🏴☠️ PiratesGrade 6Reading: grades 5-6Place valueRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Mystery of the Golden Anchor
The legendary Golden Anchor has been snatched right out of the Scurvy Sands safe! The harbor is in an uproar, and we need your detective skills to find the culprit.
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 | Primary Pirate Skill | Signature Gear | Eye Patch Placement | Headwear | Secret Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartholomew Roberts | cannon gunner | silver key | patch on left eye | green headscarf | ticklish feet |
| Howell Davis | rigging climber | golden compass | patch on right eye | red bandana | allergic to citrus |
| Thomas Tew | rigging climber | spyglass | patch on right eye | blue tricorn | scared of monkeys |
| Charles Vane | map navigator | spyglass | patch on right eye | blue tricorn | scared of monkeys |
| Jean Lafitte | map navigator | spyglass | patch on right eye | green headscarf | ticklish feet |
| Anne Bonny | cannon gunner | spyglass | patch on right eye | green headscarf | ticklish feet |
| Samuel Bellamy | rigging climber | silver key | patch on left eye | green headscarf | ticklish feet |
| Grace O Malley | rigging climber | spyglass | patch on right eye | green headscarf | allergic to citrus |
| Henry Morgan | map navigator | golden compass | patch on right eye | green headscarf | allergic to citrus |
| Francois l Olonnais | sails master | spyglass | patch on left eye | red bandana | scared of monkeys |
| Sadie the Goat | sails master | pocket watch | patch on right eye | blue tricorn | ticklish feet |
| Edward England | cannon gunner | pocket watch | patch on right eye | red bandana | ticklish feet |
| Stede Bonnet | map navigator | lucky coin | patch on left eye | green headscarf | ticklish feet |
| Ching Shih | cannon gunner | pocket watch | patch on right eye | green headscarf | allergic to citrus |
| Cheung Po Tsai | sails master | pocket watch | patch on left eye | blue tricorn | ticklish feet |
| Blackbeard | sails master | spyglass | patch on left eye | green headscarf | ticklish feet |
| William Kidd | map navigator | golden compass | patch on left eye | green headscarf | ticklish feet |
| Captain Hook | sails master | spyglass | patch on right eye | red bandana | scared of monkeys |
| Mary Read | cannon gunner | lucky coin | patch on right eye | red bandana | allergic to citrus |
| Edward Low | sails master | silver key | patch on left eye | green headscarf | allergic to citrus |
| John Silver | map navigator | silver key | patch on right eye | blue tricorn | scared of monkeys |
Clue 1
Place value
A torn chart lists the cargo counts. To read the secret code, you must find the digit in the hundreds place of the pirate fleet total.
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
1000
900
400
300
10
5000
3000
400
7000
10
400
4000
90
10
T
1000
500
100
300
300
800
100
40
3000
500
8000
800
500
10
30
90
What is the value of the 1 in 61,930?T
What is the value of the 9 in 13,922?H
What is the value of the 5 in 39,549?C
What is the value of the 3 in 27,132?I
What is the value of the 8 in 557,830?Y
What is the value of the 7 in 347,618?D
What is the value of the 3 in 63,200?U
What is the value of the 1 in 27,415?O
What is the value of the 9 in 174,398?N
What is the value of the 4 in 84,036?S
What is the value of the 4 in 109,409?E
What is the value of the 3 in 512,392?R
What is the value of the 4 in 317,641?L
What is the value of the 8 in 58,726?K
What is the value of the 1 in 28,176?A
What is the value of the 5 in 75,196?G
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The lookouts recorded the distance of the fleeing ship, but they could only read the blurry spyglass by rounding 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
200
7000
3700
70
5000
2300
430
T
200
70
50
370
50
230
50
T
200
5000
7000
2300
30
T
200
7000
3700
500
3700
90
T
200
3700
2000
3700
Round 155 to the nearest hundredT
Round 46 to the nearest tenA
Round 372 to the nearest tenW
Round 71 to the nearest tenS
Round 5,090 to the nearest thousandC
Round 234 to the nearest tenP
Round 1,543 to the nearest thousandY
Round 27 to the nearest tenN
Round 430 to the nearest tenU
Round 3,692 to the nearest hundredE
Round 2,305 to the nearest hundredO
Round 89 to the nearest tenF
Round 6,581 to the nearest thousandH
Round 514 to the nearest hundredL
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
You search the dock floor and tally up the loose gold doubloons dropped during the escape to calculate the total sum.
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
4535
3617
9555
T
4535
2062
4479
8608
9555
T
4535
5437
9555
4185
5876
9555
8382
6359
3617
9555
3417
2062
4832
9555
2062
T
4535
3617
9555
4479
T
4535
6458
7208
9773
4185
9555
8382
T
4535
3617
9555
4327
2067 + 2468 =T
2825 + 2612 =Y
4718 + 3664 =D
2011 + 1406 =N
5608 + 3000 =G
2175 + 2010 =L
2512 + 1967 =R
2359 + 1258 =H
2855 + 1472 =M
1989 + 2843 =F
3948 + 2411 =W
2973 + 4235 =C
3804 + 5751 =E
6686 + 3087 =K
778 + 1284 =A
2170 + 3706 =P
3907 + 2551 =I
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The thief threw heavy cargo overboard to speed up their getaway. Compare the starting weight with the new weight to find the difference.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
4525
8554
2499
4312
4312
5320
7947
4312
A
4525
8111
6495
4181
A
4525
2499
6518
7028
4312
6518
3801
A
4525
6495
2888
7028
5577
6495
3801
2499
2888
1481
6857 - 2332 =A
6290 - 970 =N
8842 - 2347 =S
5438 - 2550 =I
10634 - 2523 =D
11405 - 4887 =F
6457 - 2656 =T
8535 - 1507 =L
11854 - 3907 =H
3052 - 553 =R
3028 - 1547 =P
7233 - 2921 =E
7507 - 3326 =C
6660 - 1083 =K
9229 - 675 =G
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The getaway crew split up their stolen silver coins equally. Find how many coins each pirate received after the division.
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
36 ÷ 6 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
9 ÷ 3 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
10 ÷ 2 = ?
110 ÷ 10 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 6 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swung across the rigging, then stuffed the treasure into a sack.
2.The villain swung across the rigging, then snatched the velvet bag.
3.The villain slid down the main mast, then fled into the thick fog.
4.The villain clambered over the wooden dock, then snatched the velvet bag.
5.The villain sneaked through the lower deck, then stuffed the treasure into a sack.
6.The villain swung across the rigging, then fled into the thick fog.
7.The villain slid down the main mast, then snatched the velvet bag.
8.The villain sneaked through the lower deck, then pried open the floorboards.
9.The villain swung across the rigging, then unlocked the secure chest.
10.The villain steered the rowboat silently, then pried open the floorboards.
11.The villain sneaked through the lower deck, then fled into the thick fog.
12.The villain sneaked through the lower deck, then unlocked the secure chest.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Golden Anchor
Culprit: Blackbeard (sails master · spyglass · patch on left eye · green headscarf · ticklish feet)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE ROGUE DOES NOT CARRY A LUCKY COIN"What is the value of the 1 in 61,930? = 1000 (T) · What is the value of the 9 in 13,922? = 900 (H) · What is the value of the 5 in 39,549? = 500 (C) · What is the value of the 3 in 27,132? = 30 (I) · What is the value of the 8 in 557,830? = 800 (Y) · What is the value of the 7 in 347,618? = 7000 (D) · What is the value of the 3 in 63,200? = 3000 (U) · What is the value of the 1 in 27,415? = 10 (O) · What is the value of the 9 in 174,398? = 90 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 84,036? = 4000 (S) · What is the value of the 4 in 109,409? = 400 (E) · What is the value of the 3 in 512,392? = 300 (R) · What is the value of the 4 in 317,641? = 40 (L) · What is the value of the 8 in 58,726? = 8000 (K) · What is the value of the 1 in 28,176? = 100 (A) · What is the value of the 5 in 75,196? = 5000 (G)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SCOUT SAW A PATCH ON THE LEFT EYE"Round 155 to the nearest hundred = 200 (T) · Round 46 to the nearest ten = 50 (A) · Round 372 to the nearest ten = 370 (W) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (S) · Round 5,090 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (C) · Round 234 to the nearest ten = 230 (P) · Round 1,543 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (Y) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (N) · Round 430 to the nearest ten = 430 (U) · Round 3,692 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (E) · Round 2,305 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (O) · Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (F) · Round 6,581 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (H) · Round 514 to the nearest hundred = 500 (L)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE TARGET YELPED WHEN A FEATHER TICKLED THEM"2067 + 2468 = 4535 (T) · 2825 + 2612 = 5437 (Y) · 4718 + 3664 = 8382 (D) · 2011 + 1406 = 3417 (N) · 5608 + 3000 = 8608 (G) · 2175 + 2010 = 4185 (L) · 2512 + 1967 = 4479 (R) · 2359 + 1258 = 3617 (H) · 2855 + 1472 = 4327 (M) · 1989 + 2843 = 4832 (F) · 3948 + 2411 = 6359 (W) · 2973 + 4235 = 7208 (C) · 3804 + 5751 = 9555 (E) · 6686 + 3087 = 9773 (K) · 778 + 1284 = 2062 (A) · 2170 + 3706 = 5876 (P) · 3907 + 2551 = 6458 (I)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A GREEN HEADSCARF LEFT A SILK STRIP"6857 - 2332 = 4525 (A) · 6290 - 970 = 5320 (N) · 8842 - 2347 = 6495 (S) · 5438 - 2550 = 2888 (I) · 10634 - 2523 = 8111 (D) · 11405 - 4887 = 6518 (F) · 6457 - 2656 = 3801 (T) · 8535 - 1507 = 7028 (L) · 11854 - 3907 = 7947 (H) · 3052 - 553 = 2499 (R) · 3028 - 1547 = 1481 (P) · 7233 - 2921 = 4312 (E) · 7507 - 3326 = 4181 (C) · 6660 - 1083 = 5577 (K) · 9229 - 675 = 8554 (G)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Blackbeard36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 10 ÷ 2 = 5 · 110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Golden Anchor — set in Scurvy Sands Cove
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects