Grade 5Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationPlace valueFractions of a numberOrder of operationsDivision
The Mystery of the Lost Golden Compass
Someone took the legendary Golden Compass from the Camp Director's desk! Our Junior Rangers must search the trail and solve the clues before the sun sets on the campgrounds.
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 | Special Gear | Backup Tool | Dominant Hand | Cap Color | Camp Obstacle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellie Compass | headlamp hat | canteen strap | left handed | blue cap | allergic to pollen |
| Henry Hiker | zipline pulley | trail chalk | left handed | brown cap | hates sticky mud |
| Wyatt Wilder | headlamp hat | survival match | left handed | blue cap | hates sticky mud |
| Ivy Forest | headlamp hat | whistle | right-handed | blue cap | hates sticky mud |
| Felix Boots | climbing boots | magnifying glass | left handed | brown cap | hates sticky mud |
| Peter Ranger | grappling hook | trail chalk | right-handed | red cap | hates sticky mud |
| Leo Ridge | zipline pulley | whistle | left handed | brown cap | hates sticky mud |
| Nate Canyon | grappling hook | whistle | left handed | blue cap | hates sticky mud |
| Katie Camp | grappling hook | canteen strap | right-handed | blue cap | hates sticky mud |
| Ulysses Wood | grappling hook | magnifying glass | left handed | red cap | hates sticky mud |
| Clara Trail | grappling hook | trail chalk | left handed | blue cap | hates sticky mud |
| Jack River | climbing boots | trail chalk | right-handed | brown cap | hates sticky mud |
| Ruby Stone | headlamp hat | magnifying glass | left handed | blue cap | hates sticky mud |
| Grace Peak | headlamp hat | whistle | left handed | brown cap | afraid of spiders |
| Tessa Tree | zipline pulley | magnifying glass | right-handed | blue cap | afraid of spiders |
| Quinn Adventure | decoder ring | magnifying glass | left handed | red cap | afraid of spiders |
| Maya Valley | grappling hook | whistle | right-handed | red cap | afraid of spiders |
| Benny Scout | zipline pulley | trail chalk | left handed | red cap | hates sticky mud |
| Olivia Pine | zipline pulley | canteen strap | left handed | blue cap | afraid of spiders |
| Zoe Zenith | decoder ring | whistle | left handed | brown cap | afraid of spiders |
| Danny Map | grappling hook | magnifying glass | left handed | blue cap | hates sticky mud |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We find crates stacked in the supply tent. If we count the rows and columns of gear, we can uncover the first clue.
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
36
35
3
60
99
9
100
3
60
20
56
3
44
9
56
T
36
77
44
3
T
36
35
3
44
77
60
108
7
108
99
70
21
99
T
36
11
35
3 × 12 =T
11 × 7 =U
9 × 11 =A
1 × 3 =E
1 × 11 =C
7 × 8 =O
3 × 7 =M
12 × 9 =V
6 × 10 =R
5 × 4 =D
7 × 5 =H
1 × 7 =I
10 × 10 =G
7 × 10 =L
9 × 1 =N
11 × 4 =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Place value
The camp radio box has a code screen. By looking at the value of the digit in the tens place, we unlock the next clue.
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
500
7000
30
40
30
800
T
500
7000
600
1000
400
3000
60
300
1000
T
500
9000
600
10
800
700
5000
1000
400
700
1000
T
500
7000
30
20
40
300
800
800
What is the value of the 5 in 974,536?T
What is the value of the 2 in 917,020?C
What is the value of the 6 in 480,563?R
What is the value of the 7 in 147,432?H
What is the value of the 4 in 307,645?L
What is the value of the 3 in 23,020?P
What is the value of the 4 in 650,413?D
What is the value of the 8 in 321,841?F
What is the value of the 9 in 39,605?W
What is the value of the 1 in 86,910?S
What is the value of the 5 in 365,174?U
What is the value of the 1 in 991,033?N
What is the value of the 7 in 95,761?O
What is the value of the 3 in 71,318?I
What is the value of the 3 in 668,937?E
What is the value of the 6 in 524,625?A
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Fractions of a number
The team finds a box of field notebooks. Only a fraction of them have the special silver seal, revealing our third clue.
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
28
13
10
15
40
3
5
23
10
12
27
32
10
7
T
28
13
10
5
3
12
T
28
27
39
10
10
23
12
7
15
2/10 of 140 =T
1/6 of 192 =V
1/6 of 42 =R
4/8 of 10 =M
2/8 of 156 =K
2/6 of 69 =P
2/10 of 65 =H
2/5 of 25 =E
3/6 of 54 =O
3/5 of 25 =Y
1/5 of 200 =J
6/10 of 5 =U
1/10 of 120 =D
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
We need to solve the ancient stone dial in order. Doing the math rules in the right order unlocks the fourth clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
8
79
72
68
17
43
75
68
16
58
17
73
80
77
52
58
S
8
27
79
73
36
79
36
27
71
68
17
75
S
8
71
7 × 4 - 20 =S
8 × 10 - 9 =H
7 × 9 - 27 =N
10 × 7 - 2 =E
8 × 4 - 15 =B
40 + 8 × 5 =I
47 + 6 × 5 =C
54 + 3 × 7 =U
48 + 4 × 6 =M
7 × 8 - 29 =T
22 + 7 × 3 =L
6 × 10 - 2 =A
9 × 8 - 20 =W
10 × 9 - 17 =R
9 × 12 - 29 =O
3 × 8 - 8 =F
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The rescue team splits up the golden tokens equally among all the search groups, giving 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
24 ÷ 4 = ?
40 ÷ 4 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
28 ÷ 7 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
5 ÷ 1 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
2 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swings across the canyon, then sparks a campfire spark.
2.The villain scales the stone wall, then marks the path ahead.
3.The villain swings across the canyon, then blows a loud warning.
4.The villain slides down the rope, then marks the path ahead.
5.The villain lights up the dark tunnel, then blows a loud warning.
6.The villain swings across the canyon, then marks the path ahead.
7.The villain slides down the rope, then sparks a campfire spark.
8.The villain slides down the rope, then tightens the water flask.
9.The villain lights up the dark tunnel, then marks the path ahead.
10.The villain swings across the canyon, then examines the tiny dust.
11.The villain scales the stone wall, then examines the tiny dust.
12.The villain lights up the dark tunnel, then examines the tiny dust.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Lost Golden Compass
Culprit: Ruby Stone (headlamp hat · magnifying glass · left handed · blue cap · hates sticky mud)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE RANGER DOES NOT USE THE SURVIVAL MATCH"3 × 12 = 36 (T) · 11 × 7 = 77 (U) · 9 × 11 = 99 (A) · 1 × 3 = 3 (E) · 1 × 11 = 11 (C) · 7 × 8 = 56 (O) · 3 × 7 = 21 (M) · 12 × 9 = 108 (V) · 6 × 10 = 60 (R) · 5 × 4 = 20 (D) · 7 × 5 = 35 (H) · 1 × 7 = 7 (I) · 10 × 10 = 100 (G) · 7 × 10 = 70 (L) · 9 × 1 = 9 (N) · 11 × 4 = 44 (S)
- Clue 2 (Place value): "THE LEFT HAND PRINT WAS FOUND ON THE CLIFF"What is the value of the 5 in 974,536? = 500 (T) · What is the value of the 2 in 917,020? = 20 (C) · What is the value of the 6 in 480,563? = 60 (R) · What is the value of the 7 in 147,432? = 7000 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 307,645? = 40 (L) · What is the value of the 3 in 23,020? = 3000 (P) · What is the value of the 4 in 650,413? = 400 (D) · What is the value of the 8 in 321,841? = 800 (F) · What is the value of the 9 in 39,605? = 9000 (W) · What is the value of the 1 in 86,910? = 10 (S) · What is the value of the 5 in 365,174? = 5000 (U) · What is the value of the 1 in 991,033? = 1000 (N) · What is the value of the 7 in 95,761? = 700 (O) · What is the value of the 3 in 71,318? = 300 (I) · What is the value of the 3 in 668,937? = 30 (E) · What is the value of the 6 in 524,625? = 600 (A)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "THEY JUMPED OVER THE MUD TO KEEP DRY"2/10 of 140 = 28 (T) · 1/6 of 192 = 32 (V) · 1/6 of 42 = 7 (R) · 4/8 of 10 = 5 (M) · 2/8 of 156 = 39 (K) · 2/6 of 69 = 23 (P) · 2/10 of 65 = 13 (H) · 2/5 of 25 = 10 (E) · 3/6 of 54 = 27 (O) · 3/5 of 25 = 15 (Y) · 1/5 of 200 = 40 (J) · 6/10 of 5 = 3 (U) · 1/10 of 120 = 12 (D)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "SOME BLUE FABRIC WAS TORN ON THE BUSH"7 × 4 - 20 = 8 (S) · 8 × 10 - 9 = 71 (H) · 7 × 9 - 27 = 36 (N) · 10 × 7 - 2 = 68 (E) · 8 × 4 - 15 = 17 (B) · 40 + 8 × 5 = 80 (I) · 47 + 6 × 5 = 77 (C) · 54 + 3 × 7 = 75 (U) · 48 + 4 × 6 = 72 (M) · 7 × 8 - 29 = 27 (T) · 22 + 7 × 3 = 43 (L) · 6 × 10 - 2 = 58 (A) · 9 × 8 - 20 = 52 (W) · 10 × 9 - 17 = 73 (R) · 9 × 12 - 29 = 79 (O) · 3 × 8 - 8 = 16 (F)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Ruby Stone24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Place value, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Lost Golden Compass — set in Camp Wildwood Adventure Base
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects