Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Great Sky-Island Chase
A sneaky Sky Bandit has stolen the Golden Compass from the Chief Cartographer! We must search the floating docks, solve the math clues, and find the bandit before they sail their airship into the storm.
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 | Escape Style | Special Gear | Hand Sign | Hair Color | Funny Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kira | cloud leaping | magnetic gloves | left handed | bright orange hair | silly whistles |
| Tucker | gear climbing | magnetic gloves | left handed | cloud white hair | sweet bananas |
| Sallie | propeller flying | gravity boots | right handed | bright orange hair | shiny bubbles |
| Ulysses | gear climbing | glowing goggles | right handed | bright orange hair | sweet bananas |
| Marco | wind gliding | magnetic gloves | left handed | bright orange hair | silly whistles |
| Amelia | cloud leaping | magnetic gloves | right handed | ocean blue hair | sweet bananas |
| Captain Kid | propeller flying | sparking boots | left handed | bright orange hair | silly whistles |
| Piper | wind gliding | copper spyglass | right handed | cloud white hair | shiny bubbles |
| Drake | rope swinging | copper spyglass | left handed | ocean blue hair | sweet bananas |
| Ella | rope swinging | glowing goggles | left handed | cloud white hair | silly whistles |
| Zelda | wind gliding | copper spyglass | left handed | bright orange hair | sweet bananas |
| Flynn | rope swinging | magnetic gloves | left handed | cloud white hair | shiny bubbles |
| Quincy | cloud leaping | sparking boots | right handed | cloud white hair | shiny bubbles |
| Ranger | gear climbing | glowing goggles | right handed | cloud white hair | sweet bananas |
| Nellie | wind gliding | magnetic gloves | left handed | bright orange hair | sweet bananas |
| Jack | rope swinging | copper spyglass | right handed | cloud white hair | shiny bubbles |
| Val | rope swinging | magnetic gloves | left handed | cloud white hair | sweet bananas |
| Gulliver | gear climbing | gravity boots | left handed | cloud white hair | shiny bubbles |
| Leo | cloud leaping | glowing goggles | right handed | bright orange hair | silly whistles |
| Wyatt | rope swinging | glowing goggles | right handed | cloud white hair | shiny bubbles |
| Otis | propeller flying | gravity boots | right handed | cloud white hair | shiny bubbles |
Clue 1
Rounding
An old wind-radar caught a fuzzy signal of the escape route. The radar only shows numbers rounded 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
4000
70
90
2000
900
200
30
60
T
4000
30
8000
90
9000
200
8000
T
4000
7000
90
900
3000
9000
700
900
3000
6000
60
200
80
2000
8000
8000
T
4000
9000
Round 3,573 to the nearest thousandT
Round 8,553 to the nearest thousandS
Round 67 to the nearest tenH
Round 215 to the nearest hundredN
Round 8,317 to the nearest thousandO
Round 90 to the nearest tenE
Round 921 to the nearest hundredA
Round 27 to the nearest tenD
Round 84 to the nearest tenG
Round 58 to the nearest tenI
Round 7,053 to the nearest thousandW
Round 748 to the nearest hundredP
Round 2,290 to the nearest thousandB
Round 3,327 to the nearest thousandR
Round 6,253 to the nearest thousandK
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We found a pile of dropped gear on the wooden dock. Let us add up all the brass bolts we found to see where they came from.
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
475
621
555
227
256
984
529
555
555
255
555
534
T
475
621
555
719
377
590
555
672
547
T
475
621
T
475
621
555
719
547
792
621
T
475
621
816
808
534
166 + 309 =T
539 + 269 =N
493 + 226 =R
258 + 534 =G
322 + 662 =Q
336 + 254 =P
236 + 436 =W
421 + 200 =H
157 + 70 =Y
215 + 314 =U
146 + 110 =S
167 + 210 =O
477 + 339 =A
232 + 315 =I
189 + 345 =D
85 + 170 =Z
301 + 254 =E
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The cartographer has a secret lock on the chest. To open it, we must find the difference between the wind speeds on our map.
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
388
585
289
364
650
253
289
289
133
289
708
462
585
289
253
462
289
465
542
289
462
650
585
563
253
364
465
866
465
465
542
289
650
533 - 145 =T
759 - 51 =D
598 - 56 =L
584 - 119 =B
494 - 241 =N
310 - 21 =E
654 - 290 =Y
956 - 371 =H
828 - 366 =W
503 - 370 =Z
869 - 219 =S
900 - 34 =U
702 - 139 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The airship hangar has several rows of flying machines. We need to multiply the rows to count the total wings.
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
120
5
56
48
96
25
84
132
7
48
25
8
14
45
5
30
5
48
56
30
7
48
96
84
W
120
42
45
121
5
42
132
45
16
12 × 10 =W
7 × 6 =H
3 × 10 =C
11 × 12 =A
1 × 5 =E
8 × 1 =G
5 × 9 =I
2 × 7 =P
8 × 12 =U
2 × 8 =R
6 × 8 =O
11 × 11 =T
5 × 5 =N
12 × 7 =D
7 × 8 =F
7 × 1 =L
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We have a box of energy crystals to share among our crew. We must divide them equally to power up our tracker.
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
30 ÷ 5 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
60 ÷ 6 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
11 ÷ 1 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
56 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain glides through the wind, then climbs with magnetic gloves.
2.The villain flies with a mini propeller, then activates heavy gravity boots.
3.The villain leaps from cloud to cloud, then peers through a copper spyglass.
4.The villain swings on a long rope, then activates heavy gravity boots.
5.The villain glides through the wind, then peers through a copper spyglass.
6.The villain swings on a long rope, then peers through a copper spyglass.
7.The villain leaps from cloud to cloud, then turns on the sparking boots.
8.The villain flies with a mini propeller, then climbs with magnetic gloves.
9.The villain swings on a long rope, then uses glowing goggles to see.
10.The villain glides through the wind, then turns on the sparking boots.
11.The villain leaps from cloud to cloud, then activates heavy gravity boots.
12.The villain climbs up the brass gears, then peers through a copper spyglass.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Sky-Island Chase
Culprit: Otis (propeller flying · gravity boots · right handed · cloud white hair · shiny bubbles)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT WEAR SPARKING BOOTS"Round 3,573 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (T) · Round 8,553 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (S) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (H) · Round 215 to the nearest hundred = 200 (N) · Round 8,317 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (O) · Round 90 to the nearest ten = 90 (E) · Round 921 to the nearest hundred = 900 (A) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (D) · Round 84 to the nearest ten = 80 (G) · Round 58 to the nearest ten = 60 (I) · Round 7,053 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (W) · Round 748 to the nearest hundred = 700 (P) · Round 2,290 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (B) · Round 3,327 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (R) · Round 6,253 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (K)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THEY SQUEEZED THE ROPE WITH THE RIGHT HAND"166 + 309 = 475 (T) · 539 + 269 = 808 (N) · 493 + 226 = 719 (R) · 258 + 534 = 792 (G) · 322 + 662 = 984 (Q) · 336 + 254 = 590 (P) · 236 + 436 = 672 (W) · 421 + 200 = 621 (H) · 157 + 70 = 227 (Y) · 215 + 314 = 529 (U) · 146 + 110 = 256 (S) · 167 + 210 = 377 (O) · 477 + 339 = 816 (A) · 232 + 315 = 547 (I) · 189 + 345 = 534 (D) · 85 + 170 = 255 (Z) · 301 + 254 = 555 (E)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THEY SNEEZED WHEN WE BLEW SHINY BUBBLES"533 - 145 = 388 (T) · 759 - 51 = 708 (D) · 598 - 56 = 542 (L) · 584 - 119 = 465 (B) · 494 - 241 = 253 (N) · 310 - 21 = 289 (E) · 654 - 290 = 364 (Y) · 956 - 371 = 585 (H) · 828 - 366 = 462 (W) · 503 - 370 = 133 (Z) · 869 - 219 = 650 (S) · 900 - 34 = 866 (U) · 702 - 139 = 563 (I)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND A LONG PIECE OF CLOUD WHITE HAIR"12 × 10 = 120 (W) · 7 × 6 = 42 (H) · 3 × 10 = 30 (C) · 11 × 12 = 132 (A) · 1 × 5 = 5 (E) · 8 × 1 = 8 (G) · 5 × 9 = 45 (I) · 2 × 7 = 14 (P) · 8 × 12 = 96 (U) · 2 × 8 = 16 (R) · 6 × 8 = 48 (O) · 11 × 11 = 121 (T) · 5 × 5 = 25 (N) · 12 × 7 = 84 (D) · 7 × 8 = 56 (F) · 7 × 1 = 7 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Otis30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 56 ÷ 8 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Sky-Island Chase — set in the floating docks of Zephyr Cove
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects