Grade 8Reading: grades 1-2AdditionMultiplicationRoundingWord problemsMissing addends
The Mystery of the Golden Compass
Oh no! Someone took the Golden Compass from the Treehouse. We must find the Rogue Explorer. Look for clues in the jungle branches.
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 | adventure gear | special tool | writing hand | badge cap color | favorite snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben | brass binoculars | safety whistle | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Ella | climbing rope | safety whistle | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Toby | brass binoculars | sample jar | right-handed writer | blue badge cap | salty pretzel sticks |
| Noah | pocket compass | sample jar | left-handed writer | green badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Jack | brass binoculars | decoder ring | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Finn | jungle map | sample jar | left-handed writer | blue badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Annie | glowing flashlight | marking chalk | right-handed writer | orange badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Mia | climbing rope | sample jar | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Ruby | climbing rope | marking chalk | left-handed writer | green badge cap | chewy fruit snacks |
| Zoe | pocket compass | marking chalk | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | salty pretzel sticks |
| Lara | glowing flashlight | marking chalk | left-handed writer | blue badge cap | salty pretzel sticks |
| Diego | pocket compass | magnifying glass | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | chewy fruit snacks |
| Jake | climbing rope | sample jar | right-handed writer | green badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Oliver | jungle map | marking chalk | right-handed writer | blue badge cap | salty pretzel sticks |
| Indiana | climbing rope | safety whistle | right-handed writer | green badge cap | chewy fruit snacks |
| Max | climbing rope | marking chalk | left-handed writer | green badge cap | salty pretzel sticks |
| Marco | jungle map | sample jar | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | salty pretzel sticks |
| Lily | jungle map | decoder ring | right-handed writer | green badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Grace | glowing flashlight | safety whistle | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | sweet honey crackers |
| Dora | jungle map | sample jar | left-handed writer | orange badge cap | chewy fruit snacks |
| Penny | jungle map | decoder ring | right-handed writer | orange badge cap | salty pretzel sticks |
Clue 1
Addition
We must count our canteen cups. Let us add the cups on the top shelf to the cups on the bottom shelf.
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
5129
2959
7531
6993
2139
6275
6275
8759
2139
4373
8568
7748
7531
5481
4373
7748
T
5129
9517
5481
7531
8759
8568
7531
3413
7748
8568
7531
4847
4847
2139
4373
9712
2266 + 2863 =T
1318 + 821 =I
2774 + 5794 =D
4557 + 3191 =O
4789 + 2204 =V
1559 + 1400 =H
1913 + 2934 =R
1748 + 2625 =N
4152 + 3379 =E
5747 + 3770 =U
2584 + 2897 =S
1259 + 2154 =C
4458 + 5254 =G
4506 + 4253 =A
2518 + 3757 =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The scouts sleep in rows of tents. Multiply the rows of tents by the scouts in each tent to find the 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
32
27
9
72
42
55
9
30
4
45
30
28
60
T
32
T
32
9
18
30
60
T
32
27
T
32
27
9
42
9
40
T
32
27
4
18
54
8 × 4 =T
5 × 6 =W
11 × 5 =U
3 × 3 =E
6 × 10 =I
9 × 3 =H
9 × 6 =D
4 × 7 =R
8 × 9 =C
4 × 10 =F
7 × 6 =L
9 × 5 =S
1 × 4 =A
3 × 6 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
The weather dial shows the wind speed. The dial is tricky and only displays the speed 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
30
2900
50
900
50
700
5000
2900
110
900
2900
4300
1100
50
90
300
170
110
300
5000
50
170
300
170
70
7000
3700
700
Round 31 to the nearest tenT
Round 93 to the nearest tenY
Round 6,884 to the nearest thousandM
Round 1,145 to the nearest hundredN
Round 907 to the nearest hundredD
Round 73 to the nearest tenU
Round 4,253 to the nearest hundredO
Round 52 to the nearest tenE
Round 268 to the nearest hundredC
Round 4,938 to the nearest thousandK
Round 3,694 to the nearest hundredB
Round 2,908 to the nearest hundredH
Round 705 to the nearest hundredS
Round 169 to the nearest tenR
Round 107 to the nearest tenA
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Word problems
Our young guide has a riddle about trail markers. Solve the puzzle of the blue and red flags to unlock the box.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
O
76
62
60
81
14
66
34
60
D
14
66
C
60
P
The Lead Ranger found 8 climbing ropes yesterday and 68 more today. How many climbing ropes in all?O
The Lead Ranger found 4 trail maps yesterday and 58 more today. How many trail maps in all?R
There were 70 trail maps. 36 were used up. How many trail maps are left?B
The Lead Ranger lined up 11 rows of 6 climbing ropes. How many climbing ropes in all?E
The Lead Ranger found 56 canteens yesterday and 4 more today. How many canteens in all?A
The Lead Ranger found 12 binoculars yesterday and 2 more today. How many binoculars in all?G
The Lead Ranger lined up 9 rows of 9 trail maps. How many trail maps in all?N
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
We have ten walkie talkies but some are missing from the rack. Find how many are lost to open the secret drawer.
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
20 + ___ = 29
34 + ___ = 46
14 + ___ = 15
24 + ___ = 32
3 + ___ = 6
17 + ___ = 24
13 + ___ = 18
8 + ___ = 10
6 + ___ = 17
25 + ___ = 35
8 + ___ = 12
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain turned on the glowing flashlight, then blew a loud blast on a safety whistle.
2.The villain checked the shiny pocket compass, then used a magnifying glass to read the lock.
3.The villain looked through the brass binoculars, then decoded the secret note with a decoder ring.
4.The villain turned on the glowing flashlight, then put a leaf in a small sample jar.
5.The villain unfolded the paper jungle map, then decoded the secret note with a decoder ring.
6.The villain looked through the brass binoculars, then blew a loud blast on a safety whistle.
7.The villain looked through the brass binoculars, then put a leaf in a small sample jar.
8.The villain checked the shiny pocket compass, then marked the escape path with yellow marking chalk.
9.The villain climbed up the thick rope, then blew a loud blast on a safety whistle.
10.The villain turned on the glowing flashlight, then marked the escape path with yellow marking chalk.
11.The villain climbed up the thick rope, then marked the escape path with yellow marking chalk.
12.The villain climbed up the thick rope, then put a leaf in a small sample jar.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Golden Compass
Culprit: Ben (brass binoculars · safety whistle · left-handed writer · orange badge cap · sweet honey crackers)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A DECODER RING"2266 + 2863 = 5129 (T) · 1318 + 821 = 2139 (I) · 2774 + 5794 = 8568 (D) · 4557 + 3191 = 7748 (O) · 4789 + 2204 = 6993 (V) · 1559 + 1400 = 2959 (H) · 1913 + 2934 = 4847 (R) · 1748 + 2625 = 4373 (N) · 4152 + 3379 = 7531 (E) · 5747 + 3770 = 9517 (U) · 2584 + 2897 = 5481 (S) · 1259 + 2154 = 3413 (C) · 4458 + 5254 = 9712 (G) · 4506 + 4253 = 8759 (A) · 2518 + 3757 = 6275 (L)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE CLUE WAS WRITTEN WITH THE LEFT HAND"8 × 4 = 32 (T) · 5 × 6 = 30 (W) · 11 × 5 = 55 (U) · 3 × 3 = 9 (E) · 6 × 10 = 60 (I) · 9 × 3 = 27 (H) · 9 × 6 = 54 (D) · 4 × 7 = 28 (R) · 8 × 9 = 72 (C) · 4 × 10 = 40 (F) · 7 × 6 = 42 (L) · 9 × 5 = 45 (S) · 1 × 4 = 4 (A) · 3 × 6 = 18 (N)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE DESK HAD HONEY CRACKER CRUMBS"Round 31 to the nearest ten = 30 (T) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (Y) · Round 6,884 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (M) · Round 1,145 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (N) · Round 907 to the nearest hundred = 900 (D) · Round 73 to the nearest ten = 70 (U) · Round 4,253 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (E) · Round 268 to the nearest hundred = 300 (C) · Round 4,938 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (K) · Round 3,694 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (B) · Round 2,908 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (H) · Round 705 to the nearest hundred = 700 (S) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (R) · Round 107 to the nearest ten = 110 (A)
- Clue 4 (Word problems): "ORANGE BADGE CAP"The Lead Ranger found 8 climbing ropes yesterday and 68 more today. How many climbing ropes in all? = 76 (O) · The Lead Ranger found 4 trail maps yesterday and 58 more today. How many trail maps in all? = 62 (R) · There were 70 trail maps. 36 were used up. How many trail maps are left? = 34 (B) · The Lead Ranger lined up 11 rows of 6 climbing ropes. How many climbing ropes in all? = 66 (E) · The Lead Ranger found 56 canteens yesterday and 4 more today. How many canteens in all? = 60 (A) · The Lead Ranger found 12 binoculars yesterday and 2 more today. How many binoculars in all? = 14 (G) · The Lead Ranger lined up 9 rows of 9 trail maps. How many trail maps in all? = 81 (N)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 6) → Ben20 + ___ = 29 = 9 · 34 + ___ = 46 = 12 · 14 + ___ = 15 = 1 · 24 + ___ = 32 = 8 · 3 + ___ = 6 = 3 · 17 + ___ = 24 = 7 · 13 + ___ = 18 = 5 · 8 + ___ = 10 = 2 · 6 + ___ = 17 = 11 · 25 + ___ = 35 = 10 · 8 + ___ = 12 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 8 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Multiplication, Rounding, Word problems, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Golden Compass — set in The Jungle Canopy Club
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects