Grade 4Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionRoundingMultiplicationDivision

The Great Sky-Snatch Mystery

The Golden Compass of Skylandia has been stolen right from the Chief Cartographer's cabin! A sneaky sky-snatcher slipped onto the Whisper-Wind airship during the great cloud storm. We must analyze the clues left behind to catch the thief and retrieve the legendary compass.

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 Gear	Spy Gadget	Dominant Hand	Hair Style	Distraction
Skyler Storm	Wind blaster	Smoke bombs	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Sweet maple candy
Zephyr Zack	Magnetic gloves	Codebreaker tool	Uses left hand	Bright red braid	Sweet maple candy
Sky-Scout Sammy	Magnetic gloves	Night goggles	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Shiny gold coins
Wilbur Wing	Cloud glider	Codebreaker tool	Uses left hand	Bright red braid	Squeaky toy mice
Amelia Cloudhart	Magnetic gloves	Smoke bombs	Uses left hand	Bright red braid	Shiny gold coins
Sunny Soarer	Magnetic gloves	Signal flare	Uses right hand	Spiky blue hair	Sweet maple candy
Windy Wendy	Rocket boots	Signal flare	Uses right hand	Curly green locks	Sweet maple candy
Jetpack Jenna	Cloud glider	Night goggles	Uses left hand	Bright red braid	Sweet maple candy
Charles Highfly	Rocket boots	Night goggles	Uses right hand	Curly green locks	Shiny gold coins
Altimeter Al	Rocket boots	Spy camera	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Shiny gold coins
Piper Propeller	Magnetic gloves	Codebreaker tool	Uses left hand	Spiky blue hair	Squeaky toy mice
Dash Drifter	Wind blaster	Signal flare	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Shiny gold coins
Cloudy Clara	Magnetic gloves	Spy camera	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Shiny gold coins
Bessie Coleman	Wind blaster	Smoke bombs	Uses left hand	Spiky blue hair	Shiny gold coins
Rusty Rotor	Cloud glider	Spy camera	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Sweet maple candy
Captain Barnaby	Cloud glider	Night goggles	Uses left hand	Bright red braid	Shiny gold coins
Baron Blue	Grappling Hook	Codebreaker tool	Uses right hand	Bright red braid	Squeaky toy mice
Gale Force Gary	Cloud glider	Night goggles	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Shiny gold coins
Navigator Ned	Grappling Hook	Signal flare	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Sweet maple candy
Orville Wing	Grappling Hook	Signal flare	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Shiny gold coins
Aero Arthur	Cloud glider	Smoke bombs	Uses left hand	Curly green locks	Sweet maple candy

Clue 1

Addition

To open the locked cargo hold where the first clue is hidden, we need to tally up all the copper bolts and iron screws we found scattered on the deck.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

8010

2959

5123

8010

2959

9231

5123

5955

7094

7669

5123

2010

2302

7669

8010

4932

2010

5123

9754

2010

6924

4626

6432

9754

9328

5123

3138

9754

3540 + 4470 =T

645 + 1365 =S

2842 + 1784 =Y

2834 + 4090 =P

2991 + 4678 =O

4008 + 3086 =D

3009 + 1923 =U

6624 + 3130 =A

1424 + 1535 =H

1869 + 1269 =R

4852 + 4379 =I

4831 + 4497 =M

3230 + 3202 =C

3035 + 2088 =E

2437 + 3518 =F

1308 + 994 =N

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Subtraction

The airship lost altitude fast when the thief dumped our reserve water barrels. Subtracting the lost weight gives us the exact coordinates of the next clue.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

4529

3545

6381

7851

8585

4530

3976

2594

3545

2594

2209

4529

4931

2625

3545

4142

4173

8417

3976

7851

3893

5879

3545

4173

3545

6381

4931

1476

3976

2594

4530

7851

3893

3868

3545

3976

3545

6065 - 1536 =L

6656 - 2126 =A

8154 - 4178 =N

13278 - 4861 =I

9643 - 4712 =O

7842 - 3974 =C

6789 - 4195 =D

9703 - 3322 =F

3376 - 1167 =G

7160 - 1281 =W

5280 - 3804 =U

2772 - 147 =V

9048 - 4906 =P

6395 - 2222 =R

8824 - 973 =T

6754 - 2861 =S

6897 - 3352 =E

11446 - 2861 =H

0/18 letters found

Clue 3

Rounding

Our cloud-density radar is acting up in the storm. It can only show rounded values for the distance to the suspicious getaway ship.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

2300

5000

2300

5000

300

7000

2300

430

900

5000

3700

2300

430

900

130

4300

900

290

430

3000

3700

130

430

500

7000

Round 2,319 to the nearest hundredT

Round 20 to the nearest tenH

Round 427 to the nearest tenO

Round 129 to the nearest tenC

Round 293 to the nearest tenG

Round 3,693 to the nearest hundredD

Round 325 to the nearest hundredF

Round 7,277 to the nearest thousandS

Round 471 to the nearest hundredN

Round 3,408 to the nearest thousandL

Round 93 to the nearest tenU

Round 904 to the nearest hundredP

Round 48 to the nearest tenI

Round 4,941 to the nearest thousandE

Round 4,323 to the nearest hundredK

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We found a secret map divided into equal rows and columns of grid squares. Multiplying the rows and columns unlocks the hidden drawer.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

132

110

3 × 12 =C

10 × 8 =D

11 × 3 =U

5 × 5 =S

11 × 5 =R

9 × 3 =H

8 × 12 =A

7 × 3 =L

11 × 7 =E

12 × 4 =G

11 × 10 =N

8 × 4 =W

12 × 11 =Y

1 × 2 =I

5 × 3 =O

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

To share the remaining fuel canisters equally among our five rescue drones, we must divide our supplies fairly to get them all airborne.

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

6 ÷ 3 = ?

3 ÷ 3 = ?

33 ÷ 3 = ?

55 ÷ 11 = ?

72 ÷ 6 = ?

12 ÷ 4 = ?

42 ÷ 7 = ?

30 ÷ 3 = ?

20 ÷ 5 = ?

70 ÷ 10 = ?

99 ÷ 11 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain soared down on a cloud glider, then sneaked through the dark wearing night goggles.

2.The villain scaled the hull using magnetic gloves, then sneaked through the dark wearing night goggles.

3.The villain swung in using a grappling hook, then escaped into the mist with smoke bombs.

4.The villain scaled the hull using magnetic gloves, then bypassed the safe lock with a codebreaker tool.

5.The villain cleared the path with a wind blaster, then escaped into the mist with smoke bombs.

6.The villain soared down on a cloud glider, then escaped into the mist with smoke bombs.

7.The villain scaled the hull using magnetic gloves, then escaped into the mist with smoke bombs.

8.The villain cleared the path with a wind blaster, then signaled their getaway ship with a flare.

9.The villain blasted off with rocket boots, then sneaked through the dark wearing night goggles.

10.The villain swung in using a grappling hook, then snapped photos using a spy camera.

11.The villain swung in using a grappling hook, then signaled their getaway ship with a flare.

12.The villain scaled the hull using magnetic gloves, then signaled their getaway ship with a flare.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Great Sky-Snatch Mystery

Culprit: Dash Drifter (Wind blaster · Signal flare · Uses left hand · Curly green locks · Shiny gold coins)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE A SPY CAMERA"
3540 + 4470 = 8010 (T) · 645 + 1365 = 2010 (S) · 2842 + 1784 = 4626 (Y) · 2834 + 4090 = 6924 (P) · 2991 + 4678 = 7669 (O) · 4008 + 3086 = 7094 (D) · 3009 + 1923 = 4932 (U) · 6624 + 3130 = 9754 (A) · 1424 + 1535 = 2959 (H) · 1869 + 1269 = 3138 (R) · 4852 + 4379 = 9231 (I) · 4831 + 4497 = 9328 (M) · 3230 + 3202 = 6432 (C) · 3035 + 2088 = 5123 (E) · 2437 + 3518 = 5955 (F) · 1308 + 994 = 2302 (N)
Clue 2 (Subtraction): "LEFT HANDED GLOVE PRINTS WERE FOUND AT SCENE"
6065 - 1536 = 4529 (L) · 6656 - 2126 = 4530 (A) · 8154 - 4178 = 3976 (N) · 13278 - 4861 = 8417 (I) · 9643 - 4712 = 4931 (O) · 7842 - 3974 = 3868 (C) · 6789 - 4195 = 2594 (D) · 9703 - 3322 = 6381 (F) · 3376 - 1167 = 2209 (G) · 7160 - 1281 = 5879 (W) · 5280 - 3804 = 1476 (U) · 2772 - 147 = 2625 (V) · 9048 - 4906 = 4142 (P) · 6395 - 2222 = 4173 (R) · 8824 - 973 = 7851 (T) · 6754 - 2861 = 3893 (S) · 6897 - 3352 = 3545 (E) · 11446 - 2861 = 8585 (H)
Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE THIEF STOPPED TO PICK UP GOLD COINS"
Round 2,319 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (T) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (H) · Round 427 to the nearest ten = 430 (O) · Round 129 to the nearest ten = 130 (C) · Round 293 to the nearest ten = 290 (G) · Round 3,693 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (D) · Round 325 to the nearest hundred = 300 (F) · Round 7,277 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (S) · Round 471 to the nearest hundred = 500 (N) · Round 3,408 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (L) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (U) · Round 904 to the nearest hundred = 900 (P) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (I) · Round 4,941 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (E) · Round 4,323 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (K)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "CURLY GREEN HAIR WAS SNAGGED ON A NAIL"
3 × 12 = 36 (C) · 10 × 8 = 80 (D) · 11 × 3 = 33 (U) · 5 × 5 = 25 (S) · 11 × 5 = 55 (R) · 9 × 3 = 27 (H) · 8 × 12 = 96 (A) · 7 × 3 = 21 (L) · 11 × 7 = 77 (E) · 12 × 4 = 48 (G) · 11 × 10 = 110 (N) · 8 × 4 = 32 (W) · 12 × 11 = 132 (Y) · 1 × 2 = 2 (I) · 5 × 3 = 15 (O)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Dash Drifter
6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Great Sky-Snatch Mystery — set in The floating islands of Skylandia, aboard the Whisper-Wind airship
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math mysteries

4th grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Multiplication worksheets Division worksheets Rounding worksheets All worksheets →

The Big Hoop Catastrophe

Grade 4

The Cloud Kingdom Caper

Grade 4

The Wembley Trophy Mystery

Grade 4

The Great Zero-Gravity Trophy Heist

Grade 4