Grade 6Reading: grades 1-2AdditionPercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsDivision
The Great Balloon Chase
A sneaky bandit popped all the balloons in the Sky Workshop! Then they ran off with the Golden Teddy Bear. Detective, we must track them down before the sun sets.
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 | Sky Gear | Glove Tool | Goggle Color | Hair Style | Secret Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lily | rope lasso | sparkler wand | wears red goggles | orange hair | hates sour candy |
| Otis | cloud surfboard | slime launcher | wears red goggles | green hair | scared of frogs |
| Hugo | wind whistle | glow lantern | wears red goggles | orange hair | scared of frogs |
| Mia | rope lasso | magnet glove | wears red goggles | pink hair | tickled by feathers |
| Sam | cloud surfboard | net blaster | wears red goggles | orange hair | hates sour candy |
| Ben | cloud surfboard | slime launcher | wears red goggles | orange hair | tickled by feathers |
| Gus | rope lasso | net blaster | wears red goggles | orange hair | scared of frogs |
| Zack | rope lasso | slime launcher | wears blue goggles | green hair | hates sour candy |
| Toby | cloud surfboard | magnet glove | wears red goggles | orange hair | scared of frogs |
| Jack | cloud surfboard | sparkler wand | wears red goggles | orange hair | scared of frogs |
| Abby | wind whistle | net blaster | wears red goggles | green hair | scared of frogs |
| Cleo | bubble glider | magnet glove | wears blue goggles | pink hair | tickled by feathers |
| Leo | rope lasso | net blaster | wears red goggles | orange hair | tickled by feathers |
| Max | spring shoes | sparkler wand | wears blue goggles | orange hair | tickled by feathers |
| Luna | bubble glider | slime launcher | wears blue goggles | pink hair | scared of frogs |
| Lucy | rope lasso | slime launcher | wears blue goggles | green hair | tickled by feathers |
| Finn | spring shoes | sparkler wand | wears blue goggles | orange hair | scared of frogs |
| Ruby | wind whistle | sparkler wand | wears red goggles | green hair | tickled by feathers |
| Sari | cloud surfboard | glow lantern | wears red goggles | orange hair | scared of frogs |
| Zoe | bubble glider | magnet glove | wears blue goggles | green hair | hates sour candy |
| Nico | spring shoes | net blaster | wears red goggles | orange hair | scared of frogs |
Clue 1
Addition
We need to pack our bags for the sky hunt. Help me count how many rope ropes and maps we have in the closet.
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
5763
5681
3662
T
5763
5681
7350
3662
6475
3579
9603
3662
2852
9845
9603
T
5763
5681
3708
9288
3662
3708
8266
4928
9603
2844
4928
3708
9845
T
5763
3662
8354
9845
2614 + 3149 =T
3126 + 4224 =I
1834 + 1828 =E
5576 + 3712 =V
2371 + 2557 =L
3806 + 1875 =H
1262 + 1590 =S
1873 + 1706 =D
5885 + 3718 =O
2739 + 5615 =R
5761 + 2505 =G
1918 + 926 =W
2153 + 1555 =A
3352 + 3123 =F
4775 + 5070 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Percentages
The battery on our bubble detector is low. We must find the correct power charge to boot it back up.
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
8
16
33
45
13
45
3
33
19
T
8
2
33
39
32
45
32
33
7
36
38
36
36
41
33
45
5% of 160 =T
25% of 132 =E
25% of 152 =O
10% of 360 =G
50% of 78 =A
20% of 10 =W
25% of 180 =S
50% of 32 =H
25% of 52 =U
60% of 5 =P
25% of 76 =C
20% of 205 =L
25% of 28 =D
40% of 80 =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
The path is blocked by magic square tiles. If we step on the right numbers they will multiply and make a bridge.
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
8
256
196
81
400
196
25
16
16
100
121
64
196
144
400
81
81
64
400
343
16
2^3 =T
20^2 =O
7^3 =G
3^4 =F
5^2 =I
2^4 =S
2^6 =R
14^2 =E
10^2 =C
11^2 =A
16^2 =H
12^2 =D
0/12 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
We found a locked gate on the cloud. Solve this multi-step code to open the latch in the proper order.
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
14
53
75
56
27
49
49
32
27
62
53
32
69
33
21
32
62
31
75
53
32
27
21
6 × 6 - 22 =T
9 + 3 × 6 =I
39 + 4 × 9 =E
11 + 5 × 9 =V
6 × 12 - 3 =S
41 + 6 × 2 =H
3 × 12 - 15 =R
21 + 3 × 4 =O
6 × 8 - 16 =A
7 × 11 - 28 =L
7 × 9 - 1 =N
8 × 4 - 1 =G
0/12 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Let us share these sticky star candies equally among the scout team so we all have the same amount.
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
12 ÷ 3 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
90 ÷ 10 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swings with a rope lasso, then zaps with a sparkler wand.
2.The villain rides a cloud surfboard, then pulls metal with a magnet glove.
3.The villain swings with a rope lasso, then splats with a slime launcher.
4.The villain swings with a rope lasso, then shoots a net blaster.
5.The villain floats on a bubble glider, then pulls metal with a magnet glove.
6.The villain blows a wind whistle, then zaps with a sparkler wand.
7.The villain swings with a rope lasso, then shines a glow lantern.
8.The villain rides a cloud surfboard, then zaps with a sparkler wand.
9.The villain blows a wind whistle, then shines a glow lantern.
10.The villain swings with a rope lasso, then pulls metal with a magnet glove.
11.The villain floats on a bubble glider, then shoots a net blaster.
12.The villain jumps with spring shoes, then shoots a net blaster.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Balloon Chase
Culprit: Jack (cloud surfboard · sparkler wand · wears red goggles · orange hair · scared of frogs)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF DOES NOT HAVE A GLOW LANTERN"2614 + 3149 = 5763 (T) · 3126 + 4224 = 7350 (I) · 1834 + 1828 = 3662 (E) · 5576 + 3712 = 9288 (V) · 2371 + 2557 = 4928 (L) · 3806 + 1875 = 5681 (H) · 1262 + 1590 = 2852 (S) · 1873 + 1706 = 3579 (D) · 5885 + 3718 = 9603 (O) · 2739 + 5615 = 8354 (R) · 5761 + 2505 = 8266 (G) · 1918 + 926 = 2844 (W) · 2153 + 1555 = 3708 (A) · 3352 + 3123 = 6475 (F) · 4775 + 5070 = 9845 (N)
- Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT WEARS RED GOGGLES"5% of 160 = 8 (T) · 25% of 132 = 33 (E) · 25% of 152 = 38 (O) · 10% of 360 = 36 (G) · 50% of 78 = 39 (A) · 20% of 10 = 2 (W) · 25% of 180 = 45 (S) · 50% of 32 = 16 (H) · 25% of 52 = 13 (U) · 60% of 5 = 3 (P) · 25% of 76 = 19 (C) · 20% of 205 = 41 (L) · 25% of 28 = 7 (D) · 40% of 80 = 32 (R)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE FOE IS SCARED OF FROGS"2^3 = 8 (T) · 20^2 = 400 (O) · 7^3 = 343 (G) · 3^4 = 81 (F) · 5^2 = 25 (I) · 2^4 = 16 (S) · 2^6 = 64 (R) · 14^2 = 196 (E) · 10^2 = 100 (C) · 11^2 = 121 (A) · 16^2 = 256 (H) · 12^2 = 144 (D)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN HAS ORANGE HAIR"6 × 6 - 22 = 14 (T) · 9 + 3 × 6 = 27 (I) · 39 + 4 × 9 = 75 (E) · 11 + 5 × 9 = 56 (V) · 6 × 12 - 3 = 69 (S) · 41 + 6 × 2 = 53 (H) · 3 × 12 - 15 = 21 (R) · 21 + 3 × 4 = 33 (O) · 6 × 8 - 16 = 32 (A) · 7 × 11 - 28 = 49 (L) · 7 × 9 - 1 = 62 (N) · 8 × 4 - 1 = 31 (G)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Jack12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Great Balloon Chase — set in Skylandia Sky Island
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects