5th Grade October Math Adventure- Case of the Important Animal

The Culture Crook is going to make his own zoo of the most important animals on Earth...but he’s going to steal all the animals! The Learning League won’t let him get away with it. It’s up to your class and the League to solve the clues by solving math problems and narrow down which animal is in danger. This Math Adventure will keep your classroom explorers engaged and working hard on math skills, while learning some science!
 
Also available for 3rd and 4th grade.

WHO is this mystery for?
Students on the 5th grade level who are practicing these math skills: 
Time on a Number Line
Complex Factors
Lines of Symmetry
Associative Property
Compare Like Fractions (images)
 
Teachers looking for a quick-prep, rigorous but differentiated, interdisciplinary activity that showcases topics that are often ignored or unexplored within social studies and science curriculum. 
 
WHAT is included?
This adventure is an hour-long activity that can be completed in 3 Tracks:
 
Track 1: ORIGINAL
Students read the mystery on a printed booklet, and they solve the clues by answering questions on Google Slides, which they can access with a QR code or link on a computer, tablet, or phone.
Track 2: ANALOG
Students read the mystery on a printed booklet, and they solve the clues by answering questions on printed task cards.
Track 3: DIGITAL
Students read the mystery in one browser window of Google Slides, and they solve the clues by toggling between another browser window of Google Slides to answer questions. This method works great for laptops, but is not recommended for tablets. 
 
No matter which track you take, the core of the activity is the same. Students always have access to the mystery story, 44 math problems, 5 Science Exploration posters, a Writing Challenge, and an integral poster about:
 
Bats, Bees, Earthworms, Plankton, & Sharks
 
Students will walk away from this lesson knowing these science concepts:
Why these animals are particularly important to humans and the Earth
What other parts of nature are just as important to ecosystems
How we can work to protect the bees and other endangered species
and more!!
 
WHEN is it designed to be completed?
These skills are best practiced in the fall, and October 4th happens to be World Animal Day!
 
WHERE can students solve this mystery?
Students can complete this activity in your classroom with pen and paper or technology, and even from home, thanks to the Digital Track!
 
HOW can this activity be differentiated?
Using either of these methods, you can scaffold these activities to meet each of your students, exactly where they’re at.
 
CUSTOMIZATION: great for students above and below grade level
Each math problem can be edited to whatever you please! Hypothetically, you could buy this mystery for the framework it provides, and change every single question. 
AUDIO SUPPORTS: great for multilingual students
For the tracks including technology, your students have access to a read-aloud of not just the story, but each word written on Google Slides. 
 
WHY should your students adventure with the Learning League?
 
Low teacher prep/High student engagement
Anti-racist curriculum that uplifts women and Black and Indigenous people of color
Three activity tracks with DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION
Audio scaffolding and editable problems
 
TRY OUT A MYSTERY FOR FREE!
Download The Oil Spill Mystery for math and The Case of the Absent Abolitionist for reading.
 
Adventure also available on TeachersPayTeachers!