Grade 4Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationRoundingFractions of a numberMulti-step word problemsDivision
The Case of the Golden Compass
The legendary Golden Compass has been stolen from the Grand Cartographer's skyship! A mysterious Sky-Thief slipped past the wind-guards, leaving the entire fleet lost in the clouds. You must use your deduction skills to find the thief among the crew and recover the compass before a storm rolls in!
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 | Pilot Gear | Skyship Gadget | Steering Habit | Goggle Strap Color | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yara Yaw | Wind Glider | Air-Horn Blaster | Left-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Valerie Vapor | Wind Glider | Grapple Lasso | Left-Handed Steer | Neon Blue Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Wyatt Wind | Grappling Hook | Turbo Propeller | Left-Handed Steer | Bright Orange Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Kira Kite | Pocket Altimeter | Signal Flare | Left-Handed Steer | Neon Blue Strap | Cinnamon Air-Biscuits |
| Milo Mist | Pocket Altimeter | Air-Horn Blaster | Right-Handed Steer | Bright Orange Strap | Salted Sky-Taffy |
| Roxy Rotor | Brass Spyglass | Air-Horn Blaster | Right-Handed Steer | Bright Orange Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Jasper Jet | Pocket Altimeter | Smokebomb Launcher | Right-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Cinnamon Air-Biscuits |
| Elena Eagle | Brass Spyglass | Signal Flare | Right-Handed Steer | Neon Blue Strap | Salted Sky-Taffy |
| Oscar Ozone | Grappling Hook | Smokebomb Launcher | Left-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Tessa Tempest | Cloud Compass | Smokebomb Launcher | Left-Handed Steer | Bright Orange Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Leo Loft | Grappling Hook | Air-Horn Blaster | Right-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Salted Sky-Taffy |
| Penny Pilot | Brass Spyglass | Smokebomb Launcher | Left-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Salted Sky-Taffy |
| Hawk Hawkins | Cloud Compass | Air-Horn Blaster | Right-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Salted Sky-Taffy |
| Sammy Soar | Wind Glider | Grapple Lasso | Right-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Captain Amelia | Pocket Altimeter | Smokebomb Launcher | Right-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Ivy Iris | Brass Spyglass | Grapple Lasso | Left-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Salted Sky-Taffy |
| Baron Barnaby | Grappling Hook | Smokebomb Launcher | Right-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Gemma Gale | Cloud Compass | Air-Horn Blaster | Right-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Nova Nimbus | Cloud Compass | Smokebomb Launcher | Right-Handed Steer | Lime Green Strap | Sour Apple Drops |
| Felix Falcon | Wind Glider | Grapple Lasso | Left-Handed Steer | Neon Blue Strap | Cinnamon Air-Biscuits |
| Dexter Dash | Wind Glider | Air-Horn Blaster | Left-Handed Steer | Bright Orange Strap | Cinnamon Air-Biscuits |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
To unlock the navigator's logbook, you must count the total number of brass gears. They are organized in equal rows across the workbench.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
12
63
42
T
12
63
90
42
108
55
15
42
60
24
15
T
12
4
60
42
10
27
7
10
49
49
18
42
18
10
60
60
15
12 × 1 =T
2 × 12 =N
5 × 3 =O
7 × 6 =E
6 × 3 =L
5 × 12 =S
12 × 9 =F
9 × 7 =H
9 × 3 =G
7 × 7 =P
11 × 5 =D
1 × 7 =R
4 × 1 =U
10 × 1 =A
10 × 9 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The altitude gauge is slightly damaged and flickering. Round the dial's current reading to the nearest ten to find the steady frequency.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
370
300
130
5000
170
200
300
T
370
300
70
900
50
200
5000
170
1700
1700
130
50
T
370
300
130
90
300
130
130
4300
T
370
170
200
300
T
370
Round 372 to the nearest tenT
Round 71 to the nearest tenA
Round 127 to the nearest tenE
Round 946 to the nearest hundredN
Round 159 to the nearest hundredG
Round 52 to the nearest tenD
Round 4,608 to the nearest thousandR
Round 1,705 to the nearest hundredP
Round 4,314 to the nearest hundredL
Round 91 to the nearest tenW
Round 169 to the nearest tenI
Round 348 to the nearest hundredH
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Fractions of a number
We found a crate of shiny sky-maps in the cargo bay. Determine exactly how many maps are usable by calculating a fraction of the total pile.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
28
15
22
6
21
33
33
24
31
23
6
15
33
S
28
27
31
6
31
23
6
15
33
33
31
23
21
37
37
2
31
S
28
17
31
16
31
4/5 of 35 =S
2/6 of 99 =P
2/4 of 46 =D
3/4 of 36 =W
2/3 of 3 =H
3/6 of 48 =L
1/2 of 30 =O
5/10 of 32 =N
2/8 of 148 =T
4/8 of 34 =C
4/8 of 12 =R
1/8 of 168 =A
3/6 of 44 =U
2/10 of 155 =E
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multi-step word problems
The crew needs to balance the fuel canisters. Calculate the final weight after loading several bundles and then throwing out the empty canisters.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
L
83
72
33
17
79
84
17
17
71
S
T
84
A
P
Navigator collected 10 cloud crystals in the morning and 322 cloud crystals in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 Skyship Crew. How many cloud crystals did each get?L
Navigator filled 2 boxes with 4 propeller blades each, then found 9 more propeller blades. How many propeller blades are there in all?E
Navigator filled 6 boxes with 6 sky-maps each, then found 36 more sky-maps. How many sky-maps are there in all?I
Navigator collected 127 spyglass lenses in the morning and 38 spyglass lenses in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Skyship Crew. How many spyglass lenses did each get?M
Navigator filled 6 boxes with 4 cloud crystals each, then found 47 more cloud crystals. How many cloud crystals are there in all?N
There were 709 cloud crystals in all. 37 cloud crystals were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 8 Skyship Crew. How many cloud crystals did each get?R
Navigator collected 99 cloud crystals in the morning and 138 cloud crystals in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 Skyship Crew. How many cloud crystals did each get?G
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The cloud crystals must be divided equally among the scouts to power their gliders. Work out how many crystals each scout receives.
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
44 ÷ 4 = ?
45 ÷ 5 = ?
2 ÷ 1 = ?
66 ÷ 11 = ?
45 ÷ 9 = ?
144 ÷ 12 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
40 ÷ 4 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain consulted a glowing cloud compass, then zipped away using a turbo propeller.
2.The villain swung down on a grappling hook, then vanished with a smokebomb launcher.
3.The villain peered through a brass spyglass, then fired a bright signal flare.
4.The villain swung down on a grappling hook, then distracted the guards with an air horn blaster.
5.The villain consulted a glowing cloud compass, then fired a bright signal flare.
6.The villain soared through the clouds on a wind glider, then distracted the guards with an air horn blaster.
7.The villain checked a pocket altimeter, then fired a bright signal flare.
8.The villain checked a pocket altimeter, then vanished with a smokebomb launcher.
9.The villain consulted a glowing cloud compass, then vanished with a smokebomb launcher.
10.The villain peered through a brass spyglass, then zipped away using a turbo propeller.
11.The villain consulted a glowing cloud compass, then distracted the guards with an air horn blaster.
12.The villain peered through a brass spyglass, then vanished with a smokebomb launcher.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Golden Compass
Culprit: Captain Amelia (Pocket Altimeter · Smokebomb Launcher · Right-Handed Steer · Lime Green Strap · Sour Apple Drops)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE A GRAPPLE LASSO"12 × 1 = 12 (T) · 2 × 12 = 24 (N) · 5 × 3 = 15 (O) · 7 × 6 = 42 (E) · 6 × 3 = 18 (L) · 5 × 12 = 60 (S) · 12 × 9 = 108 (F) · 9 × 7 = 63 (H) · 9 × 3 = 27 (G) · 7 × 7 = 49 (P) · 11 × 5 = 55 (D) · 1 × 7 = 7 (R) · 4 × 1 = 4 (U) · 10 × 1 = 10 (A) · 10 × 9 = 90 (I)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE RIGHT HAND GRIPPED THE WHEEL TIGHT"Round 372 to the nearest ten = 370 (T) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (A) · Round 127 to the nearest ten = 130 (E) · Round 946 to the nearest hundred = 900 (N) · Round 159 to the nearest hundred = 200 (G) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (D) · Round 4,608 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R) · Round 1,705 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (P) · Round 4,314 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (L) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (W) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (I) · Round 348 to the nearest hundred = 300 (H)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "SOUR APPLE DROPS WERE DROPPED AT THE SCENE"4/5 of 35 = 28 (S) · 2/6 of 99 = 33 (P) · 2/4 of 46 = 23 (D) · 3/4 of 36 = 27 (W) · 2/3 of 3 = 2 (H) · 3/6 of 48 = 24 (L) · 1/2 of 30 = 15 (O) · 5/10 of 32 = 16 (N) · 2/8 of 148 = 37 (T) · 4/8 of 34 = 17 (C) · 4/8 of 12 = 6 (R) · 1/8 of 168 = 21 (A) · 3/6 of 44 = 22 (U) · 2/10 of 155 = 31 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multi-step word problems): "LIME GREEN STRAP"Navigator collected 10 cloud crystals in the morning and 322 cloud crystals in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 Skyship Crew. How many cloud crystals did each get? = 83 (L) · Navigator filled 2 boxes with 4 propeller blades each, then found 9 more propeller blades. How many propeller blades are there in all? = 17 (E) · Navigator filled 6 boxes with 6 sky-maps each, then found 36 more sky-maps. How many sky-maps are there in all? = 72 (I) · Navigator collected 127 spyglass lenses in the morning and 38 spyglass lenses in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Skyship Crew. How many spyglass lenses did each get? = 33 (M) · Navigator filled 6 boxes with 4 cloud crystals each, then found 47 more cloud crystals. How many cloud crystals are there in all? = 71 (N) · There were 709 cloud crystals in all. 37 cloud crystals were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 8 Skyship Crew. How many cloud crystals did each get? = 84 (R) · Navigator collected 99 cloud crystals in the morning and 138 cloud crystals in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 Skyship Crew. How many cloud crystals did each get? = 79 (G)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Captain Amelia44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5 · 144 ÷ 12 = 12 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Fractions of a number, Multi-step word problems, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Golden Compass — set in the floating islands of the Wind-Whisper Archipelago
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects