Grade 5Reading: grades 3-4RoundingPlace valueFractions of a numberOrder of operationsDivision
The Sky Island Compass Chase
Someone has sneaked into the High Cloud Library and swapped the legendary Golden Compass with a fake copper one! The Chief Archivist needs your help to track down the rival explorer who did it before they sail off into the sunset. Use your map and match the clues to catch them!
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 | primary tool | special gadget | glove hand | headwear color | favorite snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kira | glider wings | magnet boots | right handed glove | neon green goggles | maple candy |
| Jack | glider wings | spark sparkler | right handed glove | sky blue bandana | sour apple chew |
| Leo | pocket radar | spark sparkler | left handed glove | sky blue bandana | sour apple chew |
| Alex | pocket radar | smoke bomb | right handed glove | neon green goggles | salty popcorn |
| Brooke | rope launcher | wind whistle | right handed glove | neon green goggles | sour apple chew |
| Hugo | glider wings | spark sparkler | left handed glove | neon green goggles | sour apple chew |
| Cody | pocket radar | magnet boots | right handed glove | sky blue bandana | salty popcorn |
| Finn | rope launcher | wind whistle | left handed glove | sky blue bandana | sour apple chew |
| Olivia | glider wings | magnet boots | left handed glove | bright red cap | maple candy |
| Baron | grappling hook | smoke bomb | right handed glove | sky blue bandana | sour apple chew |
| Iris | pocket radar | magnet boots | left handed glove | neon green goggles | salty popcorn |
| Nate | glider wings | magnet boots | right handed glove | bright red cap | maple candy |
| Pete | glider wings | bubble blaster | right handed glove | sky blue bandana | sour apple chew |
| Ellie | pocket radar | magnet boots | right handed glove | bright red cap | sour apple chew |
| Quinn | pocket radar | spark sparkler | right handed glove | bright red cap | salty popcorn |
| Ruby | rope launcher | magnet boots | right handed glove | sky blue bandana | sour apple chew |
| Mia | pocket radar | wind whistle | left handed glove | bright red cap | sour apple chew |
| Danny | glider wings | magnet boots | right handed glove | sky blue bandana | sour apple chew |
| Grace | pocket radar | bubble blaster | right handed glove | bright red cap | sour apple chew |
| Sam | sky binocular | wind whistle | right handed glove | neon green goggles | maple candy |
| Cole | pocket radar | smoke bomb | right handed glove | bright red cap | maple candy |
Clue 1
Rounding
The airport radar only tracks rounded distance numbers to the nearest ten. Round the cloud distance to find the route.
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
2300
110
170
1100
9000
230
7000
50
4300
500
170
30
900
500
T
2300
70
30
170
7000
300
70
300
300
50
170
300
50
7000
30
T
2300
170
1100
Round 2,291 to the nearest hundredT
Round 6,968 to the nearest thousandA
Round 29 to the nearest tenS
Round 498 to the nearest hundredO
Round 338 to the nearest hundredB
Round 947 to the nearest hundredN
Round 71 to the nearest tenU
Round 228 to the nearest tenV
Round 4,254 to the nearest hundredD
Round 109 to the nearest tenH
Round 47 to the nearest tenL
Round 169 to the nearest tenE
Round 8,905 to the nearest thousandI
Round 1,120 to the nearest hundredR
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Place value
The safe lock uses place value code keys. Look at the digit in the hundreds place of the coordinate to unlock the box.
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
200
5000
10
8000
800
2000
3000
600
500
8000
9000
900
900
10
500
3000
8000
800
6000
5000
T
200
5000
3000
80
500
10
500
6000
600
9000
2000
10
What is the value of the 2 in 55,251?T
What is the value of the 2 in 902,434?V
What is the value of the 8 in 311,851?I
What is the value of the 3 in 563,570?A
What is the value of the 6 in 86,445?G
What is the value of the 9 in 689,677?O
What is the value of the 8 in 208,256?R
What is the value of the 9 in 38,975?P
What is the value of the 5 in 895,264?H
What is the value of the 6 in 153,692?L
What is the value of the 1 in 805,318?E
What is the value of the 8 in 94,282?N
What is the value of the 5 in 76,502?D
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Fractions of a number
A flock of sky birds ate part of our berry supply. Solve for the fraction of remaining berries to find where they flew.
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
12
25
20
5
32
15
8
37
36
25
25
15
38
5
32
36
2
19
19
3
25
6
26
25
W
12
6
36
32
27
24
38
2/10 of 60 =W
4/8 of 50 =E
1/5 of 30 =C
1/5 of 130 =H
2/5 of 60 =B
1/6 of 18 =L
1/6 of 30 =O
2/10 of 190 =S
6/10 of 25 =N
6/8 of 48 =R
2/10 of 185 =G
4/8 of 54 =M
1/10 of 190 =P
4/10 of 5 =A
4/6 of 48 =U
1/4 of 80 =F
1/5 of 40 =D
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
The steam engine requires a specific sequence of pressures. Follow the order of operations to solve the pressure dial.
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
23
14
40
19
57
19
32
55
10
26
56
65
6
79
19
57
6
32
35
22
27
A
23
10
6
19
55
35
65
19
22
40
51
76
4 × 10 - 17 =A
12 × 9 - 29 =U
7 × 12 - 28 =Y
7 × 9 - 8 =F
51 + 3 × 2 =C
7 × 4 - 9 =E
5 × 9 - 5 =I
10 × 6 - 28 =O
11 + 3 × 8 =T
2 + 2 × 4 =S
3 + 3 × 8 =W
10 × 4 - 14 =K
9 × 8 - 21 =N
9 × 11 - 23 =D
12 × 3 - 14 =H
9 + 7 × 8 =B
12 × 2 - 18 =L
5 × 3 - 1 =P
0/18 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to split our golden coins evenly among the rescue team. Divide the treasure to get the final clue location.
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
108 ÷ 12 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
110 ÷ 10 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
32 ÷ 8 = ?
6 ÷ 2 = ?
8 ÷ 8 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scanned the foggy horizon, then summoned a sudden gust of wind to sail away.
2.The villain scouted the highest peak, then distracted the guards with bright sparks.
3.The villain scanned the foggy horizon, then distracted the guards with bright sparks.
4.The villain zipped over the canyon, then distracted the guards with bright sparks.
5.The villain swung across the sky bridge, then escaped in a cloud of thick purple smoke.
6.The villain soared between the clouds, then floated away on a giant soapy bubble.
7.The villain zipped over the canyon, then escaped in a cloud of thick purple smoke.
8.The villain soared between the clouds, then escaped in a cloud of thick purple smoke.
9.The villain zipped over the canyon, then climbed up the metal tower with ease.
10.The villain soared between the clouds, then distracted the guards with bright sparks.
11.The villain swung across the sky bridge, then distracted the guards with bright sparks.
12.The villain soared between the clouds, then climbed up the metal tower with ease.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky Island Compass Chase
Culprit: Jack (glider wings · spark sparkler · right handed glove · sky blue bandana · sour apple chew)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE RIVAL DOES NOT USE A BUBBLE BLASTER"Round 2,291 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (T) · Round 6,968 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (A) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (S) · Round 498 to the nearest hundred = 500 (O) · Round 338 to the nearest hundred = 300 (B) · Round 947 to the nearest hundred = 900 (N) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (U) · Round 228 to the nearest ten = 230 (V) · Round 4,254 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (D) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (H) · Round 47 to the nearest ten = 50 (L) · Round 169 to the nearest ten = 170 (E) · Round 8,905 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (I) · Round 1,120 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (R)
- Clue 2 (Place value): "THE RIVAL DROPPED A RIGHT HANDED GLOVE"What is the value of the 2 in 55,251? = 200 (T) · What is the value of the 2 in 902,434? = 2000 (V) · What is the value of the 8 in 311,851? = 800 (I) · What is the value of the 3 in 563,570? = 3000 (A) · What is the value of the 6 in 86,445? = 6000 (G) · What is the value of the 9 in 689,677? = 9000 (O) · What is the value of the 8 in 208,256? = 8000 (R) · What is the value of the 9 in 38,975? = 900 (P) · What is the value of the 5 in 895,264? = 5000 (H) · What is the value of the 6 in 153,692? = 600 (L) · What is the value of the 1 in 805,318? = 10 (E) · What is the value of the 8 in 94,282? = 80 (N) · What is the value of the 5 in 76,502? = 500 (D)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "WE FOUND GREEN SOUR APPLE CHEW CRUMBS"2/10 of 60 = 12 (W) · 4/8 of 50 = 25 (E) · 1/5 of 30 = 6 (C) · 1/5 of 130 = 26 (H) · 2/5 of 60 = 24 (B) · 1/6 of 18 = 3 (L) · 1/6 of 30 = 5 (O) · 2/10 of 190 = 38 (S) · 6/10 of 25 = 15 (N) · 6/8 of 48 = 36 (R) · 2/10 of 185 = 37 (G) · 4/8 of 54 = 27 (M) · 1/10 of 190 = 19 (P) · 4/10 of 5 = 2 (A) · 4/6 of 48 = 32 (U) · 1/4 of 80 = 20 (F) · 1/5 of 40 = 8 (D)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A PIECE OF SKY BLUE CLOTH WAS LEFT BEHIND"4 × 10 - 17 = 23 (A) · 12 × 9 - 29 = 79 (U) · 7 × 12 - 28 = 56 (Y) · 7 × 9 - 8 = 55 (F) · 51 + 3 × 2 = 57 (C) · 7 × 4 - 9 = 19 (E) · 5 × 9 - 5 = 40 (I) · 10 × 6 - 28 = 32 (O) · 11 + 3 × 8 = 35 (T) · 2 + 2 × 4 = 10 (S) · 3 + 3 × 8 = 27 (W) · 10 × 4 - 14 = 26 (K) · 9 × 8 - 21 = 51 (N) · 9 × 11 - 23 = 76 (D) · 12 × 3 - 14 = 22 (H) · 9 + 7 × 8 = 65 (B) · 12 × 2 - 18 = 6 (L) · 5 × 3 - 1 = 14 (P)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Jack108 ÷ 12 = 9 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Place value, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Sky Island Compass Chase — set in floating Sky Archipelago
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects