Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionRoundingSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Golden Compass Caper
Someone has snuck onto the flagship Windrunner and taken the Golden Compass! The Sky Dockmaster needs your help to track down the Rogue Captain before they sail into the Storm Barrier.
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 Tool | Sky Charm | Writing Hand | Hair Streak | Silly Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rex Rescue | Glider Wings | Glow Lantern | Left Handed | Red Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| Sailor Sam | Grapple Hook | Glow Lantern | Left Handed | Blue Streak | Shiny Badges |
| Gale Go | Steam Jetpack | Cloud Mist | Left Handed | Red Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| Bella Balloon | Bungee Rope | Wind Whistle | Right Handed | Red Streak | Tickly Feathers |
| Lulu Loop | Steam Jetpack | Glow Lantern | Right Handed | Gold Streak | Tickly Feathers |
| Penny Pilot | Grapple Hook | Spark Sparkler | Left Handed | Gold Streak | Shiny Badges |
| Max Altitude | Glider Wings | Cloud Mist | Right Handed | Blue Streak | Tickly Feathers |
| Gus Glider | Bungee Rope | Cloud Mist | Left Handed | Red Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| Navigator Nora | Bungee Rope | Spark Sparkler | Right Handed | Blue Streak | Tickly Feathers |
| Buster Bolt | Glider Wings | Glow Lantern | Left Handed | Gold Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| Wendy Wind | Climbing Boots | Wind Whistle | Left Handed | Red Streak | Shiny Badges |
| Piper Prop | Steam Jetpack | Glow Lantern | Right Handed | Gold Streak | Shiny Badges |
| Cleo Compass | Climbing Boots | Wind Whistle | Right Handed | Red Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| Cody Cloud | Bungee Rope | Wind Whistle | Left Handed | Red Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| First Mate Pip | Glider Wings | Shadow Cloak | Left Handed | Red Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| Skyler Swift | Steam Jetpack | Wind Whistle | Right Handed | Gold Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| Captain Barnaby | Glider Wings | Spark Sparkler | Left Handed | Gold Streak | Shiny Badges |
| Toby Turbo | Climbing Boots | Wind Whistle | Right Handed | Blue Streak | Squeaky Boots |
| Sally Star | Grapple Hook | Shadow Cloak | Left Handed | Blue Streak | Tickly Feathers |
| Artie Aero | Glider Wings | Wind Whistle | Left Handed | Blue Streak | Tickly Feathers |
| Dash Daring | Grapple Hook | Spark Sparkler | Right Handed | Gold Streak | Squeaky Boots |
Clue 1
Addition
To find the first clue, we need to count the total fuel tanks loaded onto the deck. Add up the barrels from the cargo hold.
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
328
673
285
T
328
673
275
285
274
713
966
285
680
639
966
T
328
571
680
285
T
328
673
285
680
673
524
713
966
313
766
840
966
524
507
129 + 199 =T
403 + 363 =C
167 + 108 =I
353 + 171 =A
390 + 450 =L
185 + 89 =F
411 + 262 =H
267 + 446 =D
111 + 202 =W
423 + 257 =S
231 + 276 =K
133 + 152 =E
226 + 413 =N
665 + 301 =O
342 + 229 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The ship's radar screen is fuzzy. We can only read the distance if we round the miles 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.
T
40
8000
900
500
800
500
700
900
30
T
40
70
20
9000
T
40
900
500
70
9000
T
40
8000
T
40
8000
900
9000
20
5000
900
3000
T
40
8000
400
60
4000
Round 42 to the nearest tenT
Round 7,825 to the nearest thousandH
Round 810 to the nearest hundredU
Round 72 to the nearest tenW
Round 4,230 to the nearest thousandD
Round 852 to the nearest hundredE
Round 8,505 to the nearest thousandI
Round 399 to the nearest hundredA
Round 4,539 to the nearest thousandL
Round 29 to the nearest tenC
Round 684 to the nearest hundredP
Round 2,885 to the nearest thousandF
Round 506 to the nearest hundredS
Round 58 to the nearest tenN
Round 20 to the nearest tenR
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Our ship is too heavy to chase the thief! We must subtract some weight by dropping extra sandbags over the side.
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
735
756
176
749
484
419
419
654
484
267
839
756
328
484
267
283
839
565
654
214
283
603
328
557
738
839
299
512
176
654
283
364
565
557
557
T
735
839
889 - 154 =T
818 - 399 =L
696 - 212 =I
493 - 194 =Q
766 - 17 =V
345 - 78 =N
775 - 172 =F
1219 - 380 =S
406 - 230 =E
797 - 232 =B
594 - 266 =R
453 - 239 =C
567 - 55 =U
663 - 380 =K
563 - 6 =O
1008 - 354 =A
846 - 108 =M
539 - 175 =Y
986 - 230 =H
0/19 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The gear room is organized in neat rows. Multiply the rows of supply crates to find how many we have left.
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
110
56
99
3
54
T
110
15
6
11
99
15
56
55
11
55
15
99
11
48
T
110
15
99
55
81
3
54
T
110
56
99
3
15
56
55
3
15
10 × 11 =T
5 × 3 =R
5 × 11 =A
8 × 7 =H
2 × 3 =U
9 × 11 =E
11 × 1 =D
1 × 3 =I
6 × 8 =S
9 × 9 =K
9 × 6 =N
0/11 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to share our map pieces equally among the search teams. Divide the total maps to get everyone started.
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
63 ÷ 9 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
100 ÷ 10 = ?
132 ÷ 12 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scaled the steep stone castle wall using climbing boots, then vanished from sight using a dark shadow cloak.
2.The villain soared silently through the clouds on glider wings, then lit up the hidden escape tunnel with a glow lantern.
3.The villain bounced safely over the spiked fence with a bungee rope, then vanished from sight using a dark shadow cloak.
4.The villain swung across the high wooden docks using a grapple hook, then vanished from sight using a dark shadow cloak.
5.The villain bounced safely over the spiked fence with a bungee rope, then escaped into the night inside a thick cloud mist.
6.The villain scaled the steep stone castle wall using climbing boots, then lit up the hidden escape tunnel with a glow lantern.
7.The villain bounced safely over the spiked fence with a bungee rope, then blew a loud wind whistle to scare away the guard birds.
8.The villain soared silently through the clouds on glider wings, then blinded the cameras with a bright spark sparkler.
9.The villain soared silently through the clouds on glider wings, then blew a loud wind whistle to scare away the guard birds.
10.The villain zoomed past the watchtower with a steam jetpack, then vanished from sight using a dark shadow cloak.
11.The villain scaled the steep stone castle wall using climbing boots, then blinded the cameras with a bright spark sparkler.
12.The villain zoomed past the watchtower with a steam jetpack, then escaped into the night inside a thick cloud mist.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Compass Caper
Culprit: Gus Glider (Bungee Rope · Cloud Mist · Left Handed · Red Streak · Squeaky Boots)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE THE SHADOW CLOAK"129 + 199 = 328 (T) · 403 + 363 = 766 (C) · 167 + 108 = 275 (I) · 353 + 171 = 524 (A) · 390 + 450 = 840 (L) · 185 + 89 = 274 (F) · 411 + 262 = 673 (H) · 267 + 446 = 713 (D) · 111 + 202 = 313 (W) · 423 + 257 = 680 (S) · 231 + 276 = 507 (K) · 133 + 152 = 285 (E) · 226 + 413 = 639 (N) · 665 + 301 = 966 (O) · 342 + 229 = 571 (U)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT WRITES WITH THEIR LEFT HAND"Round 42 to the nearest ten = 40 (T) · Round 7,825 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (H) · Round 810 to the nearest hundred = 800 (U) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (W) · Round 4,230 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (D) · Round 852 to the nearest hundred = 900 (E) · Round 8,505 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (I) · Round 399 to the nearest hundred = 400 (A) · Round 4,539 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (L) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (C) · Round 684 to the nearest hundred = 700 (P) · Round 2,885 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (F) · Round 506 to the nearest hundred = 500 (S) · Round 58 to the nearest ten = 60 (N) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (R)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN SHRINKS BACK FROM SQUEAKY BOOTS"889 - 154 = 735 (T) · 818 - 399 = 419 (L) · 696 - 212 = 484 (I) · 493 - 194 = 299 (Q) · 766 - 17 = 749 (V) · 345 - 78 = 267 (N) · 775 - 172 = 603 (F) · 1219 - 380 = 839 (S) · 406 - 230 = 176 (E) · 797 - 232 = 565 (B) · 594 - 266 = 328 (R) · 453 - 239 = 214 (C) · 567 - 55 = 512 (U) · 663 - 380 = 283 (K) · 563 - 6 = 557 (O) · 1008 - 354 = 654 (A) · 846 - 108 = 738 (M) · 539 - 175 = 364 (Y) · 986 - 230 = 756 (H)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE INTRUDER HAD A RED STREAK IN THEIR HAIR"10 × 11 = 110 (T) · 5 × 3 = 15 (R) · 5 × 11 = 55 (A) · 8 × 7 = 56 (H) · 2 × 3 = 6 (U) · 9 × 11 = 99 (E) · 11 × 1 = 11 (D) · 1 × 3 = 3 (I) · 6 × 8 = 48 (S) · 9 × 9 = 81 (K) · 9 × 6 = 54 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Gus Glider63 ÷ 9 = 7 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Rounding, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Compass Caper — set in The Floating Docks of Zephyr Bay
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects