Grade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingWord problemsAdditionSubtractionDivision

Sky Pirates of the Cloud Archipelago

A sneaky sky pirate has stolen the Golden Wind Compass from Sky Captain Barnaby! Without it, the flying fleet will get lost in the storm clouds. We must search the floating docks, solve the math puzzles, and track down the thief before they sail away!

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play

Name	Airship	Sky Tool	Steering Hand	Bandana Color	Silly Fear
Grace OMalley	Sun Sail	Rope Launcher	Right Handed	Blue Bandana	Scared of Parrots
Breezy Bella	Cloud Glider	Sky Hook	Left Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Heights
Ginger Gold	Star Cutter	Rope Launcher	Left Handed	Blue Bandana	Scared of Heights
Cloudy Clara	Cloud Glider	Anchor Blaster	Right Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Bubbles
Salty Sue	Gale Wing	Magnetic Claw	Right Handed	Blue Bandana	Scared of Heights
Zephyr Zach	Storm Runner	Magnetic Claw	Left Handed	Red Bandana	Scared of Heights
Penny Plunder	Gale Wing	Magnetic Claw	Left Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Bubbles
Mary Read	Star Cutter	Anchor Blaster	Left Handed	Blue Bandana	Scared of Parrots
Peggy Sparrow	Storm Runner	Vine Whip	Right Handed	Blue Bandana	Scared of Bubbles
Long John	Star Cutter	Vine Whip	Right Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Bubbles
Windy Will	Gale Wing	Rope Launcher	Right Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Heights
Anne Bonny	Star Cutter	Rope Launcher	Right Handed	Red Bandana	Scared of Parrots
Stede Bonnet	Storm Runner	Rope Launcher	Right Handed	Blue Bandana	Scared of Bubbles
Captain Flint	Storm Runner	Sky Hook	Left Handed	Red Bandana	Scared of Heights
Henry Morgan	Star Cutter	Rope Launcher	Left Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Heights
Stormy Stella	Sun Sail	Sky Hook	Left Handed	Blue Bandana	Scared of Heights
Blackbeard Ben	Storm Runner	Sky Hook	Left Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Heights
Barnaby Blue	Storm Runner	Anchor Blaster	Left Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Heights
Sir Francis	Sun Sail	Vine Whip	Right Handed	Blue Bandana	Scared of Bubbles
Scurvy Sam	Sun Sail	Magnetic Claw	Left Handed	Green Bandana	Scared of Heights
SkyScurry Sid	Storm Runner	Vine Whip	Right Handed	Red Bandana	Scared of Bubbles

Clue 1

Rounding

We need to pack supplies for our chase airship. Help us count the gear crates to get started.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

230

7000

170

290

110

1700

200

900

4300

170

130

200

4300

230

130

170

230

7000

170

1700

200

2000

7000

4300

500

5000

110

1700

130

230

170

500

Round 226 to the nearest tenT

Round 4,618 to the nearest thousandB

Round 49 to the nearest tenI

Round 291 to the nearest tenV

Round 93 to the nearest tenU

Round 522 to the nearest hundredR

Round 4,257 to the nearest hundredO

Round 132 to the nearest tenS

Round 1,692 to the nearest thousandC

Round 1,659 to the nearest hundredA

Round 114 to the nearest tenL

Round 6,513 to the nearest thousandH

Round 173 to the nearest tenE

Round 236 to the nearest hundredN

Round 874 to the nearest hundredD

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Word problems

The wind speed radar only shows rounded numbers. Round the cloud density to find the target zone!

Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.

Awitnesssawthevillainwas

There were 54 spyglasses. 4 were used up. How many spyglasses are left?L

Quartermaster Pippin lined up 12 rows of 6 grappling claws. How many grappling claws in all?A

There were 74 rope coils. 21 were used up. How many rope coils are left?H

Quartermaster Pippin found 11 wind maps yesterday and 14 more today. How many wind maps in all?T

Quartermaster Pippin found 11 rope coils yesterday and 20 more today. How many rope coils in all?E

Quartermaster Pippin found 3 wind maps yesterday and 12 more today. How many wind maps in all?N

There were 100 wind maps. 39 were used up. How many wind maps are left?F

0/7 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

Let's tally up all the shiny star medals we found dropped along the cloud pathways.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

8608

3192

8119

8608

3192

6636

8119

3338

7835

3192

6636

4555

8119

6219

8119

6972

2470

3192

8119

3211

6252

2499

5241

6636

3211

8941

6972

2499

2470

3211

3004 + 5604 =T

4227 + 1992 =R

1789 + 1549 =F

3465 + 2787 =L

3282 + 5659 =G

5538 + 2581 =E

1287 + 1924 =N

2163 + 4473 =I

5164 + 2671 =S

1909 + 3332 =K

2039 + 1153 =H

2326 + 2229 =V

2701 + 4271 =D

1631 + 868 =O

1603 + 867 =W

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The getaway ship is dropping heavy cargo to fly faster. Figure out how much weight they lost.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

3061

4529

6931

6852

5089

8585

3061

5089

5702

3061

5089

3061

1241

3415

4529

6852

5702

8781

5089

3061

1241

6931

6852

8585

6931

3061

5089

1832

4014

4917 - 1856 =A

7104 - 173 =R

11577 - 2992 =B

10489 - 1708 =O

4196 - 2955 =T

7633 - 3619 =H

4477 - 2645 =C

7071 - 1369 =D

4376 - 961 =U

9337 - 4808 =G

9773 - 4684 =N

7295 - 443 =E

0/12 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

We captured some sky pirate recruits. Let's split them into equal groups for questioning.

First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!

Step 1 — solve these

72 ÷ 8 = ?

7 ÷ 1 = ?

6 ÷ 2 = ?

22 ÷ 2 = ?

48 ÷ 6 = ?

6 ÷ 6 = ?

45 ÷ 9 = ?

48 ÷ 8 = ?

30 ÷ 3 = ?

132 ÷ 11 = ?

14 ÷ 7 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain glides in the Star Cutter, then blasts off with an Anchor Blaster.

2.The villain pilots the Gale Wing, then climbs up with a Rope Launcher.

3.The villain sails the Sun Sail, then grabs loot with a Magnetic Claw.

4.The villain flies the Cloud Glider, then swings away with a Sky Hook.

5.The villain steers the Storm Runner, then blasts off with an Anchor Blaster.

6.The villain sails the Sun Sail, then swings away with a Sky Hook.

7.The villain glides in the Star Cutter, then climbs up with a Rope Launcher.

8.The villain sails the Sun Sail, then blasts off with an Anchor Blaster.

9.The villain steers the Storm Runner, then swings away with a Sky Hook.

10.The villain glides in the Star Cutter, then grabs loot with a Magnetic Claw.

11.The villain sails the Sun Sail, then climbs up with a Rope Launcher.

12.The villain pilots the Gale Wing, then swings away with a Sky Hook.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — Sky Pirates of the Cloud Archipelago

Culprit: Breezy Bella (Cloud Glider · Sky Hook · Left Handed · Green Bandana · Scared of Heights)

Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE THE ANCHOR BLASTER"
Round 226 to the nearest ten = 230 (T) · Round 4,618 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (B) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (I) · Round 291 to the nearest ten = 290 (V) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (U) · Round 522 to the nearest hundred = 500 (R) · Round 4,257 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (S) · Round 1,692 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (C) · Round 1,659 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (A) · Round 114 to the nearest ten = 110 (L) · Round 6,513 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (H) · Round 173 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 236 to the nearest hundred = 200 (N) · Round 874 to the nearest hundred = 900 (D)
Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED"
There were 54 spyglasses. 4 were used up. How many spyglasses are left? = 50 (L) · Quartermaster Pippin lined up 12 rows of 6 grappling claws. How many grappling claws in all? = 72 (A) · There were 74 rope coils. 21 were used up. How many rope coils are left? = 53 (H) · Quartermaster Pippin found 11 wind maps yesterday and 14 more today. How many wind maps in all? = 25 (T) · Quartermaster Pippin found 11 rope coils yesterday and 20 more today. How many rope coils in all? = 31 (E) · Quartermaster Pippin found 3 wind maps yesterday and 12 more today. How many wind maps in all? = 15 (N) · There were 100 wind maps. 39 were used up. How many wind maps are left? = 61 (F)
Clue 3 (Addition): "THE THIEF SHIVERED WHEN LOOKING DOWN"
3004 + 5604 = 8608 (T) · 4227 + 1992 = 6219 (R) · 1789 + 1549 = 3338 (F) · 3465 + 2787 = 6252 (L) · 3282 + 5659 = 8941 (G) · 5538 + 2581 = 8119 (E) · 1287 + 1924 = 3211 (N) · 2163 + 4473 = 6636 (I) · 5164 + 2671 = 7835 (S) · 1909 + 3332 = 5241 (K) · 2039 + 1153 = 3192 (H) · 2326 + 2229 = 4555 (V) · 2701 + 4271 = 6972 (D) · 1631 + 868 = 2499 (O) · 1603 + 867 = 2470 (W)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A GREEN BANDANA TUGGED ON A TREE BRANCH"
4917 - 1856 = 3061 (A) · 7104 - 173 = 6931 (R) · 11577 - 2992 = 8585 (B) · 10489 - 1708 = 8781 (O) · 4196 - 2955 = 1241 (T) · 7633 - 3619 = 4014 (H) · 4477 - 2645 = 1832 (C) · 7071 - 1369 = 5702 (D) · 4376 - 961 = 3415 (U) · 9337 - 4808 = 4529 (G) · 9773 - 4684 = 5089 (N) · 7295 - 443 = 6852 (E)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Breezy Bella
72 ÷ 8 = 9 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 22 ÷ 2 = 11 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Rounding, Word problems, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: Sky Pirates of the Cloud Archipelago — set in the floating docks of Sky Haven
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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