Host materials · includes answers

Host Snow Train Celebration

The snow train dispatch board has lost its final banner code. Put the stops in order, check the luggage weight and decode the carriage message. Collect five named badge digits and use the final sheet. Every clue is on the table; ask the host for one hint at a time.

Before you start

Print one player pack and two record sheets per team. Keep the host answers and all three hint levels with the adult.Keep every clue as a full sheet at one table. Put the final sheet face down until all five results are recorded. Nothing needs cutting, folding or hiding.Give each child a pencil. Choose a reader, recorder and checker, and swap jobs after each clue. Use one team for 2–4 children or two teams for 5–6.

Rotate player roles · Choose a useful hint · Manage two teams

Team

Clue check & hints

1. Stops

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

The printed cards are deliberately out of order.

Hint 2

Pack flags must come first. Work out which action comes directly after it.

Hint 3

The first two actions are Pack flags, then Check track. Finish the chain and read position 4.

Reveal host answer

The only order is Pack flags > Check track > Board train > Reach stop. Position 4 carries 9.

2. Track

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Move one square for each arrow. A revisit still counts as a move.

Hint 2

After the first 3 arrows, you are at row 2, column 3. Continue from there.

Hint 3

From that checkpoint follow left, down, right, up. Copy the last cell.

Reveal host answer

The route ends at row 2, column 3. That cell gives 9.

3. Luggage

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Loose units are not parcels. Every parcel has equal weight.

Hint 2

Remove 3 loose units from 39. That leaves 36 for the equal parcels.

Hint 3

Share 36 equally among 4 parcels. Substitute one parcel's weight into the second rule.

Reveal host answer

Remove 3 from 39; share 36 among 4 parcels to get 9. Check 2 x 9 + 3 = 21.

4. Staff

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

No item can belong to two people. Cross out each forbidden pairing.

Hint 2

Eli cannot have two items, so Eli must have Lamp.

Hint 3

Cross Lamp off for the other two people. Apply the last NOT rule, then find Max's item.

Reveal host answer

Ana has Flag; Eli has Lamp; Max has Bell. Max's item gives 6.

5. Signal

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Use the letter under each named shape.

Hint 2

The first two shapes give R then A. Decode the remaining shapes the same way.

Hint 3

Write RA first, then one letter per remaining shape. Choose the table row matching the whole message.

Reveal host answer

The decoded word is RAIL; its row gives 6.

6. Final

Mark this clue complete

Needs: Stops, Track, Luggage, Staff, Signal

Hint 1

Keep all five named badge results beside this sheet.

Hint 2

At Start, choose Stop 1. Dead end has no path to Finish.

Hint 3

Follow Stop 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Finish. Copy the badge digit beside each stop in that order.

Reveal host answer

69969

Start > Stop 1 > Stop 2 > Stop 3 > Stop 4 > Stop 5 > Finish; Staff > Stops > Track > Signal > Luggage

Suggested timeline

3 minutes: Read the story, show the badge record and choose roles.
5 minutes: Solve Stops. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
4 minutes: Solve Track. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
5 minutes: Solve Luggage. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
6 minutes: Solve Staff. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
4 minutes: Solve Signal. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
5 minutes: Use the five results on the final sheet.
2 minutes: Read the ending and thank each teammate.

Pause whenever the group needs a break. This is a planning estimate.

Finish with a short group review