🏴☠️ Pirates, MermaidsGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRoundingDivision
The Coral Crown Caper
The legendary sea-glass crown has been stolen from the Mermaid Queen's coral throne! A mysterious rogue has slipped away into the reef. We must gather evidence and narrow down the suspects before they escape the Lagoon of Whispers forever.
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 Skill | Special Gear | Observed Habit | Sea Hair Color | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marina | Cannon Firing | Spyglass Map | Left handed | Coral Pink | Shiny Mirrors |
| Nautilus | Cannon Firing | Steel Cutlass | Left handed | Barnacle Gray | Shiny Mirrors |
| Redbeard | Ship Steering | Spyglass Map | Left handed | Barnacle Gray | Bright Sunlight |
| Drake | Cannon Firing | Steel Cutlass | Left handed | Seaweed Green | Shiny Mirrors |
| Nerida | Cannon Firing | Spyglass Map | Right handed | Seaweed Green | Shiny Mirrors |
| Wave | Cannon Firing | Spyglass Map | Left handed | Barnacle Gray | Shiny Mirrors |
| Adella | Ship Steering | Steel Cutlass | Right handed | Barnacle Gray | Bright Sunlight |
| Gulliver | Sword Fighting | Shell Harp | Left handed | Seaweed Green | Shiny Mirrors |
| Barnaby | Cannon Firing | Golden Compass | Left handed | Seaweed Green | Shiny Mirrors |
| Pearl | Ship Steering | Spyglass Map | Left handed | Seaweed Green | Shiny Mirrors |
| Calypso | Cannon Firing | Pearl Trident | Right handed | Seaweed Green | Loud Singing |
| Pegleg Pete | Coral Magic | Golden Compass | Left handed | Coral Pink | Bright Sunlight |
| Kelp | Sword Fighting | Golden Compass | Right handed | Coral Pink | Bright Sunlight |
| Sirena | Ship Steering | Shell Harp | Left handed | Coral Pink | Bright Sunlight |
| Morgan | Swift Swimming | Spyglass Map | Left handed | Coral Pink | Loud Singing |
| Triton | Coral Magic | Pearl Trident | Right handed | Barnacle Gray | Bright Sunlight |
| Blackbeard | Coral Magic | Pearl Trident | Left handed | Seaweed Green | Shiny Mirrors |
| Mary Read | Coral Magic | Steel Cutlass | Right handed | Barnacle Gray | Bright Sunlight |
| Shelly | Sword Fighting | Golden Compass | Left handed | Seaweed Green | Bright Sunlight |
| Salty Sue | Ship Steering | Spyglass Map | Left handed | Coral Pink | Bright Sunlight |
| Coralia | Coral Magic | Golden Compass | Right handed | Seaweed Green | Shiny Mirrors |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The Quartermaster needs to count the gunpowder barrels stacked in equal rows in the cargo hold. Find the total amount 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
16
77
22
T
16
77
33
22
27
84
121
22
81
6
121
T
16
35
48
18
18
42
48
81
77
22
25
25
77
48
18
32
8 × 2 =T
11 × 11 =O
7 × 11 =H
7 × 5 =C
11 × 3 =I
9 × 3 =F
11 × 2 =E
4 × 8 =P
7 × 6 =Y
12 × 4 =A
5 × 5 =L
9 × 9 =S
12 × 7 =D
6 × 1 =N
6 × 3 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
A mermaid pod shares a basket of glowing pearls. We must calculate the exact fraction they took to reveal the suspect's trail.
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
35
2
13
19
33
7
23
14
27
13
5
30
10
T
35
13
14
23
19
14
7
15
T
35
T
35
13
30
27
13
29
T
35
2
23
30
5
13
5
2/10 of 175 =T
5/10 of 46 =A
9/10 of 30 =L
1/4 of 20 =D
1/5 of 150 =N
3/6 of 66 =C
4/8 of 4 =H
5/10 of 26 =E
2/3 of 21 =W
2/4 of 30 =I
2/8 of 40 =O
1/6 of 174 =F
2/6 of 57 =S
1/10 of 70 =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
An old pirate chest has a combination lock. We have to solve the steps in the exact order of operations to 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
29
16
77
9
27
77
76
32
13
77
78
6
34
33
77
11
47
13
6
75
9
16
34
27
7
75
34
13
13
6
13
9
17 + 4 × 3 =T
1 + 2 × 3 =Y
8 × 3 - 8 =H
39 + 2 × 4 =F
12 × 7 - 9 =M
8 × 5 - 13 =N
2 + 3 × 3 =D
3 + 6 × 5 =L
2 × 10 - 7 =R
12 × 7 - 7 =E
12 × 7 - 8 =A
8 × 8 - 30 =I
10 × 8 - 2 =C
3 × 7 - 12 =S
4 × 9 - 4 =K
2 + 2 × 2 =O
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The ship's navigator can only read the blurry numbers on this ancient map by rounding them to the nearest ten.
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
900
30
300
1700
70
3000
170
130
9000
3700
1300
3000
170
130
1700
300
130
30
1300
W
900
30
30
170
90
3700
30
30
3000
200
1300
370
3700
Round 890 to the nearest hundredW
Round 74 to the nearest tenU
Round 187 to the nearest hundredH
Round 3,494 to the nearest thousandN
Round 1,748 to the nearest hundredO
Round 3,677 to the nearest hundredR
Round 173 to the nearest tenD
Round 371 to the nearest tenI
Round 130 to the nearest tenS
Round 89 to the nearest tenG
Round 317 to the nearest hundredF
Round 1,295 to the nearest hundredA
Round 28 to the nearest tenE
Round 9,392 to the nearest thousandT
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The crew must divide their salvaged gold coins equally among the sailors. The leftover remainder holds the final secret.
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
14 ÷ 7 = ?
144 ÷ 12 = ?
20 ÷ 5 = ?
27 ÷ 9 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
60 ÷ 6 = ?
20 ÷ 4 = ?
60 ÷ 10 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fires a cannon to create a distraction, then points a pearl trident at the guards.
2.The villain uses coral magic to block the path, then points a pearl trident at the guards.
3.The villain swims swiftly through the coral maze, then points a pearl trident at the guards.
4.The villain fires a cannon to create a distraction, then checks a golden compass to navigate.
5.The villain uses coral magic to block the path, then plays a shell harp to soothe the reef.
6.The villain swings a rusty sword to clear a way, then checks a golden compass to navigate.
7.The villain steers the heavy pirate ship away, then plays a shell harp to soothe the reef.
8.The villain steers the heavy pirate ship away, then checks a golden compass to navigate.
9.The villain fires a cannon to create a distraction, then looks through a spyglass map for a route.
10.The villain swims swiftly through the coral maze, then brandishes a steel cutlass at the crew.
11.The villain fires a cannon to create a distraction, then brandishes a steel cutlass at the crew.
12.The villain steers the heavy pirate ship away, then looks through a spyglass map for a route.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Coral Crown Caper
Culprit: Drake (Cannon Firing · Steel Cutlass · Left handed · Seaweed Green · Shiny Mirrors)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF DOES NOT CARRY A SHELL HARP"8 × 2 = 16 (T) · 11 × 11 = 121 (O) · 7 × 11 = 77 (H) · 7 × 5 = 35 (C) · 11 × 3 = 33 (I) · 9 × 3 = 27 (F) · 11 × 2 = 22 (E) · 4 × 8 = 32 (P) · 7 × 6 = 42 (Y) · 12 × 4 = 48 (A) · 5 × 5 = 25 (L) · 9 × 9 = 81 (S) · 12 × 7 = 84 (D) · 6 × 1 = 6 (N) · 6 × 3 = 18 (R)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE SCRAWLED NOTE WAS WRITTEN LEFT HANDED"2/10 of 175 = 35 (T) · 5/10 of 46 = 23 (A) · 9/10 of 30 = 27 (L) · 1/4 of 20 = 5 (D) · 1/5 of 150 = 30 (N) · 3/6 of 66 = 33 (C) · 4/8 of 4 = 2 (H) · 5/10 of 26 = 13 (E) · 2/3 of 21 = 14 (W) · 2/4 of 30 = 15 (I) · 2/8 of 40 = 10 (O) · 1/6 of 174 = 29 (F) · 2/6 of 57 = 19 (S) · 1/10 of 70 = 7 (R)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE SNEAK RECOILED FROM SHINY MIRRORS"17 + 4 × 3 = 29 (T) · 1 + 2 × 3 = 7 (Y) · 8 × 3 - 8 = 16 (H) · 39 + 2 × 4 = 47 (F) · 12 × 7 - 9 = 75 (M) · 8 × 5 - 13 = 27 (N) · 2 + 3 × 3 = 11 (D) · 3 + 6 × 5 = 33 (L) · 2 × 10 - 7 = 13 (R) · 12 × 7 - 7 = 77 (E) · 12 × 7 - 8 = 76 (A) · 8 × 8 - 30 = 34 (I) · 10 × 8 - 2 = 78 (C) · 3 × 7 - 12 = 9 (S) · 4 × 9 - 4 = 32 (K) · 2 + 2 × 2 = 6 (O)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF SEAWEED GREEN HAIR"Round 890 to the nearest hundred = 900 (W) · Round 74 to the nearest ten = 70 (U) · Round 187 to the nearest hundred = 200 (H) · Round 3,494 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (N) · Round 1,748 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (O) · Round 3,677 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (R) · Round 173 to the nearest ten = 170 (D) · Round 371 to the nearest ten = 370 (I) · Round 130 to the nearest ten = 130 (S) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (G) · Round 317 to the nearest hundred = 300 (F) · Round 1,295 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (A) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (E) · Round 9,392 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (T)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Drake14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 144 ÷ 12 = 12 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 20 ÷ 4 = 5 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Coral Crown Caper — set in The Lagoon of Whispers
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects