🔎 ...Grade 1Reading: grades 7-9Place valueAdditionSubtractionWord problemsMissing addends
The Cloud-Cruiser Caper
A rogue sky-pirate has stolen the legendary Chronos Gear, the vital engine keeping our floating home stable in the troposphere. The Great Clockwork Lighthouse has gone dark, and Aethelgard is slowly drifting toward the storm barrier. Detective, we must inspect the visiting airship captains and find the thief before the wind takes us!
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 Specialty | Signature Gadget | Soot Stain | Goggle Strap Type | Engine Allergy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace Steam | Wind-sail gliding | Pocket chronometer | Soot on left sleeve | Leather strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Clara Windward | Storm-harnessing | Brass spyglass | Soot on left sleeve | Leather strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Alistair Bolt | Storm-harnessing | Steam-powered grapple | Soot on left sleeve | Brass-mesh strap | Coal dust sneezes |
| Captain Barnaby Vance | Cloud-veil cloaking | Magnetic boots | Soot on right sleeve | Leather strap | Coal dust sneezes |
| Felix Flywheel | Grapple-hook boarding | Brass spyglass | Soot on right sleeve | Brass-mesh strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Cordelia Finch | Grapple-hook boarding | Steam-powered grapple | Soot on left sleeve | Velvet-lined strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Gideon Geary | Steam-thruster piloting | Steam-powered grapple | Soot on left sleeve | Brass-mesh strap | Copper-polish rash |
| Matilda Piston | Grapple-hook boarding | Pocket chronometer | Soot on left sleeve | Velvet-lined strap | Coal dust sneezes |
| Rupert Rivet | Grapple-hook boarding | Steam-powered grapple | Soot on left sleeve | Leather strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Silas Pendelton | Grapple-hook boarding | Brass spyglass | Soot on left sleeve | Brass-mesh strap | Copper-polish rash |
| Quentin Turbine | Cloud-veil cloaking | Magnetic boots | Soot on right sleeve | Velvet-lined strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Hector Hawke | Grapple-hook boarding | Steam-powered grapple | Soot on left sleeve | Leather strap | Coal dust sneezes |
| Phoebe Copper | Cloud-veil cloaking | Magnetic boots | Soot on right sleeve | Leather strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Beatrice Brass | Storm-harnessing | Steam-powered grapple | Soot on left sleeve | Velvet-lined strap | Copper-polish rash |
| Jasper Ironwood | Storm-harnessing | Magnetic boots | Soot on left sleeve | Brass-mesh strap | Copper-polish rash |
| Martha Gasket | Cloud-veil cloaking | Magnetic boots | Soot on left sleeve | Velvet-lined strap | Coal dust sneezes |
| Orson Zephyr | Cloud-veil cloaking | Pocket chronometer | Soot on left sleeve | Velvet-lined strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Sybil Tempest | Steam-thruster piloting | Pocket chronometer | Soot on right sleeve | Velvet-lined strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Miranda Gale | Cloud-veil cloaking | Copper glider-pack | Soot on left sleeve | Leather strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Thaddeus Cloud | Cloud-veil cloaking | Steam-powered grapple | Soot on left sleeve | Leather strap | Oil vapour coughs |
| Leopold Rust | Steam-thruster piloting | Copper glider-pack | Soot on left sleeve | Leather strap | Copper-polish rash |
Clue 1
Place value
We recovered a damaged logbook from the lighthouse docks. Deciphering the place value of the digits in the corrupted system coordinates reveals our 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
26
44
63
96
82
76
76
51
82
81
22
46
63
86
81
46
T
26
44
51
96
63
51
39
76
82
22
63
32
98
51
29
83
What number has 2 tens and 6 ones?T
What number has 9 tens and 6 ones?V
What number has 9 tens and 8 ones?P
What number has 2 tens and 9 ones?C
What number has 3 tens and 2 ones?R
What number has 4 tens and 6 ones?O
What number has 8 tens and 6 ones?S
What number has 6 tens and 3 ones?E
What number has 5 tens and 1 one?A
What number has 8 tens and 2 ones?I
What number has 7 tens and 6 ones?L
What number has 2 tens and 2 ones?D
What number has 3 tens and 9 ones?G
What number has 8 tens and 3 ones?K
What number has 4 tens and 4 ones?H
What number has 8 tens and 1 one?N
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
While searching the escape path, we found several abandoned cargo manifests. Adding up the total weight of the discarded coal crates points us to a crucial piece of evidence.
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
19
6
5
8
12
10
10
11
12
14
6
11
9
7
17
17
T
19
17
14
T
19
6
5
12
3
10
5
4
T
19
7
10
5
5
8
5
6 + 13 =T
1 + 4 =E
5 + 2 =S
1 + 3 =F
3 + 3 =H
1 + 2 =R
8 + 6 =N
3 + 6 =D
7 + 10 =O
4 + 6 =L
3 + 5 =V
7 + 5 =I
7 + 4 =A
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The lighthouse boiler pressure has dropped significantly. By subtracting the current pressure from the standard operating levels, we calculated the exact time the thief fled.
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
16
5
13
19
8
11
11
6
8
17
5
6
7
13
17
15
8
17
13
18
8
11
19
6
10
18
9
14
12
18
9
15
5
4
20 - 4 =T
17 - 5 =C
17 - 6 =L
20 - 1 =V
15 - 8 =D
18 - 1 =N
17 - 8 =U
8 - 4 =S
10 - 5 =H
12 - 6 =A
12 - 4 =I
17 - 2 =G
19 - 1 =O
12 - 2 =P
18 - 4 =R
18 - 5 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Word problems
A local sky-merchant saw the thief fleeing across the rooftops and described their pace. Solving the merchant's puzzle about flight speed and travel times gives us a major breakthrough.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
L
35
28
6
19
25
28
24
38
19
24
6
P
The Quartermaster lined up 5 rows of 7 rivet hammers. How many rivet hammers in all?L
There were 43 brass gears. 5 were used up. How many brass gears are left?S
The Quartermaster found 22 brass gears yesterday and 2 more today. How many brass gears in all?R
The Quartermaster found 13 steam valves yesterday and 12 more today. How many steam valves in all?H
The Quartermaster found 7 brass gears yesterday and 12 more today. How many brass gears in all?T
The Quartermaster lined up 2 rows of 3 brass gears. How many brass gears in all?A
The Quartermaster found 26 coal shovels yesterday and 2 more today. How many coal shovels in all?E
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
We found a broken gear train near the main safe with several missing teeth. Calculating the missing number of gears needed to complete the circuit unlocks 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
8 + ___ = 13
2 + ___ = 5
7 + ___ = 16
9 + ___ = 21
7 + ___ = 18
2 + ___ = 3
9 + ___ = 17
9 + ___ = 13
10 + ___ = 16
3 + ___ = 5
10 + ___ = 20
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain deployed a giant wind-sail to glide over the rooftops, then swung down using a steam-powered grapple.
2.The villain deployed a giant wind-sail to glide over the rooftops, then soared away using a copper glider-pack.
3.The villain fired a heavy grapple-hook onto the lighthouse balcony, then swung down using a steam-powered grapple.
4.The villain activated a cloud-veil cloaking device, then checked a pocket chronometer to time the escape.
5.The villain deployed a giant wind-sail to glide over the rooftops, then checked a pocket chronometer to time the escape.
6.The villain fired a heavy grapple-hook onto the lighthouse balcony, then clattered across the metal hull in magnetic boots.
7.The villain activated a cloud-veil cloaking device, then swung down using a steam-powered grapple.
8.The villain activated a cloud-veil cloaking device, then clattered across the metal hull in magnetic boots.
9.The villain harnessed the energy of a passing storm, then peered through a brass spyglass to spy on the guards.
10.The villain steered a steam-thruster airship through the docks, then peered through a brass spyglass to spy on the guards.
11.The villain deployed a giant wind-sail to glide over the rooftops, then clattered across the metal hull in magnetic boots.
12.The villain activated a cloud-veil cloaking device, then peered through a brass spyglass to spy on the guards.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cloud-Cruiser Caper
Culprit: Thaddeus Cloud (Cloud-veil cloaking · Steam-powered grapple · Soot on left sleeve · Leather strap · Oil vapour coughs)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE A GLIDER PACK"What number has 2 tens and 6 ones? = 26 (T) · What number has 9 tens and 6 ones? = 96 (V) · What number has 9 tens and 8 ones? = 98 (P) · What number has 2 tens and 9 ones? = 29 (C) · What number has 3 tens and 2 ones? = 32 (R) · What number has 4 tens and 6 ones? = 46 (O) · What number has 8 tens and 6 ones? = 86 (S) · What number has 6 tens and 3 ones? = 63 (E) · What number has 5 tens and 1 one? = 51 (A) · What number has 8 tens and 2 ones? = 82 (I) · What number has 7 tens and 6 ones? = 76 (L) · What number has 2 tens and 2 ones? = 22 (D) · What number has 3 tens and 9 ones? = 39 (G) · What number has 8 tens and 3 ones? = 83 (K) · What number has 4 tens and 4 ones? = 44 (H) · What number has 8 tens and 1 one? = 81 (N)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN HAD SOOT ON THEIR LEFT SLEEVE"6 + 13 = 19 (T) · 1 + 4 = 5 (E) · 5 + 2 = 7 (S) · 1 + 3 = 4 (F) · 3 + 3 = 6 (H) · 1 + 2 = 3 (R) · 8 + 6 = 14 (N) · 3 + 6 = 9 (D) · 7 + 10 = 17 (O) · 4 + 6 = 10 (L) · 3 + 5 = 8 (V) · 7 + 5 = 12 (I) · 7 + 4 = 11 (A)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN HAD ENGINE OIL VAPOUR COUGHS"20 - 4 = 16 (T) · 17 - 5 = 12 (C) · 17 - 6 = 11 (L) · 20 - 1 = 19 (V) · 15 - 8 = 7 (D) · 18 - 1 = 17 (N) · 17 - 8 = 9 (U) · 8 - 4 = 4 (S) · 10 - 5 = 5 (H) · 12 - 6 = 6 (A) · 12 - 4 = 8 (I) · 17 - 2 = 15 (G) · 19 - 1 = 18 (O) · 12 - 2 = 10 (P) · 18 - 4 = 14 (R) · 18 - 5 = 13 (E)
- Clue 4 (Word problems): "LEATHER STRAP"The Quartermaster lined up 5 rows of 7 rivet hammers. How many rivet hammers in all? = 35 (L) · There were 43 brass gears. 5 were used up. How many brass gears are left? = 38 (S) · The Quartermaster found 22 brass gears yesterday and 2 more today. How many brass gears in all? = 24 (R) · The Quartermaster found 13 steam valves yesterday and 12 more today. How many steam valves in all? = 25 (H) · The Quartermaster found 7 brass gears yesterday and 12 more today. How many brass gears in all? = 19 (T) · The Quartermaster lined up 2 rows of 3 brass gears. How many brass gears in all? = 6 (A) · The Quartermaster found 26 coal shovels yesterday and 2 more today. How many coal shovels in all? = 28 (E)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 7) → Thaddeus Cloud8 + ___ = 13 = 5 · 2 + ___ = 5 = 3 · 7 + ___ = 16 = 9 · 9 + ___ = 21 = 12 · 7 + ___ = 18 = 11 · 2 + ___ = 3 = 1 · 9 + ___ = 17 = 8 · 9 + ___ = 13 = 4 · 10 + ___ = 16 = 6 · 3 + ___ = 5 = 2 · 10 + ___ = 20 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Word problems, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Cloud-Cruiser Caper — set in The floating city of Aethelgard
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects