KS2 Christmas Maths Activity | Who Kidnapped Rudoplh

Are you looking for a fun, Christmas activity to do with your KS2 maths class in the last week of term? This ‘Who Kidnapped Rudolph?’ Xmas activity develops their logical thinking. Children are given a map of Elf Town and a series of clues which they need to work through in order to solve the puzzle and determine which elf kidnapped Rudolph. This is zero prep and is perfect for the last week of term.

When I do this activity with my class (Year 6, set 3) I place the children in mixed ability pairs. Then, I read this introduction to the pupils: It was a particularly foggy Christmas Eve in Elf Town, and Santa needed Rudolph at the helm of his sleigh more than ever before. But, shortly after the Christmas pudding was served, a very naughty elf kidnapped the infamous, red-nosed reindeer resulting in an unflyable sleigh.
Can you solve the clues and help save Christmas?

Next, I let the children get started by giving them a copy of the map and clues. I tend to sit with a group who appear to be struggling, as does my TA, and stop the class periodically to discuss what they have discovered/give clues for the next step/bring them to the same point. E.g. plot where the elves live first, then work out the distance traveled, next figure out the suspects to determine the kidnapper. It took my class around a 50 minute lesson to complete.

This resource includes:
An introduction sheet
A map of Elf Town
Clues
A table to record distances in (4 per page to save paper)
x2 Answer sheets

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Mrs Brown Bear

xoxo

ps Merry Christmas
**pps Somebody has left a review below that says that this resource is incomplete. This is not correct - it is complete I did it with my class on Monday. It says in the clues that the distance between each house is 8 reindeer miles. It also says that elves always take the most direct route and travel on the dotted lines. I hope this helps! **