One number is correct
and in the correct place

2 4 0
One number is correct
and in the correct place

7 2 0
Two numbers are correct,
one is in the correct place
Side 1 © Tanya Yero Teaching
 © Tanya Yero Teaching

this case file challenge?

Did you successfully complete

The four crewmates that were assigned to the

Task #4 mission each had 500 credits for the supply
store where they picked up their personal item
for the trip. The Grand Council sent the ledger
of their remaining credits. Figure out which
crewmate is the Imposter and take the
crewmate number to your teacher to see if
you are correct and have saved the mission.

Backpack 413 Izzy—83 credits

Hat 389 Victor—113
Glasses 417 Max—111
Watch 387 Scarlett—89
Headphones 411 Side 1
© Tanya Yero Teaching
 THE CASE OF THE incognito crewmate RECORDING SHEET Name: _______________________
GRID TASK #1 TASK #2 TASK #3
BOARD BIRTH MONTH PERSONAL ITEM ARRIVAL TIME
1:30 12:00 8:15 9:05 10:45
PM PM AM AM AM

Feb. July Oct. Dec. March

Crewmate #1
Crewmate #2
Crewmate #3
Crewmate #4
Crewmate #5

TASK #1 TASK #2
______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______

______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______
© Tanya Yero Teaching
THE CASE OF THE incognito crewmate RECORDING SHEET
TASK #3
6 4 1 ______ ______ ______
Cross out
numbers as you 6 8 4 ______ ______ ______
work your way
through the clues 0 1 2 ______ ______ ______
on side 1. Use the
blank spaces to 2 7 5 ______ ______ ______
write digits you
think are in the 2 4 0 ______ ______ ______
secret code. SECRET CODE
7 2 0 ______ ______ ______

TASK #4

Take this information to your

teacher to see if you
successfully solved this case!

Crewmate #____
is the Imposter! © Tanya Yero Teaching
WE WORKED TOGETHER TO
SOLVE THE CASE OF THE
incognito crewmate!
 Thank You
for downloading
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Copyright © Tanya Yero Teaching. All rights reserved by creator. This product is to be used by
the original downloader only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, team, grade
level, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed
or displayed digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a
violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this
PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without
permission or license. Please contact me if you wish to be granted special authorizations.