Host Art Studio Color Case

The art studio labels are in the wrong envelopes. Compare the two print records, identify the artists and decode the shelf evidence without using color. 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.

Team

Clue check & hints

1. Sketch

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Compare position 1 with position 1, not with a nearby matching shape.

Hint 2

Position 1 is one difference: circle in A, diamond in B. Mark it once.

Hint 3

Compare the remaining numbered pairs one by one. Add one mark for each unequal pair, then count all your marks.

Reveal host answer

Different positions are 1, 3, 4, 6. There are 4 differences.

2. Artist

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

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

Hint 2

May cannot have two items, so May must have Print.

Hint 3

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

Reveal host answer

Sol has Sketch; May has Print; Jo has Card. May's item gives 4.

3. Shelf

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Columns A–D run left to right. Rows 1–3 run top to bottom.

Hint 2

The first coordinate C2 means column C, row 2. Its letter is A.

Hint 3

Begin with A, then read D3, A2, B3 in order. Use the complete word's conversion row.

Reveal host answer

C2, D3, A2, B3 reads ARTS. The conversion table gives 7.

4. Stock

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

The missing amount is a return into stock. The cancelled delivery never happened.

Hint 2

Start with 11. Apply +4 then -1. Ignore the cancelled +7.

Hint 3

The known entries leave 14. How much must return to reach the closing stock of 15?

Reveal host answer

Known stock: 11 + 4 - 1 = 14. Closing stock 15 minus 14 gives the missing return 1. Cancelled +7 never arrived.

5. Frame

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

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

Hint 2

Remove 1 loose units from 9. That leaves 8 for the equal parcels.

Hint 3

Share 8 equally among 2 parcels. Substitute one parcel's weight into the second rule.

Reveal host answer

Remove 1 from 9; share 8 among 2 parcels to get 4. Check 2 x 4 + 3 = 11.

6. Final

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Keep all five named badge results beside this sheet.

Hint 2

Use C1=Sketch, C2=Artist, C3=Shelf, C4=Stock, C5=Frame.

Hint 3

Each wrong record differs in just one column. Cross out all five wrong records, then copy the complete remaining code.

Reveal host answer

01807

Only Record A matches all five columns. Copy its printed code 01807.

Suggested timeline

3 minutes: Read the story, show the badge record and choose roles.
3 minutes: Solve Sketch. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
6 minutes: Solve Artist. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
5 minutes: Solve Shelf. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
5 minutes: Solve Stock. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
5 minutes: Solve Frame. 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.