🏴☠️ PiratesGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionRoundingMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Lost Golden Anchor
The legendary Golden Anchor has been stolen from the flagship dock! Quartermaster Barnaby was locked in the brig while the thief ran off with the heavy treasure. We must search the sandy beaches and pirate ships to track down the sneaky crew member who took it.
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 | ship skill | carried item | writing hand | pirate hat | greatest fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Morgan | spots a far island from the mast | a wooden compass | writes with left hand | a red bandana | gets seasick easily |
| Siren Sarah | steers the heavy pirate ship | a pet parrot | writes with left hand | a red bandana | scared of sharks |
| Scurvy Dan | fires the giant brass cannon | a golden spyglass | writes with left hand | a black captain hat | gets seasick easily |
| Captain Kidd | fires the giant brass cannon | a silver cutlass | writes with right hand | a red bandana | gets seasick easily |
| Salty Sam | swings on the long rigging ropes | a silver cutlass | writes with left hand | a black captain hat | allergic to sea salt |
| Redbeard | steers the heavy pirate ship | a pet parrot | writes with left hand | a black captain hat | allergic to sea salt |
| Captain Flint | steers the heavy pirate ship | a pet parrot | writes with left hand | a red bandana | allergic to sea salt |
| Stede Bonnet | steers the heavy pirate ship | a heavy iron key | writes with left hand | a blue tricorn | allergic to sea salt |
| Billy Bones | fires the giant brass cannon | a heavy iron key | writes with left hand | a red bandana | allergic to sea salt |
| Boatswain Bob | fires the giant brass cannon | a golden spyglass | writes with left hand | a black captain hat | allergic to sea salt |
| Patchy Pete | swings on the long rigging ropes | a heavy iron key | writes with right hand | a red bandana | allergic to sea salt |
| Barnaby Blue | spots a far island from the mast | a heavy iron key | writes with left hand | a red bandana | allergic to sea salt |
| Edward Low | spots a far island from the mast | a silver cutlass | writes with left hand | a red bandana | gets seasick easily |
| Charles Vane | decodes the ancient sea map | a wooden compass | writes with left hand | a red bandana | allergic to sea salt |
| Grace OMalley | decodes the ancient sea map | a pet parrot | writes with left hand | a red bandana | allergic to sea salt |
| Calico Jack | swings on the long rigging ropes | a wooden compass | writes with right hand | a red bandana | gets seasick easily |
| Blackbeard | fires the giant brass cannon | a pet parrot | writes with right hand | a red bandana | allergic to sea salt |
| Mary Read | swings on the long rigging ropes | a wooden compass | writes with left hand | a blue tricorn | scared of sharks |
| Marina May | swings on the long rigging ropes | a golden spyglass | writes with left hand | a black captain hat | gets seasick easily |
| Captain Hook | decodes the ancient sea map | a golden spyglass | writes with left hand | a black captain hat | gets seasick easily |
| Pegleg Pete | decodes the ancient sea map | a heavy iron key | writes with right hand | a red bandana | allergic to sea salt |
Clue 1
Addition
To get the first clue, we need to add up all the shiny gold coins found in the pirate 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
985
511
979
757
628
664
664
558
628
381
239
519
979
258
381
519
T
985
511
558
757
979
558
362
519
519
239
979
381
316
519
320
438
558
258
258
661 + 324 =T
341 + 170 =H
149 + 90 =D
189 + 173 =W
413 + 251 =L
144 + 237 =N
460 + 297 =V
225 + 294 =O
78 + 180 =S
209 + 107 =C
308 + 320 =I
180 + 140 =M
335 + 223 =A
160 + 278 =P
439 + 540 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
To find the next clue, we must take away the rotten wooden planks that fell off the ship 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.
T
892
749
440
403
584
580
584
T
892
661
794
756
794
661
T
892
440
756
584
T
892
749
T
892
749
440
556
440
777
T
892
749
472
761
235
926 - 34 =T
723 - 143 =S
939 - 145 =R
821 - 265 =L
1070 - 321 =H
909 - 148 =N
694 - 33 =O
1043 - 287 =W
852 - 75 =F
700 - 297 =V
947 - 363 =I
608 - 136 =A
745 - 305 =E
483 - 248 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
We found a blurry map with fuzzy numbers. Round the distance to the nearest ten to see where to dig next.
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
3000
6000
90
T
3000
700
800
200
90
T
3000
80
300
90
90
600
90
5000
40
800
70
8000
T
3000
6000
90
80
700
7000
T
3000
9000
700
4000
800
Round 3,130 to the nearest thousandT
Round 92 to the nearest tenE
Round 8,607 to the nearest thousandY
Round 186 to the nearest hundredG
Round 827 to the nearest hundredR
Round 270 to the nearest hundredN
Round 668 to the nearest hundredA
Round 72 to the nearest tenO
Round 5,930 to the nearest thousandH
Round 622 to the nearest hundredZ
Round 40 to the nearest tenF
Round 6,772 to the nearest thousandL
Round 4,595 to the nearest thousandD
Round 4,274 to the nearest thousandI
Round 8,046 to the nearest thousandM
Round 82 to the nearest tenS
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The pirate crew stacked their barrels in equal rows. Let us multiply the rows to find the hidden code.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
R
3
90
4
14
22
20
42
44
42
44
R
3
90
80
4
25
15
90
R
3
90
22
90
21
42
20
55
42
44
90
44
20
20
70
3 × 1 =R
4 × 1 =D
10 × 8 =A
7 × 2 =C
5 × 3 =W
10 × 9 =E
5 × 5 =S
11 × 2 =L
5 × 11 =N
6 × 7 =T
11 × 4 =H
10 × 7 =K
10 × 2 =O
3 × 7 =F
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The pirates need to share their coconuts equally among the crew. Divide the food to unlock the final box.
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
11 ÷ 1 = ?
6 ÷ 1 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
5 ÷ 1 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
20 ÷ 2 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
3 ÷ 3 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain decodes the ancient sea map, then polishes a silver cutlass.
2.The villain steers the heavy pirate ship, then peers through a golden spyglass.
3.The villain spots a far island from the mast, then peers through a golden spyglass.
4.The villain swings on the long rigging ropes, then turns a heavy iron key.
5.The villain spots a far island from the mast, then polishes a silver cutlass.
6.The villain fires the giant brass cannon, then turns a heavy iron key.
7.The villain decodes the ancient sea map, then feeds a colorful pet parrot.
8.The villain steers the heavy pirate ship, then feeds a colorful pet parrot.
9.The villain steers the heavy pirate ship, then turns a heavy iron key.
10.The villain decodes the ancient sea map, then turns a heavy iron key.
11.The villain spots a far island from the mast, then turns a heavy iron key.
12.The villain decodes the ancient sea map, then peers through a golden spyglass.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Lost Golden Anchor
Culprit: Captain Flint (steers the heavy pirate ship · a pet parrot · writes with left hand · a red bandana · allergic to sea salt)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE A WOODEN COMPASS"661 + 324 = 985 (T) · 341 + 170 = 511 (H) · 149 + 90 = 239 (D) · 189 + 173 = 362 (W) · 413 + 251 = 664 (L) · 144 + 237 = 381 (N) · 460 + 297 = 757 (V) · 225 + 294 = 519 (O) · 78 + 180 = 258 (S) · 209 + 107 = 316 (C) · 308 + 320 = 628 (I) · 180 + 140 = 320 (M) · 335 + 223 = 558 (A) · 160 + 278 = 438 (P) · 439 + 540 = 979 (E)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE VISITOR WROTE WITH THE LEFT HAND"926 - 34 = 892 (T) · 723 - 143 = 580 (S) · 939 - 145 = 794 (R) · 821 - 265 = 556 (L) · 1070 - 321 = 749 (H) · 909 - 148 = 761 (N) · 694 - 33 = 661 (O) · 1043 - 287 = 756 (W) · 852 - 75 = 777 (F) · 700 - 297 = 403 (V) · 947 - 363 = 584 (I) · 608 - 136 = 472 (A) · 745 - 305 = 440 (E) · 483 - 248 = 235 (D)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "THE TARGET SNEEZED FROM THE SALTY AIR"Round 3,130 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (T) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (E) · Round 8,607 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (Y) · Round 186 to the nearest hundred = 200 (G) · Round 827 to the nearest hundred = 800 (R) · Round 270 to the nearest hundred = 300 (N) · Round 668 to the nearest hundred = 700 (A) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (O) · Round 5,930 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (H) · Round 622 to the nearest hundred = 600 (Z) · Round 40 to the nearest ten = 40 (F) · Round 6,772 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (L) · Round 4,595 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (D) · Round 4,274 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (I) · Round 8,046 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (M) · Round 82 to the nearest ten = 80 (S)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "RED CLOTH THREADS WERE LEFT ON THE HOOK"3 × 1 = 3 (R) · 4 × 1 = 4 (D) · 10 × 8 = 80 (A) · 7 × 2 = 14 (C) · 5 × 3 = 15 (W) · 10 × 9 = 90 (E) · 5 × 5 = 25 (S) · 11 × 2 = 22 (L) · 5 × 11 = 55 (N) · 6 × 7 = 42 (T) · 11 × 4 = 44 (H) · 10 × 7 = 70 (K) · 10 × 2 = 20 (O) · 3 × 7 = 21 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Captain Flint11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 20 ÷ 2 = 10 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Lost Golden Anchor — set in Salty Shark Bay
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects