Grade 5Reading: grades 3-4Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Case of the Golden Compass
Chief Archeologist Marina found the ancient Golden Compass on Coconut Cove. But overnight, a rogue explorer snatched it from her tent! The Coconut Cove Kids Club is on the case to find the culprit 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 | Gear Item | Survival Skill | Writing Hand | Bandana Color | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gavin | Grappling Hook | Campfire Building | Left Handed | Green Bandana | Sour Gummy Worms |
| Ivy | Pocket Lantern | Trail Blazing | Right Handed | Blue Bandana | Salted Pretzels |
| Sam | Pocket Lantern | Trail Blazing | Left Handed | Red Bandana | Sour Gummy Worms |
| Ben | Pocket Lantern | Trail Blazing | Right Handed | Green Bandana | Salted Pretzels |
| Finn | Metal Detector | Trail Blazing | Right Handed | Red Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
| Ruby | Pocket Lantern | Campfire Building | Right Handed | Green Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
| Leo | Pocket Lantern | Shelter Making | Left Handed | Green Bandana | Sour Gummy Worms |
| Ava | Metal Detector | Knot Tying | Right Handed | Blue Bandana | Salted Pretzels |
| Sienna | Climbing Rope | Knot Tying | Right Handed | Green Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
| Alex | Pocket Lantern | Campfire Building | Right Handed | Blue Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
| Chloe | Metal Detector | Knot Tying | Right Handed | Blue Bandana | Sour Gummy Worms |
| Mia | Pocket Lantern | Map Reading | Right Handed | Blue Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
| Cole | Grappling Hook | Shelter Making | Left Handed | Green Bandana | Sour Gummy Worms |
| Jack | Climbing Rope | Shelter Making | Left Handed | Blue Bandana | Salted Pretzels |
| Toby | Metal Detector | Campfire Building | Right Handed | Blue Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
| Ella | Pocket Lantern | Shelter Making | Right Handed | Blue Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
| Maya | Metal Detector | Map Reading | Right Handed | Blue Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
| Noah | Grappling Hook | Shelter Making | Right Handed | Green Bandana | Sour Gummy Worms |
| Luke | Pocket Lantern | Trail Blazing | Right Handed | Green Bandana | Sour Gummy Worms |
| Zoe | Pocket Lantern | Knot Tying | Right Handed | Green Bandana | Sour Gummy Worms |
| Grace | Spyglass | Map Reading | Left Handed | Blue Bandana | Chocolate Coins |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
The kids find a ripped page from a logbook. To find the first clue, we need to calculate a fraction of the total pages left in the book.
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
31
25
16
27
22
14
14
9
22
29
39
33
16
30
29
33
T
31
25
9
27
16
30
25
16
14
T
31
16
13
8
9
3
22
29
23
2/4 of 62 =T
2/3 of 12 =M
4/10 of 35 =L
2/6 of 66 =I
4/8 of 50 =H
1/6 of 18 =K
3/8 of 80 =S
1/10 of 130 =R
4/8 of 78 =D
9/10 of 10 =A
6/8 of 36 =V
2/10 of 165 =O
1/4 of 64 =E
3/6 of 58 =N
4/8 of 46 =G
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
Marina remembers a secret code on the lockbox. To crack the code, the team must solve a puzzle using the correct order of operations.
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
67
13
61
42
60
16
49
31
71
T
67
13
61
16
59
T
67
13
61
49
61
9
31
71
35
13
T
67
13
21
9
59
61
59
63 + 2 × 2 =T
15 + 2 × 8 =R
8 × 3 - 8 =L
39 + 5 × 4 =D
50 + 3 × 7 =I
1 + 4 × 2 =N
11 × 5 - 20 =G
5 × 11 - 13 =C
42 + 9 × 2 =U
10 × 4 - 27 =H
5 + 8 × 7 =E
2 × 11 - 1 =A
10 × 6 - 11 =P
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The team spots footprints in the mud leading away from the tent. They are arranged in neat rows. We must multiply the rows to count them all.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
120
70
108
A
120
21
21
35
108
42
40
108
11
24
40
11
40
96
A
120
60
35
11
40
49
6
45
70
A
120
45
96
35
42
60
10 × 12 =A
3 × 2 =N
10 × 7 =W
7 × 3 =P
5 × 8 =O
7 × 7 =I
5 × 9 =S
12 × 8 =L
7 × 5 =E
12 × 9 =R
12 × 2 =H
7 × 6 =F
1 × 11 =C
12 × 5 =T
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
A nearby radio tower is sending a faint signal. The frequency is fuzzy, so we have to round the number to the nearest ten to get a clear message.
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
1300
50
290
900
3700
90
1100
130
50
200
1100
90
430
430
290
170
90
900
500
7000
290
900
90
1100
170
90
1100
90
Round 1,337 to the nearest hundredT
Round 1,057 to the nearest hundredN
Round 91 to the nearest tenA
Round 170 to the nearest tenD
Round 542 to the nearest hundredL
Round 852 to the nearest hundredB
Round 6,588 to the nearest thousandU
Round 432 to the nearest tenG
Round 3,670 to the nearest hundredR
Round 156 to the nearest hundredS
Round 292 to the nearest tenE
Round 54 to the nearest tenH
Round 127 to the nearest tenC
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The explorers find a bag of shiny rocks dropped on the path. We must divide the rocks equally among the searchers to see how many each person gets.
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
18 ÷ 6 = ?
90 ÷ 10 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
6 ÷ 6 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
60 ÷ 12 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sweeps the sandy beach with a metal detector, then blazes a trail through the thick vines.
2.The villain swings across the river with a grappling hook, then blazes a trail through the thick vines.
3.The villain sweeps the sandy beach with a metal detector, then builds a small campfire to stay warm.
4.The villain lights up the dark jungle with a pocket lantern, then ties a quick double knot to secure the boat.
5.The villain climbs up the steep cliff with a climbing rope, then makes a quick branch shelter to hide from rain.
6.The villain climbs up the steep cliff with a climbing rope, then ties a quick double knot to secure the boat.
7.The villain climbs up the steep cliff with a climbing rope, then reads the old map to escape.
8.The villain uses a brass spyglass to spot the camp, then blazes a trail through the thick vines.
9.The villain lights up the dark jungle with a pocket lantern, then builds a small campfire to stay warm.
10.The villain lights up the dark jungle with a pocket lantern, then reads the old map to escape.
11.The villain swings across the river with a grappling hook, then makes a quick branch shelter to hide from rain.
12.The villain sweeps the sandy beach with a metal detector, then reads the old map to escape.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Golden Compass
Culprit: Maya (Metal Detector · Map Reading · Right Handed · Blue Bandana · Chocolate Coins)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE SHELTER MAKING"2/4 of 62 = 31 (T) · 2/3 of 12 = 8 (M) · 4/10 of 35 = 14 (L) · 2/6 of 66 = 22 (I) · 4/8 of 50 = 25 (H) · 1/6 of 18 = 3 (K) · 3/8 of 80 = 30 (S) · 1/10 of 130 = 13 (R) · 4/8 of 78 = 39 (D) · 9/10 of 10 = 9 (A) · 6/8 of 36 = 27 (V) · 2/10 of 165 = 33 (O) · 1/4 of 64 = 16 (E) · 3/6 of 58 = 29 (N) · 4/8 of 46 = 23 (G)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE CULPRIT HELD THE PEN RIGHT HANDED"63 + 2 × 2 = 67 (T) · 15 + 2 × 8 = 31 (R) · 8 × 3 - 8 = 16 (L) · 39 + 5 × 4 = 59 (D) · 50 + 3 × 7 = 71 (I) · 1 + 4 × 2 = 9 (N) · 11 × 5 - 20 = 35 (G) · 5 × 11 - 13 = 42 (C) · 42 + 9 × 2 = 60 (U) · 10 × 4 - 27 = 13 (H) · 5 + 8 × 7 = 61 (E) · 2 × 11 - 1 = 21 (A) · 10 × 6 - 11 = 49 (P)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A WRAPPER FOR CHOCOLATE COINS WAS LEFT"10 × 12 = 120 (A) · 3 × 2 = 6 (N) · 10 × 7 = 70 (W) · 7 × 3 = 21 (P) · 5 × 8 = 40 (O) · 7 × 7 = 49 (I) · 5 × 9 = 45 (S) · 12 × 8 = 96 (L) · 7 × 5 = 35 (E) · 12 × 9 = 108 (R) · 12 × 2 = 24 (H) · 7 × 6 = 42 (F) · 1 × 11 = 11 (C) · 12 × 5 = 60 (T)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "THE BRANCH SNAGGED A BLUE BANDANA"Round 1,337 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (T) · Round 1,057 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (N) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 170 to the nearest ten = 170 (D) · Round 542 to the nearest hundred = 500 (L) · Round 852 to the nearest hundred = 900 (B) · Round 6,588 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (U) · Round 432 to the nearest ten = 430 (G) · Round 3,670 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (R) · Round 156 to the nearest hundred = 200 (S) · Round 292 to the nearest ten = 290 (E) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (H) · Round 127 to the nearest ten = 130 (C)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Maya18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Golden Compass — set in Coconut Cove Island
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects