🏴☠️ PiratesGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of Skull Cove
A sneaky pirate thief has stolen the Golden Spyglass right out of the Harbor Master's desk! The docks are busy, and anyone could be the culprit. We must solve the math mysteries on the docks to catch the thief.
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 | Favorite Skill | Lucky Gear | Signature Move | Head Style | Big Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blind Pew | fires the cannons | wooden pegleg | right handed swing | red bandanna | scared of sharks |
| Salty Sam | fires the cannons | wooden pegleg | left handed swing | black beard | fears tickly feathers |
| Sharky Steve | reads ancient maps | velvet captain hat | left handed swing | black beard | hates sour limes |
| Long John | steers the galleon | golden eyepatch | left handed swing | black beard | hates sour limes |
| One Eyed Willy | reads ancient maps | green parrot | left handed swing | woolen tricorn | hates sour limes |
| Scurvy Dan | fires the cannons | velvet captain hat | left handed swing | black beard | fears tickly feathers |
| Scurvy Sid | swings on ropes | shiny brass hook | left handed swing | woolen tricorn | fears tickly feathers |
| Captain Flint | fires the cannons | shiny brass hook | left handed swing | red bandanna | scared of sharks |
| Patchy Pete | reads ancient maps | golden eyepatch | right handed swing | black beard | scared of sharks |
| Grace OMalley | fires the cannons | green parrot | left handed swing | black beard | fears tickly feathers |
| Billy Bones | fires the cannons | golden eyepatch | right handed swing | red bandanna | hates sour limes |
| Bartholomew | swings on ropes | shiny brass hook | right handed swing | black beard | hates sour limes |
| Mary Read | steers the galleon | green parrot | left handed swing | black beard | hates sour limes |
| Captain Barnaby | fires the cannons | golden eyepatch | right handed swing | black beard | hates sour limes |
| Pegleg Pete | reads ancient maps | shiny brass hook | right handed swing | black beard | fears tickly feathers |
| Blackbeard Ben | digs for chests | green parrot | left handed swing | red bandanna | fears tickly feathers |
| Sea Dog Sally | fires the cannons | shiny brass hook | right handed swing | woolen tricorn | scared of sharks |
| Galleon Gabe | reads ancient maps | velvet captain hat | left handed swing | red bandanna | fears tickly feathers |
| Marina Wave | digs for chests | wooden pegleg | right handed swing | woolen tricorn | scared of sharks |
| Calico Jack | steers the galleon | shiny brass hook | left handed swing | black beard | fears tickly feathers |
| Captain Kid | steers the galleon | golden eyepatch | left handed swing | black beard | fears tickly feathers |
Clue 1
Place value
We found a secret code etched onto the dock. To read the digits in the tens place, we must find the value of the pirate crew's gold chests.
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
30
8000
40
5000
7000
300
90
4000
2000
20
40
1000
8000
600
5000
4000
300
500
300
1000
2000
40
4000
40
400
40
50
600
T
30
7000
8000
What is the value of the 3 in 539?T
What is the value of the 6 in 2,680?A
What is the value of the 4 in 1,470?Y
What is the value of the 2 in 2,300?D
What is the value of the 4 in 6,148?E
What is the value of the 2 in 525?R
What is the value of the 7 in 67,820?C
What is the value of the 9 in 594?U
What is the value of the 4 in 74,981?N
What is the value of the 1 in 1,565?L
What is the value of the 5 in 8,582?G
What is the value of the 5 in 9,151?P
What is the value of the 8 in 8,660?H
What is the value of the 3 in 317?O
What is the value of the 5 in 5,811?S
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
A friendly sailor says he saw someone running by. To get his full story, we need to add up the total number of coconuts dropped by the thief.
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
5386
7263
8029
8677
9275
5018
8220
8029
9363
4809
8349
9482
8492
7407
8029
3276
8029
2528
T
5386
7263
4809
7407
9482
8029
9482
2984 + 2402 =T
3865 + 3542 =N
2580 + 4683 =H
4486 + 4006 =O
1543 + 3475 =I
4485 + 3864 =S
2932 + 5288 =M
1766 + 3043 =A
3540 + 5735 =R
3078 + 5599 =C
5952 + 3411 =W
3728 + 4301 =E
1834 + 1442 =L
1341 + 1187 =F
5298 + 4184 =D
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The ship's cook is willing to share a clue if we help him. We need to find how many fresh lemons are left after subtracting the ones eaten by the cabin boy.
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
4607
2094
2908
5665
4071
8896
8896
2503
4071
8063
7053
2908
2503
6131
2194
T
4607
4071
2385
6330
8896
1857
7053
2908
2503
T
4607
2094
2908
6131
2194
9509 - 4902 =T
2128 - 271 =Y
10262 - 3209 =F
2997 - 89 =E
12621 - 3725 =L
7652 - 3581 =I
9664 - 3334 =K
9152 - 3021 =R
4422 - 2328 =H
7200 - 4815 =C
2950 - 756 =S
6146 - 481 =V
12609 - 4546 =N
6725 - 4222 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We found rows of mysterious footprints in the sand. If we multiply the rows by the prints in each row, we can uncover a hidden clue about the thief.
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
21
110
99
54
70
132
90
72
35
54
72
80
108
110
7
1
72
35
32
7
110
72
80
90
9
72
49
80
3 × 7 =W
12 × 11 =N
1 × 9 =H
8 × 10 =R
9 × 12 =S
7 × 10 =U
7 × 5 =C
7 × 7 =I
1 × 1 =L
8 × 4 =K
6 × 12 =A
1 × 7 =B
9 × 10 =D
9 × 6 =O
11 × 10 =E
11 × 9 =F
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The deckhands are fighting over a box of sea biscuits. If we divide the biscuits equally among them, they will give us our final clue.
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
50 ÷ 10 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
66 ÷ 11 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
24 ÷ 3 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
33 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain digs for chests under the palm tree, then tips a fancy velvet captain hat.
2.The villain steers the galleon out of the harbor, then waves a shiny brass hook in the air.
3.The villain steers the galleon out of the harbor, then feeds a cracker to a green parrot.
4.The villain digs for chests under the palm tree, then hops away on a wooden pegleg.
5.The villain fires the cannons to cause a distraction, then tips a fancy velvet captain hat.
6.The villain fires the cannons to cause a distraction, then feeds a cracker to a green parrot.
7.The villain digs for chests under the palm tree, then adjusts a heavy golden eyepatch.
8.The villain reads ancient maps to find a shortcut, then adjusts a heavy golden eyepatch.
9.The villain swings on ropes to climb the mast, then tips a fancy velvet captain hat.
10.The villain fires the cannons to cause a distraction, then hops away on a wooden pegleg.
11.The villain reads ancient maps to find a shortcut, then tips a fancy velvet captain hat.
12.The villain steers the galleon out of the harbor, then hops away on a wooden pegleg.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of Skull Cove
Culprit: Calico Jack (steers the galleon · shiny brass hook · left handed swing · black beard · fears tickly feathers)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SCOUNDREL HAS NO GOLDEN EYEPATCH"What is the value of the 3 in 539? = 30 (T) · What is the value of the 6 in 2,680? = 600 (A) · What is the value of the 4 in 1,470? = 400 (Y) · What is the value of the 2 in 2,300? = 2000 (D) · What is the value of the 4 in 6,148? = 40 (E) · What is the value of the 2 in 525? = 20 (R) · What is the value of the 7 in 67,820? = 7000 (C) · What is the value of the 9 in 594? = 90 (U) · What is the value of the 4 in 74,981? = 4000 (N) · What is the value of the 1 in 1,565? = 1000 (L) · What is the value of the 5 in 8,582? = 500 (G) · What is the value of the 5 in 9,151? = 50 (P) · What is the value of the 8 in 8,660? = 8000 (H) · What is the value of the 3 in 317? = 300 (O) · What is the value of the 5 in 5,811? = 5000 (S)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE CRIME WAS DONE LEFT HANDED"2984 + 2402 = 5386 (T) · 3865 + 3542 = 7407 (N) · 2580 + 4683 = 7263 (H) · 4486 + 4006 = 8492 (O) · 1543 + 3475 = 5018 (I) · 4485 + 3864 = 8349 (S) · 2932 + 5288 = 8220 (M) · 1766 + 3043 = 4809 (A) · 3540 + 5735 = 9275 (R) · 3078 + 5599 = 8677 (C) · 5952 + 3411 = 9363 (W) · 3728 + 4301 = 8029 (E) · 1834 + 1442 = 3276 (L) · 1341 + 1187 = 2528 (F) · 5298 + 4184 = 9482 (D)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN FEARS TICKLY FEATHERS"9509 - 4902 = 4607 (T) · 2128 - 271 = 1857 (Y) · 10262 - 3209 = 7053 (F) · 2997 - 89 = 2908 (E) · 12621 - 3725 = 8896 (L) · 7652 - 3581 = 4071 (I) · 9664 - 3334 = 6330 (K) · 9152 - 3021 = 6131 (R) · 4422 - 2328 = 2094 (H) · 7200 - 4815 = 2385 (C) · 2950 - 756 = 2194 (S) · 6146 - 481 = 5665 (V) · 12609 - 4546 = 8063 (N) · 6725 - 4222 = 2503 (A)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND A COARSE BLACK BEARD HAIR"3 × 7 = 21 (W) · 12 × 11 = 132 (N) · 1 × 9 = 9 (H) · 8 × 10 = 80 (R) · 9 × 12 = 108 (S) · 7 × 10 = 70 (U) · 7 × 5 = 35 (C) · 7 × 7 = 49 (I) · 1 × 1 = 1 (L) · 8 × 4 = 32 (K) · 6 × 12 = 72 (A) · 1 × 7 = 7 (B) · 9 × 10 = 90 (D) · 9 × 6 = 54 (O) · 11 × 10 = 110 (E) · 11 × 9 = 99 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Calico Jack50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 24 ÷ 3 = 8 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of Skull Cove — set in the sunny docks of Port Royal
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects