🏴☠️ PiratesGrade 2Reading: grades 3-4SubtractionAdditionPlace valueRoundingMissing addends
The Golden Spyglass Mystery
Someone has stolen the Golden Spyglass from the harbor master of the Sunny Shallows! A mysterious pirate ship was seen sailing away into the fog. We must gather clues, solve the math, and find the rogue pirate who took it!
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 | Sailing Style | Pirate Gear | Boot Color | Hair Style | Secret Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salty Sam | sails a swift sloop | tames a wild parrot | wears black boots | wild orange hair | sneezes at sea salt |
| Henry Morgan | rides a giant crab | tames a wild parrot | wears brown boots | wild orange hair | hates cold water |
| Long John Silver | swings on a thick rope | wields a shiny hook | wears black boots | braided black beard | hates cold water |
| Scurvy Steve | swings on a thick rope | wields a shiny hook | wears brown boots | braided black beard | fears loud parrots |
| Captain Barnaby | rides a giant crab | has a wooden pegleg | wears black boots | curly gray hair | sneezes at sea salt |
| Calico Jack | uses a grappling hook | wears a tricorn hat | wears black boots | wild orange hair | sneezes at sea salt |
| Cutlass Cody | sails a swift sloop | wears a tricorn hat | wears brown boots | wild orange hair | hates cold water |
| Marina Wave | swings on a thick rope | tames a wild parrot | wears brown boots | curly gray hair | fears loud parrots |
| Mary Read | rides a giant crab | wears a tricorn hat | wears black boots | braided black beard | hates cold water |
| Captain Redbeard | swings on a thick rope | has a wooden pegleg | wears brown boots | wild orange hair | sneezes at sea salt |
| Captain Flint | sails a swift sloop | wears a tricorn hat | wears brown boots | braided black beard | hates cold water |
| Sir Francis Drake | swings on a thick rope | has a wooden pegleg | wears black boots | curly gray hair | hates cold water |
| Captain Kidd | uses a grappling hook | has a wooden pegleg | wears black boots | braided black beard | hates cold water |
| Grace OMalley | swings on a thick rope | has a wooden pegleg | wears black boots | braided black beard | fears loud parrots |
| Blackbeard Edward | rowboats silently | wears a tricorn hat | wears black boots | braided black beard | sneezes at sea salt |
| Black Bart | uses a grappling hook | carries a brass compass | wears black boots | braided black beard | hates cold water |
| Barnacle Bill | rides a giant crab | tames a wild parrot | wears black boots | wild orange hair | hates cold water |
| Captain Hook | swings on a thick rope | wields a shiny hook | wears brown boots | curly gray hair | fears loud parrots |
| Captain Rusty | sails a swift sloop | tames a wild parrot | wears black boots | braided black beard | hates cold water |
| Pegleg Pete | swings on a thick rope | wields a shiny hook | wears black boots | curly gray hair | hates cold water |
| Scurvy Sally | rowboats silently | wears a tricorn hat | wears brown boots | curly gray hair | hates cold water |
Clue 1
Subtraction
The suspect paid for lunch with a heavy sack of gold. We can subtract the spent coins to see how much loot is 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
21
66
36
T
21
66
78
36
50
63
48
36
47
67
48
T
21
88
78
36
15
63
28
47
66
78
67
38
66
48
48
51
58 - 37 =T
50 - 3 =S
101 - 38 =D
53 - 17 =E
78 - 11 =N
20 - 5 =L
89 - 11 =I
54 - 6 =O
86 - 35 =K
40 - 2 =Y
90 - 40 =F
105 - 39 =H
34 - 6 =A
100 - 12 =W
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The ship master counted the crates of hardtack biscuit on the deck. Add these two piles together to find the grand total!
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
95
49
81
77
85
21
59
42
87
96
55
25
42
77
77
71
91
72
22
21
71
41
22
21
71
70
49
41
96
21
59
66 + 29 =W
16 + 25 =S
60 + 27 =L
23 + 26 =E
34 + 43 =O
33 + 52 =U
45 + 25 =H
8 + 13 =N
48 + 33 =F
34 + 37 =T
35 + 37 =R
30 + 61 =P
38 + 17 =C
18 + 41 =D
18 + 7 =K
29 + 13 =B
38 + 58 =A
8 + 14 =I
0/18 letters found
Clue 3
Place value
An old pirate map shows the hideout. Look at the tens and ones in this number to find the correct beach coordinate!
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
68
58
80
T
68
58
37
80
63
15
69
74
80
32
19
80
84
25
58
80
61
69
40
24
84
25
32
T
68
80
74
15
89
24
32
15
58
80
84
What number has 6 tens and 8 ones?T
What number has 8 tens and 9 ones?P
What number has 1 ten and 9 ones?M
What number has 5 tens and 8 ones?H
What number has 6 tens and 3 ones?F
What number has 8 tens and 4 ones?D
What number has 6 tens and 9 ones?C
What number has 3 tens and 2 ones?A
What number has 3 tens and 7 ones?I
What number has 7 tens and 4 ones?R
What number has 4 tens and 0 ones?O
What number has 1 ten and 5 ones?S
What number has 8 tens and 0 ones?E
What number has 6 tens and 1 one?N
What number has 2 tens and 5 ones?W
What number has 2 tens and 4 ones?L
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
We spotted a flock of seagulls through a foggy spyglass. Round the bird count to the nearest ten to clear up the image!
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
30
600
40
60
400
80
500
700
300
60
80
90
70
300
700
20
200
70
600
700
900
500
800
700
50
900
Round 32 to the nearest tenW
Round 93 to the nearest tenG
Round 23 to the nearest tenC
Round 174 to the nearest hundredK
Round 71 to the nearest tenB
Round 786 to the nearest hundredH
Round 441 to the nearest hundredU
Round 76 to the nearest tenN
Round 562 to the nearest hundredE
Round 47 to the nearest tenI
Round 64 to the nearest tenO
Round 900 to the nearest hundredR
Round 674 to the nearest hundredA
Round 276 to the nearest hundredL
Round 38 to the nearest tenF
Round 470 to the nearest hundredD
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
A treasure chest needs a certain number of magic keys to open, but some are missing. Find the missing number to unlock it!
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
7 + ___ = 19
10 + ___ = 15
5 + ___ = 8
1 + ___ = 2
9 + ___ = 11
7 + ___ = 14
8 + ___ = 18
4 + ___ = 10
8 + ___ = 16
2 + ___ = 11
4 + ___ = 15
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swings on a thick rope from the mast, then tips a fancy tricorn hat to the crowd.
2.The villain rides a giant crab up the beach, then checks a brass compass to find the path.
3.The villain uses a rusty grappling hook to climb, then checks a brass compass to find the path.
4.The villain uses a rusty grappling hook to climb, then thumps along with a wooden pegleg.
5.The villain sails a swift sloop into the harbor, then tames a wild parrot to distract the guard.
6.The villain swings on a thick rope from the mast, then wields a shiny hook to snag the treasure.
7.The villain rowboats silently through the mist, then tips a fancy tricorn hat to the crowd.
8.The villain rides a giant crab up the beach, then thumps along with a wooden pegleg.
9.The villain sails a swift sloop into the harbor, then checks a brass compass to find the path.
10.The villain swings on a thick rope from the mast, then tames a wild parrot to distract the guard.
11.The villain rides a giant crab up the beach, then wields a shiny hook to snag the treasure.
12.The villain rides a giant crab up the beach, then tips a fancy tricorn hat to the crowd.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Spyglass Mystery
Culprit: Captain Kidd (uses a grappling hook · has a wooden pegleg · wears black boots · braided black beard · hates cold water)
- Clue 1 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WIELD A SHINY HOOK"58 - 37 = 21 (T) · 50 - 3 = 47 (S) · 101 - 38 = 63 (D) · 53 - 17 = 36 (E) · 78 - 11 = 67 (N) · 20 - 5 = 15 (L) · 89 - 11 = 78 (I) · 54 - 6 = 48 (O) · 86 - 35 = 51 (K) · 40 - 2 = 38 (Y) · 90 - 40 = 50 (F) · 105 - 39 = 66 (H) · 34 - 6 = 28 (A) · 100 - 12 = 88 (W)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "WE FOUND BLACK BOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND"66 + 29 = 95 (W) · 16 + 25 = 41 (S) · 60 + 27 = 87 (L) · 23 + 26 = 49 (E) · 34 + 43 = 77 (O) · 33 + 52 = 85 (U) · 45 + 25 = 70 (H) · 8 + 13 = 21 (N) · 48 + 33 = 81 (F) · 34 + 37 = 71 (T) · 35 + 37 = 72 (R) · 30 + 61 = 91 (P) · 38 + 17 = 55 (C) · 18 + 41 = 59 (D) · 18 + 7 = 25 (K) · 29 + 13 = 42 (B) · 38 + 58 = 96 (A) · 8 + 14 = 22 (I)
- Clue 3 (Place value): "THE THIEF SCREAMED WHEN COLD WATER SPLASHED"What number has 6 tens and 8 ones? = 68 (T) · What number has 8 tens and 9 ones? = 89 (P) · What number has 1 ten and 9 ones? = 19 (M) · What number has 5 tens and 8 ones? = 58 (H) · What number has 6 tens and 3 ones? = 63 (F) · What number has 8 tens and 4 ones? = 84 (D) · What number has 6 tens and 9 ones? = 69 (C) · What number has 3 tens and 2 ones? = 32 (A) · What number has 3 tens and 7 ones? = 37 (I) · What number has 7 tens and 4 ones? = 74 (R) · What number has 4 tens and 0 ones? = 40 (O) · What number has 1 ten and 5 ones? = 15 (S) · What number has 8 tens and 0 ones? = 80 (E) · What number has 6 tens and 1 one? = 61 (N) · What number has 2 tens and 5 ones? = 25 (W) · What number has 2 tens and 4 ones? = 24 (L)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND A LONG BLACK BEARD HAIR"Round 32 to the nearest ten = 30 (W) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (G) · Round 23 to the nearest ten = 20 (C) · Round 174 to the nearest hundred = 200 (K) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (B) · Round 786 to the nearest hundred = 800 (H) · Round 441 to the nearest hundred = 400 (U) · Round 76 to the nearest ten = 80 (N) · Round 562 to the nearest hundred = 600 (E) · Round 47 to the nearest ten = 50 (I) · Round 64 to the nearest ten = 60 (O) · Round 900 to the nearest hundred = 900 (R) · Round 674 to the nearest hundred = 700 (A) · Round 276 to the nearest hundred = 300 (L) · Round 38 to the nearest ten = 40 (F) · Round 470 to the nearest hundred = 500 (D)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 4) → Captain Kidd7 + ___ = 19 = 12 · 10 + ___ = 15 = 5 · 5 + ___ = 8 = 3 · 1 + ___ = 2 = 1 · 9 + ___ = 11 = 2 · 7 + ___ = 14 = 7 · 8 + ___ = 18 = 10 · 4 + ___ = 10 = 6 · 8 + ___ = 16 = 8 · 2 + ___ = 11 = 9 · 4 + ___ = 15 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 2 math
- Math topics
- Subtraction, Addition, Place value, Rounding, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Spyglass Mystery — set in The Sunny Shallows
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects