Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationFractions of a numberDivision
The Mystery of the Missing Golden Compass
Someone has swiped the legendary Golden Compass right out of the camp director's cabin! Without it, the Whispering Woods Adventure Camp cannot start the great weekend treasure hunt. It is up to you to follow the clues, crack the codes, and 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 | Special Camp Skill | Earned Merit Badge | Dominant Hand | Camp Headwear | Nature Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby | rapid tree climb | wildlife tracking badge | left-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | startled by loud frogs |
| Grace | expert map reading | stargazing badge | right-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | fear of tiny spiders |
| Chloe | stealthy trail run | first aid badge | right-handed pencil grip | bright blue bandana | fear of tiny spiders |
| Jax | expert map reading | stargazing badge | right-handed pencil grip | green adventure cap | dread of itchy ivy |
| Ivy | grappling hook swing | wildlife tracking badge | right-handed pencil grip | bright blue bandana | fear of tiny spiders |
| Ella | decoder ring hack | stargazing badge | left-handed pencil grip | green adventure cap | dread of itchy ivy |
| Zoe | expert map reading | stargazing badge | left-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | fear of tiny spiders |
| Luke | decoder ring hack | first aid badge | right-handed pencil grip | bright blue bandana | fear of tiny spiders |
| Ben | stealthy trail run | wildlife tracking badge | left-handed pencil grip | green adventure cap | startled by loud frogs |
| Leo | rapid tree climb | knot tying badge | right-handed pencil grip | green adventure cap | startled by loud frogs |
| Owen | stealthy trail run | first aid badge | left-handed pencil grip | bright blue bandana | startled by loud frogs |
| Max | decoder ring hack | knot tying badge | right-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | dread of itchy ivy |
| Zack | grappling hook swing | knot tying badge | right-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | startled by loud frogs |
| Sophia | grappling hook swing | campfire cooking badge | right-handed pencil grip | bright blue bandana | startled by loud frogs |
| Sam | expert map reading | wildlife tracking badge | right-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | fear of tiny spiders |
| Emma | grappling hook swing | stargazing badge | right-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | fear of tiny spiders |
| Ava | grappling hook swing | stargazing badge | right-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | startled by loud frogs |
| Finn | rapid tree climb | knot tying badge | left-handed pencil grip | bright blue bandana | fear of tiny spiders |
| Maya | stealthy trail run | campfire cooking badge | right-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | fear of tiny spiders |
| Cole | rapid tree climb | wildlife tracking badge | right-handed pencil grip | khaki safari helmet | fear of tiny spiders |
| Lily | stealthy trail run | first aid badge | right-handed pencil grip | green adventure cap | startled by loud frogs |
Clue 1
Addition
Our team gathered at the Whispering Woods mess hall. We counted up all the spare flashlights found in the cabins to narrow down our suspect list.
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
8491
7700
5002
8552
7132
8552
5111
5002
9439
T
8491
8097
6485
5002
8552
2220
6485
T
8491
7700
7359
7671
5002
T
8491
7700
5002
9439
6485
6485
8275
5404
2220
6236
4436
7359
8097
6236
5002
4144 + 4347 =T
4968 + 2164 =U
4262 + 4013 =K
4244 + 4308 =S
1526 + 694 =N
2689 + 2422 =P
2525 + 2477 =E
4326 + 3374 =H
3635 + 2850 =O
4038 + 2198 =G
4954 + 4485 =C
2567 + 5530 =D
2794 + 2610 =I
3009 + 4662 =V
2106 + 2330 =B
2490 + 4869 =A
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
To figure out which trail the culprit took, we subtracted the blocked paths from the total camp map trails.
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
3226
5348
8518
8586
8555
1164
8555
A
3226
7599
1157
5411
1157
8992
2977
8918
2984
A
3226
1394
1394
8586
5348
8518
2984
7418
A
3226
1394
2977
3063
1394
5411
5348
8733
5411
1157
7778 - 4552 =A
2446 - 1289 =D
5845 - 497 =R
6364 - 3387 =O
12194 - 3676 =I
7665 - 4681 =P
12717 - 3984 =V
3000 - 1836 =T
9938 - 1383 =H
7658 - 240 =W
10285 - 1699 =G
8009 - 4946 =B
8275 - 676 =N
10598 - 1606 =C
6378 - 4984 =S
10453 - 1535 =M
8759 - 3348 =E
0/17 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We searched the storage shed, where gear was stacked in equal rows. Multiplying the boxes helped us find the next secret note.
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
77
33
120
16
90
8
8
36
90
5
27
36
5
36
49
36
14
96
27
56
20
36
T
77
90
5
14
88
132
90
40
120
27
7 × 11 =T
5 × 8 =D
2 × 7 =Y
10 × 2 =M
1 × 8 =L
7 × 8 =O
8 × 11 =S
11 × 12 =P
8 × 12 =F
9 × 10 =I
3 × 9 =R
7 × 7 =W
11 × 3 =H
9 × 4 =A
1 × 5 =N
10 × 12 =E
4 × 4 =V
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Fractions of a number
Only a fraction of the scouts had access to the main climbing tower. Finding that specific portion gave us our next breakthrough.
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
4
24
23
6
3
31
18
34
11
18
34
22
11
4
33
25
4
28
35
28
32
18
2
22
3
28
11
4
31
22
32
28
6/10 of 65 =W
2/8 of 8 =P
1/5 of 120 =F
1/5 of 30 =U
2/8 of 136 =K
6/10 of 55 =L
2/4 of 64 =R
1/2 of 62 =D
1/2 of 70 =S
2/10 of 55 =H
3/6 of 44 =I
2/10 of 20 =E
1/6 of 168 =T
5/6 of 30 =M
3/6 of 46 =O
6/8 of 24 =A
4/8 of 6 =N
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We divided the camp keycards evenly among the search leaders so everyone could investigate the locked cabins.
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
12 ÷ 3 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
60 ÷ 12 = ?
24 ÷ 2 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain dashed silently down the winding trail, then patched up a torn jacket using first aid skills.
2.The villain dashed silently down the winding trail, then tracked animal footprints in the mud.
3.The villain scouted the path using an expert map, then navigated by checking the night stars.
4.The villain scouted the path using an expert map, then tracked animal footprints in the mud.
5.The villain dashed silently down the winding trail, then navigated by checking the night stars.
6.The villain scaled the giant oak tree in seconds, then navigated by checking the night stars.
7.The villain scouted the path using an expert map, then patched up a torn jacket using first aid skills.
8.The villain scaled the giant oak tree in seconds, then tracked animal footprints in the mud.
9.The villain decoded the secret lock on the chest, then tied a perfect double knot on the rope.
10.The villain swung across the creek with a grappling hook, then navigated by checking the night stars.
11.The villain scouted the path using an expert map, then tied a perfect double knot on the rope.
12.The villain scouted the path using an expert map, then cooked a quick trail snack over the fire.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Golden Compass
Culprit: Emma (grappling hook swing · stargazing badge · right-handed pencil grip · khaki safari helmet · fear of tiny spiders)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT HAVE THE COOKING BADGE"4144 + 4347 = 8491 (T) · 4968 + 2164 = 7132 (U) · 4262 + 4013 = 8275 (K) · 4244 + 4308 = 8552 (S) · 1526 + 694 = 2220 (N) · 2689 + 2422 = 5111 (P) · 2525 + 2477 = 5002 (E) · 4326 + 3374 = 7700 (H) · 3635 + 2850 = 6485 (O) · 4038 + 2198 = 6236 (G) · 4954 + 4485 = 9439 (C) · 2567 + 5530 = 8097 (D) · 2794 + 2610 = 5404 (I) · 3009 + 4662 = 7671 (V) · 2106 + 2330 = 4436 (B) · 2490 + 4869 = 7359 (A)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "A RIGHT HANDED COMPASS GRIP WAS OBSERVED"7778 - 4552 = 3226 (A) · 2446 - 1289 = 1157 (D) · 5845 - 497 = 5348 (R) · 6364 - 3387 = 2977 (O) · 12194 - 3676 = 8518 (I) · 7665 - 4681 = 2984 (P) · 12717 - 3984 = 8733 (V) · 3000 - 1836 = 1164 (T) · 9938 - 1383 = 8555 (H) · 7658 - 240 = 7418 (W) · 10285 - 1699 = 8586 (G) · 8009 - 4946 = 3063 (B) · 8275 - 676 = 7599 (N) · 10598 - 1606 = 8992 (C) · 6378 - 4984 = 1394 (S) · 10453 - 1535 = 8918 (M) · 8759 - 3348 = 5411 (E)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN RAN AWAY FROM A TINY SPIDER"7 × 11 = 77 (T) · 5 × 8 = 40 (D) · 2 × 7 = 14 (Y) · 10 × 2 = 20 (M) · 1 × 8 = 8 (L) · 7 × 8 = 56 (O) · 8 × 11 = 88 (S) · 11 × 12 = 132 (P) · 8 × 12 = 96 (F) · 9 × 10 = 90 (I) · 3 × 9 = 27 (R) · 7 × 7 = 49 (W) · 11 × 3 = 33 (H) · 9 × 4 = 36 (A) · 1 × 5 = 5 (N) · 10 × 12 = 120 (E) · 4 × 4 = 16 (V)
- Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "WE FOUND A KHAKI HELMET STRAP IN THE DIRT"6/10 of 65 = 39 (W) · 2/8 of 8 = 2 (P) · 1/5 of 120 = 24 (F) · 1/5 of 30 = 6 (U) · 2/8 of 136 = 34 (K) · 6/10 of 55 = 33 (L) · 2/4 of 64 = 32 (R) · 1/2 of 62 = 31 (D) · 1/2 of 70 = 35 (S) · 2/10 of 55 = 11 (H) · 3/6 of 44 = 22 (I) · 2/10 of 20 = 4 (E) · 1/6 of 168 = 28 (T) · 5/6 of 30 = 25 (M) · 3/6 of 46 = 23 (O) · 6/8 of 24 = 18 (A) · 4/8 of 6 = 3 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Emma12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Golden Compass — set in Whispering Woods Adventure Camp
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects