🌊 Cats, MermaidsGrade 1Reading: grades 1-2Place valueAdditionSubtractionSkip countingMissing addends
The Mystery of the Golden Pearl
Someone swam into the castle and took the Great Golden Pearl! The Royal Pearl Keeper needs your help. Follow the clues to find the sneaky sea-snatcher!
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 | Bubble Magic | Tail Trick | Swim Paw | Fur Color | Silly Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver | high bubble jump | high tail splash | right paw lead | calico fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Bella | bubble trap | high tail splash | left paw lead | orange fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Oscar | bubble blast | shiny tail spark | left paw lead | calico fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Nala | bubble trap | super tail twist | left paw lead | calico fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Daisy | high bubble jump | fast tail flip | right paw lead | white fur | scared of laser dots |
| Toby | high bubble jump | shiny tail spark | right paw lead | orange fur | scared of loud splashes |
| Luna | bubble trap | high tail splash | left paw lead | calico fur | scared of loud splashes |
| Cleo | bubble blast | super tail twist | right paw lead | calico fur | scared of laser dots |
| Fluffy | bubble glow | super tail twist | left paw lead | orange fur | scared of loud splashes |
| Splash | high bubble jump | super tail twist | left paw lead | white fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Simba | bubble shield | high tail splash | left paw lead | calico fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Marina | bubble glow | high tail splash | right paw lead | orange fur | scared of loud splashes |
| Mittens | bubble shield | shiny tail spark | right paw lead | calico fur | scared of laser dots |
| Chloe | bubble blast | shiny tail spark | right paw lead | calico fur | scared of loud splashes |
| Misty | bubble trap | shiny tail spark | right paw lead | white fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Felix | bubble shield | shiny tail spark | right paw lead | white fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Coral | high bubble jump | high tail splash | left paw lead | calico fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Sandy | high bubble jump | fast tail flip | left paw lead | white fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Bubbles | bubble trap | high tail splash | right paw lead | white fur | scared of loud splashes |
| Whiskers | high bubble jump | soft tail wave | right paw lead | calico fur | scared of cucumbers |
| Sassy | high bubble jump | fast tail flip | left paw lead | calico fur | scared of cucumbers |
Clue 1
Place value
Officer Barnaby counts the shiny shells in groups of tens and ones. The secret code on the shell box points us to our first lead.
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
33
18
52
16
17
52
74
49
43
81
74
T
33
75
98
52
16
17
98
T
33
18
74
13
52
16
18
71
17
43
T
33
74
71
31
16
20
74
45
49
What number has 3 tens and 3 ones?T
What number has 1 ten and 7 ones?N
What number has 4 tens and 9 ones?K
What number has 7 tens and 1 one?I
What number has 1 ten and 6 ones?S
What number has 4 tens and 3 ones?Y
What number has 1 ten and 8 ones?H
What number has 1 ten and 3 ones?V
What number has 2 tens and 0 ones?P
What number has 3 tens and 1 one?L
What number has 8 tens and 1 one?C
What number has 5 tens and 2 ones?E
What number has 7 tens and 5 ones?D
What number has 9 tens and 8 ones?O
What number has 7 tens and 4 ones?A
What number has 4 tens and 5 ones?R
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We find two piles of kelp toys on the ocean floor. We add them together to see how many toys the thief dropped here.
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
6
15
12
13
W
6
13
17
15
4
8
3
13
W
6
19
13
5
15
8
18
15
12
W
6
16
10
17
12
4 + 2 =W
2 + 1 =P
2 + 2 =F
13 + 5 =H
10 + 7 =L
10 + 5 =E
6 + 10 =I
5 + 3 =T
7 + 12 =M
3 + 7 =R
8 + 4 =S
8 + 5 =A
1 + 4 =K
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The thief had a bag of fish treats but some floated away. Let us subtract the lost treats to find out what is left.
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
7
19
9
4
15
T
7
5
15
17
3
5
16
6
15
10
5
9
9
17
4
11
4
11
6
8
9
5
9 - 2 =T
20 - 3 =N
11 - 2 =E
14 - 9 =R
20 - 1 =H
4 - 1 =F
16 - 1 =A
17 - 1 =O
20 - 9 =U
5 - 1 =C
7 - 1 =M
14 - 4 =G
9 - 1 =B
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Skip counting
We see paw prints on the sandy path. We count them by twos to follow the path and get closer to 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
39
24
9
20
14
55
6
80
18
15
15
25
36
22
15
18
36
20
9
14
45
18
55
30
21
24
80
22
55
6
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45W
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, ___, 20, 22I
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30O
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26A
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, ___, 20, 25L
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27H
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50T
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10D
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35Y
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15F
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55R
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ___, 26, 28E
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65N
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18U
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42C
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100S
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The sea vault needs ten pink pearls to open. We only have six pearls. Let us find out how many more we need.
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
8 + ___ = 15
7 + ___ = 12
6 + ___ = 16
5 + ___ = 11
5 + ___ = 9
8 + ___ = 10
2 + ___ = 3
9 + ___ = 21
6 + ___ = 14
10 + ___ = 13
9 + ___ = 18
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain makes the dark sea light up, then makes a spark of light with their tail.
2.The villain makes the dark sea light up, then splashes warm water with their tail.
3.The villain creates a glowing bubble barrier, then makes a spark of light with their tail.
4.The villain traps the guards in safe bubbles, then makes a spark of light with their tail.
5.The villain creates a glowing bubble barrier, then flips their tail to zoom away.
6.The villain traps the guards in safe bubbles, then waves goodbye with their fluffy tail.
7.The villain floats in a giant air bubble, then splashes warm water with their tail.
8.The villain makes the dark sea light up, then waves goodbye with their fluffy tail.
9.The villain creates a glowing bubble barrier, then twirls their tail like a motor.
10.The villain creates a glowing bubble barrier, then splashes warm water with their tail.
11.The villain traps the guards in safe bubbles, then twirls their tail like a motor.
12.The villain creates a glowing bubble barrier, then waves goodbye with their fluffy tail.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Golden Pearl
Culprit: Nala (bubble trap · super tail twist · left paw lead · calico fur · scared of cucumbers)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SNEAKY CAT DOES NOT HAVE SHINY TAIL SPARK"What number has 3 tens and 3 ones? = 33 (T) · What number has 1 ten and 7 ones? = 17 (N) · What number has 4 tens and 9 ones? = 49 (K) · What number has 7 tens and 1 one? = 71 (I) · What number has 1 ten and 6 ones? = 16 (S) · What number has 4 tens and 3 ones? = 43 (Y) · What number has 1 ten and 8 ones? = 18 (H) · What number has 1 ten and 3 ones? = 13 (V) · What number has 2 tens and 0 ones? = 20 (P) · What number has 3 tens and 1 one? = 31 (L) · What number has 8 tens and 1 one? = 81 (C) · What number has 5 tens and 2 ones? = 52 (E) · What number has 7 tens and 5 ones? = 75 (D) · What number has 9 tens and 8 ones? = 98 (O) · What number has 7 tens and 4 ones? = 74 (A) · What number has 4 tens and 5 ones? = 45 (R)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "WE SAW A LEFT PAW MAKE THE SWIRLS"4 + 2 = 6 (W) · 2 + 1 = 3 (P) · 2 + 2 = 4 (F) · 13 + 5 = 18 (H) · 10 + 7 = 17 (L) · 10 + 5 = 15 (E) · 6 + 10 = 16 (I) · 5 + 3 = 8 (T) · 7 + 12 = 19 (M) · 3 + 7 = 10 (R) · 8 + 4 = 12 (S) · 8 + 5 = 13 (A) · 1 + 4 = 5 (K)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE CAT RAN FROM A GREEN CUCUMBER"9 - 2 = 7 (T) · 20 - 3 = 17 (N) · 11 - 2 = 9 (E) · 14 - 9 = 5 (R) · 20 - 1 = 19 (H) · 4 - 1 = 3 (F) · 16 - 1 = 15 (A) · 17 - 1 = 16 (O) · 20 - 9 = 11 (U) · 5 - 1 = 4 (C) · 7 - 1 = 6 (M) · 14 - 4 = 10 (G) · 9 - 1 = 8 (B)
- Clue 4 (Skip counting): "WE FOUND SILLY CALICO FUR IN THE SAND"Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (W) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, ___, 20, 22 = 18 (I) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, ___, 25, 30 = 20 (O) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26 = 22 (A) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, ___, 20, 25 = 15 (L) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, ___, 24, 27 = 21 (H) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50 = 30 (T) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (D) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (Y) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15 = 9 (F) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (R) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, ___, 26, 28 = 24 (E) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65 = 55 (N) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ___, 16, 18 = 14 (U) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (C) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100 = 80 (S)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 11) → Nala8 + ___ = 15 = 7 · 7 + ___ = 12 = 5 · 6 + ___ = 16 = 10 · 5 + ___ = 11 = 6 · 5 + ___ = 9 = 4 · 8 + ___ = 10 = 2 · 2 + ___ = 3 = 1 · 9 + ___ = 21 = 12 · 6 + ___ = 14 = 8 · 10 + ___ = 13 = 3 · 9 + ___ = 18 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Skip counting, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Golden Pearl — set in Purr-maid Cove
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects