Grade 5Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Missing Star-Map
The golden Star-Map has disappeared from the High Observatory in the clouds! A sneaky rogue captain slipped in and took it. Without the map, our airships will get lost in the thick mist. We need your help to track down the thief and recover the map 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 | ship tool | special skill | steering hand | headgear style | favorite snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Lindbergh | propeller boots | night vision | right handed grip | leather aviator cap | salty sea cheese |
| Ibn Battuta | sky compass | gust blasting | right handed grip | feathered tricorn hat | salty sea cheese |
| Valentina Tereshkova | cloud cannon | map reading | right handed grip | feathered tricorn hat | sweet honey biscuits |
| Laura Dekker | sky compass | storm calling | right handed grip | brass flight goggles | sweet honey biscuits |
| Amelia Earhart | propeller boots | map reading | right handed grip | brass flight goggles | sweet honey biscuits |
| Steve Fossett | cloud cannon | gust blasting | left handed grip | feathered tricorn hat | sweet honey biscuits |
| Vasco da Gama | cloud cannon | storm calling | right handed grip | leather aviator cap | sweet honey biscuits |
| Harriet Quimby | propeller boots | night vision | right handed grip | brass flight goggles | sweet honey biscuits |
| Jeanne Baret | propeller boots | cloud cloaking | right handed grip | feathered tricorn hat | sweet honey biscuits |
| Wiley Post | propeller boots | map reading | right handed grip | leather aviator cap | sour lime drops |
| Florence Bascom | grappling hook | night vision | left handed grip | brass flight goggles | salty sea cheese |
| Will Rogers | grappling hook | gust blasting | right handed grip | brass flight goggles | sweet honey biscuits |
| James Cook | sky compass | map reading | right handed grip | brass flight goggles | sour lime drops |
| Richard Byrd | sky compass | night vision | right handed grip | feathered tricorn hat | sweet honey biscuits |
| Roald Amundsen | grappling hook | cloud cloaking | left handed grip | brass flight goggles | sweet honey biscuits |
| Jacques Cousteau | grappling hook | storm calling | left handed grip | brass flight goggles | sweet honey biscuits |
| Marco Polo | cloud cannon | storm calling | left handed grip | feathered tricorn hat | sour lime drops |
| Isabella Bird | sky compass | night vision | right handed grip | leather aviator cap | salty sea cheese |
| Mary Kingsley | sky compass | gust blasting | right handed grip | brass flight goggles | sweet honey biscuits |
| Bessie Coleman | grappling hook | night vision | left handed grip | feathered tricorn hat | salty sea cheese |
| Matthew Henson | grappling hook | night vision | right handed grip | feathered tricorn hat | sweet honey biscuits |
Clue 1
Place value
We found a broken digital lock on the map chest. The code uses digits in different place values. Look at the numbers to unlock the first clue.
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
4000
7000
T
80
4000
50
7000
700
800
9000
7000
40
8000
9000
T
80
4000
30
900
7000
8000
50
300
4000
T
80
900
50
40
50
9000
8000
What is the value of the 8 in 47,785?T
What is the value of the 9 in 309,311?O
What is the value of the 9 in 364,965?V
What is the value of the 8 in 17,871?D
What is the value of the 4 in 64,992?H
What is the value of the 3 in 246,937?A
What is the value of the 8 in 548,999?N
What is the value of the 3 in 709,310?G
What is the value of the 7 in 222,740?F
What is the value of the 5 in 31,758?I
What is the value of the 4 in 75,147?S
What is the value of the 7 in 427,093?E
0/12 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The thief knocked over a jar of golden rivets. We need to add all the scattered pieces together to find where the thief went next.
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
5610
4655
4868
T
5610
4655
8035
4868
8991
4655
4868
9433
6262
T
5610
4655
4868
2890
5331
4531
8035
8545
5331
2810
8035
5878
4655
T
5610
4655
5331
8545
6262
4868
6262
5878
2810
8035
4531
1940 + 3670 =T
2437 + 2431 =E
2106 + 2549 =H
2131 + 2400 =P
3943 + 4092 =I
1083 + 1727 =R
2882 + 2996 =G
1338 + 1552 =M
2988 + 3274 =D
2888 + 6103 =F
3713 + 1618 =A
3871 + 4674 =N
4915 + 4518 =L
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
A supply barrel was tipped over. If we subtract the spilled fuel from the total, we can calculate how far the thief could fly.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
1202
8862
2054
1878
7000
3918
4060
4520
7509
7000
7218
2910
8338
1878
2054
8338
W
1202
8862
8862
3324
1838
1878
3918
8862
5499
2910
6703
8338
4520
7000
6703
3324
8338
4051 - 2849 =W
4680 - 762 =N
5386 - 2062 =T
11643 - 2781 =E
11419 - 3081 =S
5796 - 1736 =D
8360 - 1142 =M
6725 - 3815 =B
5484 - 3606 =O
7666 - 963 =I
8514 - 3015 =Y
4914 - 394 =C
6526 - 4472 =F
1952 - 114 =H
8178 - 1178 =U
8884 - 1375 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The thief fled past the cargo deck. By multiplying the rows of supply crates, we can find the secret passage they used.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
27
100
22
8
1
16
3
120
12
48
110
110
22
70
60
5
55
21
5
8
5
5
70
100
110
60
16
21
55
100
77
60
110
21
3 × 9 =W
4 × 4 =N
1 × 1 =U
10 × 7 =L
8 × 6 =A
10 × 10 =E
2 × 4 =O
5 × 12 =I
11 × 10 =S
3 × 7 =T
5 × 11 =H
2 × 6 =R
2 × 11 =F
10 × 12 =B
1 × 5 =G
7 × 11 =M
3 × 1 =D
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The sky patrol has several spyglasses to share. We must divide them equally among the scouts to spot the thief from the guard tower.
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
36 ÷ 6 = ?
72 ÷ 6 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
8 ÷ 1 = ?
14 ÷ 2 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
6 ÷ 2 = ?
35 ÷ 7 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain navigated through the thick fog with a sky compass, then knocked the guards back with gust blasting.
2.The villain swung across the rigging with a grappling hook, then knocked the guards back with gust blasting.
3.The villain blasted a path through the wall with a cloud cannon, then knocked the guards back with gust blasting.
4.The villain soared off the balcony on a wind glider, then slipped through the dark halls using night vision.
5.The villain soared off the balcony on a wind glider, then knocked the guards back with gust blasting.
6.The villain zipped up to the high rafters with propeller boots, then plotted a quick escape route using map reading.
7.The villain blasted a path through the wall with a cloud cannon, then escaped into the clouds by storm calling.
8.The villain blasted a path through the wall with a cloud cannon, then slipped through the dark halls using night vision.
9.The villain zipped up to the high rafters with propeller boots, then escaped into the clouds by storm calling.
10.The villain blasted a path through the wall with a cloud cannon, then plotted a quick escape route using map reading.
11.The villain navigated through the thick fog with a sky compass, then slipped through the dark halls using night vision.
12.The villain navigated through the thick fog with a sky compass, then escaped into the clouds by storm calling.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Star-Map
Culprit: Mary Kingsley (sky compass · gust blasting · right handed grip · brass flight goggles · sweet honey biscuits)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE NIGHT VISION"What is the value of the 8 in 47,785? = 80 (T) · What is the value of the 9 in 309,311? = 9000 (O) · What is the value of the 9 in 364,965? = 900 (V) · What is the value of the 8 in 17,871? = 800 (D) · What is the value of the 4 in 64,992? = 4000 (H) · What is the value of the 3 in 246,937? = 30 (A) · What is the value of the 8 in 548,999? = 8000 (N) · What is the value of the 3 in 709,310? = 300 (G) · What is the value of the 7 in 222,740? = 700 (F) · What is the value of the 5 in 31,758? = 50 (I) · What is the value of the 4 in 75,147? = 40 (S) · What is the value of the 7 in 427,093? = 7000 (E)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE THIEF HELD THE MAP IN A RIGHT HANDED GRIP"1940 + 3670 = 5610 (T) · 2437 + 2431 = 4868 (E) · 2106 + 2549 = 4655 (H) · 2131 + 2400 = 4531 (P) · 3943 + 4092 = 8035 (I) · 1083 + 1727 = 2810 (R) · 2882 + 2996 = 5878 (G) · 1338 + 1552 = 2890 (M) · 2988 + 3274 = 6262 (D) · 2888 + 6103 = 8991 (F) · 3713 + 1618 = 5331 (A) · 3871 + 4674 = 8545 (N) · 4915 + 4518 = 9433 (L)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "WE FOUND CRUMBS OF SWEET HONEY BISCUITS"4051 - 2849 = 1202 (W) · 4680 - 762 = 3918 (N) · 5386 - 2062 = 3324 (T) · 11643 - 2781 = 8862 (E) · 11419 - 3081 = 8338 (S) · 5796 - 1736 = 4060 (D) · 8360 - 1142 = 7218 (M) · 6725 - 3815 = 2910 (B) · 5484 - 3606 = 1878 (O) · 7666 - 963 = 6703 (I) · 8514 - 3015 = 5499 (Y) · 4914 - 394 = 4520 (C) · 6526 - 4472 = 2054 (F) · 1952 - 114 = 1838 (H) · 8178 - 1178 = 7000 (U) · 8884 - 1375 = 7509 (R)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND BRASS FLIGHT GOGGLES IN THE MIST"3 × 9 = 27 (W) · 4 × 4 = 16 (N) · 1 × 1 = 1 (U) · 10 × 7 = 70 (L) · 8 × 6 = 48 (A) · 10 × 10 = 100 (E) · 2 × 4 = 8 (O) · 5 × 12 = 60 (I) · 11 × 10 = 110 (S) · 3 × 7 = 21 (T) · 5 × 11 = 55 (H) · 2 × 6 = 12 (R) · 2 × 11 = 22 (F) · 10 × 12 = 120 (B) · 1 × 5 = 5 (G) · 7 × 11 = 77 (M) · 3 × 1 = 3 (D)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Mary Kingsley36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Star-Map — set in The Floating Isles of Zephyria
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects