🏴☠️ PiratesGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Place valueFractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Lost Golden Compass
Someone has raided the treasure hold of the Sea Serpent! The Quartermaster's golden compass is gone, leaving the crew stranded without a heading. We must track down the rogue pirate before they sail away with the loot.
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 | Primary Pirate Skill | Secondary Pirate Gear | Cutlass Handedness | Hair Style | Scurvy Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Kidd | cannon blasting | parrot whispering | left-handed cutlass swing | scruffy red hair | ticklish toes |
| Samuel Bellamy | map deciphering | sail rigging | right-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | seasickness |
| Stede Bonnet | map deciphering | pegleg kicking | right-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | seasickness |
| Jolly Roger | rigging swinging | parrot whispering | left-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | fear of ghosts |
| Groggy George | rigging swinging | anchor dropping | right-handed cutlass swing | scruffy red hair | seasickness |
| Redbeard Rusty | map deciphering | sail rigging | right-handed cutlass swing | bandana covered gray hair | seasickness |
| Calico Jack | map deciphering | pegleg kicking | left-handed cutlass swing | bandana covered gray hair | ticklish toes |
| Sadie the Goat | rigging swinging | pegleg kicking | left-handed cutlass swing | bandana covered gray hair | fear of ghosts |
| Cutlass Cody | crow nest scouting | sail rigging | right-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | seasickness |
| Blackbeard Edward | crow nest scouting | compass navigating | right-handed cutlass swing | bandana covered gray hair | fear of ghosts |
| Edward Low | map deciphering | compass navigating | left-handed cutlass swing | scruffy red hair | fear of ghosts |
| Mary Read | cannon blasting | compass navigating | right-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | seasickness |
| Barnacle Bill | sword dueling | pegleg kicking | left-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | seasickness |
| Bartholomew Roberts | map deciphering | compass navigating | left-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | ticklish toes |
| Charles Vane | crow nest scouting | pegleg kicking | left-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | fear of ghosts |
| Salty Sally | map deciphering | parrot whispering | right-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | seasickness |
| One Eyed Willy | rigging swinging | anchor dropping | right-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | ticklish toes |
| Anne Bonny | crow nest scouting | pegleg kicking | right-handed cutlass swing | bandana covered gray hair | ticklish toes |
| Grace O Malley | crow nest scouting | compass navigating | left-handed cutlass swing | bandana covered gray hair | fear of ghosts |
| Henry Morgan | crow nest scouting | anchor dropping | right-handed cutlass swing | bandana covered gray hair | fear of ghosts |
| Pegleg Pete | crow nest scouting | compass navigating | right-handed cutlass swing | braided black hair | seasickness |
Clue 1
Place value
The ship's ledger has a mysterious number code written on the inside cover, but the digits are smeared. Use your place value knowledge to figure out the value of the hundreds digit and crack the code!
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
80
400
50
700
20
30
9000
T
80
50
10
60
50
40
200
60
T
80
400
9000
6000
50
40
9000
20
8000
30
20
90
90
20
200
90
40
3000
20
8000
8000
40
What is the value of the 8 in 56,787?T
What is the value of the 8 in 918,760?L
What is the value of the 3 in 509,738?R
What is the value of the 6 in 726,420?V
What is the value of the 1 in 40,517?D
What is the value of the 9 in 35,597?G
What is the value of the 4 in 77,242?S
What is the value of the 4 in 910,491?H
What is the value of the 7 in 906,780?P
What is the value of the 5 in 89,753?E
What is the value of the 2 in 430,205?N
What is the value of the 9 in 29,027?A
What is the value of the 6 in 28,460?O
What is the value of the 3 in 143,646?K
What is the value of the 2 in 43,428?I
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
The crew divided up a basket of tropical papayas, but the thief took more than their fair share. Work out the exact fraction of the fruit pile to find a scrap of cloth left behind!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
15
7
6
10
21
10
35
32
38
19
38
37
3
21
39
35
2
2
2
39
35
2
10
22
9
3
32
38
9
32
31
9
9
38
5/8 of 24 =R
1/4 of 8 =S
4/6 of 57 =D
1/8 of 80 =H
2/8 of 148 =C
7/8 of 8 =I
1/2 of 64 =N
1/5 of 155 =W
4/8 of 70 =A
1/3 of 27 =O
1/3 of 57 =E
4/8 of 44 =F
2/4 of 6 =U
3/8 of 16 =G
1/2 of 42 =T
1/2 of 78 =L
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
We found a locked safe containing the suspect's diary, but opening it requires solving a complex equation in the exact correct order of operations. Solve it to unlock the diary!
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
36
15
17
9
11
55
6
17
55
11
T
36
18
17
9
75
29
17
32
29
24
19
76
11
63
T
36
15
17
19
15
11
69
69
75
54
32
75
9 × 7 - 27 =T
2 + 5 × 6 =A
10 × 8 - 26 =B
2 + 2 × 2 =U
8 × 5 - 16 =I
2 + 4 × 4 =V
9 + 2 × 5 =C
8 × 9 - 9 =N
11 × 8 - 13 =Y
1 + 6 × 9 =G
7 + 2 × 4 =H
1 + 5 × 2 =O
36 + 8 × 5 =K
7 × 11 - 8 =P
12 × 2 - 7 =E
12 × 3 - 27 =R
14 + 3 × 5 =S
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The ship's gunner has stacked the heavy iron cannonballs in neat, equal rows. Multiply the rows to count the total ammunition and spot the hidden clue scratched on the wall!
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
50
70
70
77
33
45
L
50
2
24
63
45
42
2
88
30
77
108
33
42
33
L
50
33
12
48
70
99
48
20
33
20
2
40
40
70
24
63
10 × 5 =L
10 × 7 =O
8 × 5 =M
7 × 6 =R
11 × 8 =I
11 × 9 =N
7 × 11 =S
2 × 10 =H
8 × 3 =C
2 × 6 =F
12 × 9 =W
2 × 1 =A
5 × 9 =B
3 × 11 =E
9 × 7 =K
3 × 10 =D
6 × 8 =T
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
A stash of silver doubloons must be shared equally among the deckhands. Divide the coins fairly to see how many are left over, revealing the final clue!
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
50 ÷ 10 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
80 ÷ 8 = ?
36 ÷ 4 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
6 ÷ 1 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
12 ÷ 6 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain stole the map to skeleton bay, then slid down the anchor rope.
2.The villain looted the captain's chest, then escaped in a rowboat.
3.The villain swiped the golden compass, then hid in the cargo hold.
4.The villain looted the captain's chest, then ran across the wooden pier.
5.The villain stole the map to skeleton bay, then escaped in a rowboat.
6.The villain pilfered the secret key, then escaped in a rowboat.
7.The villain looted the captain's chest, then swam to the rocky shore.
8.The villain stole the map to skeleton bay, then ran across the wooden pier.
9.The villain pilfered the secret key, then ran across the wooden pier.
10.The villain looted the captain's chest, then hid in the cargo hold.
11.The villain pilfered the secret key, then slid down the anchor rope.
12.The villain plundered the ruby necklace, then hid in the cargo hold.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Lost Golden Compass
Culprit: Stede Bonnet (map deciphering · pegleg kicking · right-handed cutlass swing · braided black hair · seasickness)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE PIRATE DOES NOT HAVE SAIL RIGGING SKILLS"What is the value of the 8 in 56,787? = 80 (T) · What is the value of the 8 in 918,760? = 8000 (L) · What is the value of the 3 in 509,738? = 30 (R) · What is the value of the 6 in 726,420? = 6000 (V) · What is the value of the 1 in 40,517? = 10 (D) · What is the value of the 9 in 35,597? = 90 (G) · What is the value of the 4 in 77,242? = 40 (S) · What is the value of the 4 in 910,491? = 400 (H) · What is the value of the 7 in 906,780? = 700 (P) · What is the value of the 5 in 89,753? = 50 (E) · What is the value of the 2 in 430,205? = 200 (N) · What is the value of the 9 in 29,027? = 9000 (A) · What is the value of the 6 in 28,460? = 60 (O) · What is the value of the 3 in 143,646? = 3000 (K) · What is the value of the 2 in 43,428? = 20 (I)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "RIGHT HANDED CUTLASS SLASH FOUND ON WOOD"5/8 of 24 = 15 (R) · 1/4 of 8 = 2 (S) · 4/6 of 57 = 38 (D) · 1/8 of 80 = 10 (H) · 2/8 of 148 = 37 (C) · 7/8 of 8 = 7 (I) · 1/2 of 64 = 32 (N) · 1/5 of 155 = 31 (W) · 4/8 of 70 = 35 (A) · 1/3 of 27 = 9 (O) · 1/3 of 57 = 19 (E) · 4/8 of 44 = 22 (F) · 2/4 of 6 = 3 (U) · 3/8 of 16 = 6 (G) · 1/2 of 42 = 21 (T) · 1/2 of 78 = 39 (L)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE ROGUE GOT VERY SEASICK ON THE CHOPPY BAY"9 × 7 - 27 = 36 (T) · 2 + 5 × 6 = 32 (A) · 10 × 8 - 26 = 54 (B) · 2 + 2 × 2 = 6 (U) · 8 × 5 - 16 = 24 (I) · 2 + 4 × 4 = 18 (V) · 9 + 2 × 5 = 19 (C) · 8 × 9 - 9 = 63 (N) · 11 × 8 - 13 = 75 (Y) · 1 + 6 × 9 = 55 (G) · 7 + 2 × 4 = 15 (H) · 1 + 5 × 2 = 11 (O) · 36 + 8 × 5 = 76 (K) · 7 × 11 - 8 = 69 (P) · 12 × 2 - 7 = 17 (E) · 12 × 3 - 27 = 9 (R) · 14 + 3 × 5 = 29 (S)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "LOOSE BLACK BRAIDS WERE LEFT ON THE HAMMOCK"10 × 5 = 50 (L) · 10 × 7 = 70 (O) · 8 × 5 = 40 (M) · 7 × 6 = 42 (R) · 11 × 8 = 88 (I) · 11 × 9 = 99 (N) · 7 × 11 = 77 (S) · 2 × 10 = 20 (H) · 8 × 3 = 24 (C) · 2 × 6 = 12 (F) · 12 × 9 = 108 (W) · 2 × 1 = 2 (A) · 5 × 9 = 45 (B) · 3 × 11 = 33 (E) · 9 × 7 = 63 (K) · 3 × 10 = 30 (D) · 6 × 8 = 48 (T)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Stede Bonnet50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Lost Golden Compass — set in The Isle of Barnacles, aboard the Sea Serpent pirate ship
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects