🚀 Space, PiratesGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Cosmic Map Caper
Ahoy, Space Rangers! The legendary cosmic treasure map has been swiped from the Chief Star-Cartographer's high-tech locker! A Rogue Captain did it. We must track down which space pirate took it before they jump to hyperspace!
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 Weapon | Target Tracker | Ship Controls | Spacesuit Visor | Loot Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halley Hooks | Gravity Net | Wormhole Radar | Right-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Scared of space squids |
| Salty Saturn | Plasma Cannon | Starlight Scope | Left-handed joystick | Gold foil tint | Distracted by shiny meteors |
| Captain Celeste | Solar Beam | Asteroid Sensor | Left-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Slowed by heavy cosmic gold |
| Rusty Rocket | Laser Harpoon | Asteroid Sensor | Left-handed joystick | Gold foil tint | Scared of space squids |
| Comet Kidd | Solar Beam | Asteroid Sensor | Right-handed joystick | Gold foil tint | Scared of space squids |
| Astro Anne | EMP Blaster | Comet Tracker | Right-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Scared of space squids |
| Zelda Zenith | Plasma Cannon | Wormhole Radar | Left-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Scared of space squids |
| Orion Blackbeard | Laser Harpoon | Wormhole Radar | Right-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Distracted by shiny meteors |
| Captain Void | Gravity Net | Comet Tracker | Right-handed joystick | Gold foil tint | Distracted by shiny meteors |
| Captain Cosmo | Laser Harpoon | Wormhole Radar | Right-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Slowed by heavy cosmic gold |
| Marina Mars | EMP Blaster | Wormhole Radar | Right-handed joystick | Gold foil tint | Slowed by heavy cosmic gold |
| Starboard Sally | Laser Harpoon | Starlight Scope | Left-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Scared of space squids |
| Vega Vance | Solar Beam | Nebula Scanner | Right-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Scared of space squids |
| Rigel Rogers | Plasma Cannon | Asteroid Sensor | Left-handed joystick | Gold foil tint | Scared of space squids |
| Nebula Ned | Laser Harpoon | Wormhole Radar | Left-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Scared of space squids |
| Pegleg Pluto | Plasma Cannon | Starlight Scope | Right-handed joystick | Gold foil tint | Slowed by heavy cosmic gold |
| Patchy Proton | Gravity Net | Asteroid Sensor | Left-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Distracted by shiny meteors |
| Cosmos Hook | EMP Blaster | Wormhole Radar | Right-handed joystick | Deep blue tint | Scared of space squids |
| Laser Lucy | Gravity Net | Comet Tracker | Left-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Scared of space squids |
| Stella Swift | Laser Harpoon | Nebula Scanner | Left-handed joystick | Neon green tint | Scared of space squids |
| Drake Kepler | Solar Beam | Asteroid Sensor | Left-handed joystick | Deep blue tint | Slowed by heavy cosmic gold |
Clue 1
Place value
To unlock the locked captain log, we need to read the screen. Finding the place value of the digits in the engine warp code will help us break the digital seal.
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
50
70
4000
90
20
400
400
600
20
6000
9000
300
4000
100
6000
300
T
50
30
100
4000
100
T
50
600
5000
400
20
40
70
T
50
100
500
300
3000
4000
What is the value of the 5 in 3,850?T
What is the value of the 6 in 4,603?A
What is the value of the 4 in 3,452?L
What is the value of the 3 in 53,428?P
What is the value of the 3 in 386?O
What is the value of the 5 in 591?C
What is the value of the 3 in 739?U
What is the value of the 5 in 35,171?R
What is the value of the 4 in 148?G
What is the value of the 6 in 76,593?N
What is the value of the 1 in 157?S
What is the value of the 9 in 5,593?V
What is the value of the 9 in 89,207?D
What is the value of the 7 in 574?H
What is the value of the 4 in 74,758?E
What is the value of the 2 in 9,120?I
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
Our long-range radar is a bit fuzzy after the blast. It rounds all spaceship distances to the nearest ten space miles, but we can still estimate which way they went.
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
20
9000
1300
130
110
90
2000
T
20
1300
4300
7000
1300
3000
2000
1700
1300
1100
T
20
9000
2000
30
3000
1300
3000
430
370
5000
7000
T
20
110
500
2300
Round 21 to the nearest tenT
Round 5,107 to the nearest thousandY
Round 434 to the nearest tenJ
Round 2,460 to the nearest thousandA
Round 6,926 to the nearest thousandS
Round 1,057 to the nearest hundredF
Round 114 to the nearest tenI
Round 134 to the nearest tenP
Round 8,558 to the nearest thousandH
Round 1,718 to the nearest hundredL
Round 526 to the nearest hundredC
Round 89 to the nearest tenR
Round 1,324 to the nearest hundredE
Round 2,603 to the nearest thousandD
Round 2,268 to the nearest hundredK
Round 374 to the nearest tenO
Round 26 to the nearest tenN
Round 4,285 to the nearest hundredU
0/18 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
Let us count the laser power cells left on the loading dock. Adding up the crate totals in each storage bay will tell us exactly how much gear was stolen.
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
8249
4572
3675
9136
9747
4143
4143
5407
9747
5826
3836
5407
5826
5407
9108
5407
7883
7889
3836
6029
4905
5407
6061
6692
5407
9463
3675
6061
8558
6695
9747
4566
5418 + 2831 =T
3623 + 4935 =Q
3297 + 2764 =S
3013 + 1559 =H
2744 + 2663 =A
4884 + 2999 =Y
5077 + 4059 =V
2450 + 1386 =R
1378 + 2765 =L
1435 + 3131 =D
2581 + 3448 =O
1382 + 2293 =E
4360 + 5103 =C
3121 + 1784 =M
3633 + 5475 =W
4160 + 2532 =P
3344 + 4545 =F
2879 + 2947 =N
3961 + 5786 =I
2943 + 3752 =U
0/20 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The pirate ship is too heavy to catch up quickly. We must subtract the weight of the water barrels from our cargo to speed up our ship rocket boosters.
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
4398
2075
2580
7106
6849
7106
2781
3596
5012
T
4398
2075
3123
1269
7554
5995
6849
2392
5012
6644
7554
7554
5805
2580
2580
6644
5805
2580
2257
5995
2580
7106
T
4398
5012
6849
6644
2597
6698 - 2300 =T
8031 - 4435 =P
7730 - 881 =O
9127 - 2483 =N
7176 - 4579 =S
5183 - 2791 =W
3726 - 1146 =E
3374 - 593 =K
3983 - 1726 =F
8539 - 3527 =I
9793 - 2239 =G
1775 - 506 =D
10462 - 4467 =L
9176 - 2070 =C
7655 - 1850 =R
6523 - 4448 =H
7547 - 4424 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The young space cadets need to share the remaining glow-berries equally. Dividing them up will keep everyone happy and alert during our search.
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
66 ÷ 6 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
24 ÷ 3 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
14 ÷ 2 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain fired a plasma cannon, then turned on the comet tracker.
2.The villain threw a gravity net, then scanned the asteroid sensor.
3.The villain fired a plasma cannon, then checked the wormhole radar.
4.The villain shot an emp blaster, then booted up the nebula scanner.
5.The villain threw a gravity net, then checked the wormhole radar.
6.The villain beamed a solar beam, then peered through the starlight scope.
7.The villain shot an emp blaster, then peered through the starlight scope.
8.The villain launched a laser harpoon, then checked the wormhole radar.
9.The villain launched a laser harpoon, then booted up the nebula scanner.
10.The villain fired a plasma cannon, then peered through the starlight scope.
11.The villain threw a gravity net, then turned on the comet tracker.
12.The villain shot an emp blaster, then scanned the asteroid sensor.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Cosmic Map Caper
Culprit: Zelda Zenith (Plasma Cannon · Wormhole Radar · Left-handed joystick · Neon green tint · Scared of space squids)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE STARLIGHT SCOPE"What is the value of the 5 in 3,850? = 50 (T) · What is the value of the 6 in 4,603? = 600 (A) · What is the value of the 4 in 3,452? = 400 (L) · What is the value of the 3 in 53,428? = 3000 (P) · What is the value of the 3 in 386? = 300 (O) · What is the value of the 5 in 591? = 500 (C) · What is the value of the 3 in 739? = 30 (U) · What is the value of the 5 in 35,171? = 5000 (R) · What is the value of the 4 in 148? = 40 (G) · What is the value of the 6 in 76,593? = 6000 (N) · What is the value of the 1 in 157? = 100 (S) · What is the value of the 9 in 5,593? = 90 (V) · What is the value of the 9 in 89,207? = 9000 (D) · What is the value of the 7 in 574? = 70 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 74,758? = 4000 (E) · What is the value of the 2 in 9,120? = 20 (I)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE PIRATE USED A LEFT HANDED JOYSTICK"Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (T) · Round 5,107 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (Y) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (J) · Round 2,460 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A) · Round 6,926 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (S) · Round 1,057 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (F) · Round 114 to the nearest ten = 110 (I) · Round 134 to the nearest ten = 130 (P) · Round 8,558 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (H) · Round 1,718 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (L) · Round 526 to the nearest hundred = 500 (C) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (R) · Round 1,324 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (E) · Round 2,603 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (D) · Round 2,268 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (K) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (O) · Round 26 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 4,285 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (U)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN RAN AWAY FROM A SPACE SQUID"5418 + 2831 = 8249 (T) · 3623 + 4935 = 8558 (Q) · 3297 + 2764 = 6061 (S) · 3013 + 1559 = 4572 (H) · 2744 + 2663 = 5407 (A) · 4884 + 2999 = 7883 (Y) · 5077 + 4059 = 9136 (V) · 2450 + 1386 = 3836 (R) · 1378 + 2765 = 4143 (L) · 1435 + 3131 = 4566 (D) · 2581 + 3448 = 6029 (O) · 1382 + 2293 = 3675 (E) · 4360 + 5103 = 9463 (C) · 3121 + 1784 = 4905 (M) · 3633 + 5475 = 9108 (W) · 4160 + 2532 = 6692 (P) · 3344 + 4545 = 7889 (F) · 2879 + 2947 = 5826 (N) · 3961 + 5786 = 9747 (I) · 2943 + 3752 = 6695 (U)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "THE COCKPIT HAD GLOWING GREEN REFLECTIONS"6698 - 2300 = 4398 (T) · 8031 - 4435 = 3596 (P) · 7730 - 881 = 6849 (O) · 9127 - 2483 = 6644 (N) · 7176 - 4579 = 2597 (S) · 5183 - 2791 = 2392 (W) · 3726 - 1146 = 2580 (E) · 3374 - 593 = 2781 (K) · 3983 - 1726 = 2257 (F) · 8539 - 3527 = 5012 (I) · 9793 - 2239 = 7554 (G) · 1775 - 506 = 1269 (D) · 10462 - 4467 = 5995 (L) · 9176 - 2070 = 7106 (C) · 7655 - 1850 = 5805 (R) · 6523 - 4448 = 2075 (H) · 7547 - 4424 = 3123 (A)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Zelda Zenith66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 24 ÷ 3 = 8 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Cosmic Map Caper — set in The Nebula Reef Outpost
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects