Grade 4Reading: grades 3-4Fractions of a numberRoundingAdditionSubtraction
The Great Sky Island Heist
The Golden Propeller has been stolen from the Windhaven Air Dock! Without it, the annual Sky Derby cannot begin. Captain Barnaby and the Sky Patrol need your help to track down the sneaky Cloud Crook before they escape into the storm clouds.
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 | Secret Gadget | Steering Grip | Hair Color | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owen | mega magnet | fog generator | left-handed grip | cloud white | cherry tarts |
| Zoe | grappling claw | sound muffler | right-handed grip | cloud white | lemon drops |
| Jasper | mega magnet | sound muffler | right-handed grip | sunset orange | cherry tarts |
| Mia | cloud glider | sound muffler | right-handed grip | sunset orange | cherry tarts |
| Kai | wind propeller | bubble shield | left-handed grip | sunset orange | cherry tarts |
| Amy | mega magnet | laser pointer | right-handed grip | sunset orange | maple waffles |
| Toby | steam booster | net launcher | right-handed grip | sunset orange | cherry tarts |
| Ruby | steam booster | sound muffler | right-handed grip | cloud white | maple waffles |
| Sienna | mega magnet | laser pointer | left-handed grip | sunset orange | maple waffles |
| Cora | mega magnet | fog generator | left-handed grip | sunset orange | maple waffles |
| Sam | mega magnet | laser pointer | left-handed grip | cloud white | lemon drops |
| Roy | cloud glider | net launcher | left-handed grip | stormy gray | cherry tarts |
| Milo | steam booster | fog generator | right-handed grip | sunset orange | maple waffles |
| Eli | steam booster | fog generator | right-handed grip | cloud white | maple waffles |
| Finn | steam booster | fog generator | left-handed grip | sunset orange | lemon drops |
| Otis | wind propeller | fog generator | right-handed grip | cloud white | cherry tarts |
| Ben | cloud glider | fog generator | right-handed grip | sunset orange | cherry tarts |
| Luna | steam booster | bubble shield | right-handed grip | stormy gray | cherry tarts |
| Leo | wind propeller | laser pointer | right-handed grip | cloud white | cherry tarts |
| Eva | steam booster | sound muffler | right-handed grip | sunset orange | cherry tarts |
| Jax | wind propeller | laser pointer | left-handed grip | cloud white | cherry tarts |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
Captain Barnaby counted all sixty spark plugs on the shelf. The thief took a fraction of them to stall the airship.
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
39
11
23
2
29
35
35
3
26
35
23
24
40
35
T
39
12
24
23
4
40
23
T
39
19
4
12
40
2
11
23
29
1/2 of 78 =T
1/6 of 66 =H
2/6 of 36 =U
3/6 of 38 =L
1/2 of 8 =A
1/6 of 174 =R
2/3 of 3 =C
5/10 of 52 =D
1/4 of 96 =S
7/8 of 40 =O
3/6 of 46 =E
2/3 of 60 =N
2/6 of 9 =K
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
Our altitude dial was broken. It only showed the height 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
90
70
4300
230
20
230
700
1700
3000
T
90
170
70
4300
4300
1100
170
2900
2000
70
4300
1100
130
170
3000
T
90
70
T
90
70
4300
900
3000
200
70
T
90
70
2900
1300
130
Round 89 to the nearest tenT
Round 152 to the nearest hundredG
Round 2,249 to the nearest thousandS
Round 227 to the nearest tenC
Round 1,057 to the nearest hundredL
Round 70 to the nearest tenH
Round 2,932 to the nearest hundredA
Round 1,708 to the nearest hundredP
Round 174 to the nearest tenW
Round 4,261 to the nearest hundredE
Round 887 to the nearest hundredR
Round 22 to the nearest tenO
Round 132 to the nearest tenD
Round 1,258 to the nearest hundredN
Round 3,157 to the nearest thousandI
Round 700 to the nearest hundredK
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
We found the engine room keys by adding up the spare gears in the toolbox.
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
3779
4478
8959
5623
4510
8959
3459
9801
3302
7777
2082
3831
3831
9801
7777
3459
4510
4510
3831
T
3779
2082
8959
5623
6825
5623
T
3779
7777
4478
8959
2082
2082
3302
T
3779
3459
2082
T
3779
5623
2148 + 1631 =T
3231 + 4546 =C
1689 + 2142 =O
1110 + 972 =R
3110 + 2513 =S
5556 + 3403 =E
1559 + 1743 =Y
2118 + 2360 =H
5619 + 4182 =K
2237 + 2273 =N
1941 + 1518 =A
3916 + 2909 =I
0/12 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The thief threw heavy sandbags overboard. We subtracted the lost weight to find our new speed.
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
7833
5935
3021
4311
7599
4365
7876
4973
2634
4403
6822
4365
7876
4973
4311
3021
4973
7599
4365
4973
5935
2634
4311
4403
6822
4365
2364
5935
4889
6822
7791
4403
8388 - 555 =W
5043 - 732 =O
3724 - 1090 =T
7199 - 2834 =N
9817 - 4928 =H
9988 - 3166 =A
3083 - 62 =F
7652 - 53 =U
2689 - 325 =G
8163 - 3760 =R
7045 - 2072 =S
7907 - 1972 =E
10324 - 2533 =I
10199 - 2323 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
The Sky Patrol found a torn map. We calculated a fraction of the missing miles to locate the hideout.
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
1/4 of 12 = ?
1/5 of 55 = ?
2/10 of 50 = ?
2/6 of 6 = ?
4/8 of 10 = ?
2/8 of 28 = ?
3/6 of 16 = ?
1/5 of 20 = ?
3/5 of 15 = ?
1/5 of 5 = ?
3/5 of 20 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain snatches the sky map, then escapes through the sky hatch.
2.The villain snatches the sky map, then flies into the sunset.
3.The villain steals the silver trophy, then slides down the anchor rope.
4.The villain grabs the diamond compass, then escapes through the sky hatch.
5.The villain steals the silver trophy, then flies into the sunset.
6.The villain takes the secret diary, then slides down the anchor rope.
7.The villain grabs the diamond compass, then slides down the anchor rope.
8.The villain grabs the diamond compass, then zooms off into the clouds.
9.The villain swipes the golden propeller, then slides down the anchor rope.
10.The villain snatches the sky map, then slides down the anchor rope.
11.The villain steals the silver trophy, then escapes through the sky hatch.
12.The villain snatches the sky map, then zooms off into the clouds.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Sky Island Heist
Culprit: Jasper (mega magnet · sound muffler · right-handed grip · sunset orange · cherry tarts)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE CROOK DOES NOT USE A NET LAUNCHER"1/2 of 78 = 39 (T) · 1/6 of 66 = 11 (H) · 2/6 of 36 = 12 (U) · 3/6 of 38 = 19 (L) · 1/2 of 8 = 4 (A) · 1/6 of 174 = 29 (R) · 2/3 of 3 = 2 (C) · 5/10 of 52 = 26 (D) · 1/4 of 96 = 24 (S) · 7/8 of 40 = 35 (O) · 3/6 of 46 = 23 (E) · 2/3 of 60 = 40 (N) · 2/6 of 9 = 3 (K)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE COCKPIT WHEEL WAS HELD WITH THE RIGHT HAND"Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (T) · Round 152 to the nearest hundred = 200 (G) · Round 2,249 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (S) · Round 227 to the nearest ten = 230 (C) · Round 1,057 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (L) · Round 70 to the nearest ten = 70 (H) · Round 2,932 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (A) · Round 1,708 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (P) · Round 174 to the nearest ten = 170 (W) · Round 4,261 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (E) · Round 887 to the nearest hundred = 900 (R) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (O) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (D) · Round 1,258 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (N) · Round 3,157 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (I) · Round 700 to the nearest hundred = 700 (K)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE SNEAKY CROOK CANNOT RESIST CHERRY TARTS"2148 + 1631 = 3779 (T) · 3231 + 4546 = 7777 (C) · 1689 + 2142 = 3831 (O) · 1110 + 972 = 2082 (R) · 3110 + 2513 = 5623 (S) · 5556 + 3403 = 8959 (E) · 1559 + 1743 = 3302 (Y) · 2118 + 2360 = 4478 (H) · 5619 + 4182 = 9801 (K) · 2237 + 2273 = 4510 (N) · 1941 + 1518 = 3459 (A) · 3916 + 2909 = 6825 (I)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF SUNSET ORANGE HAIR"8388 - 555 = 7833 (W) · 5043 - 732 = 4311 (O) · 3724 - 1090 = 2634 (T) · 7199 - 2834 = 4365 (N) · 9817 - 4928 = 4889 (H) · 9988 - 3166 = 6822 (A) · 3083 - 62 = 3021 (F) · 7652 - 53 = 7599 (U) · 2689 - 325 = 2364 (G) · 8163 - 3760 = 4403 (R) · 7045 - 2072 = 4973 (S) · 7907 - 1972 = 5935 (E) · 10324 - 2533 = 7791 (I) · 10199 - 2323 = 7876 (D)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 6) → Jasper1/4 of 12 = 3 · 1/5 of 55 = 11 · 2/10 of 50 = 10 · 2/6 of 6 = 2 · 4/8 of 10 = 5 · 2/8 of 28 = 7 · 3/6 of 16 = 8 · 1/5 of 20 = 4 · 3/5 of 15 = 9 · 1/5 of 5 = 1 · 3/5 of 20 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Sky Island Heist — set in high above the clouds on the floating island of Windhaven
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects