Grade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Sky-Pirate Balloon Mystery
The Golden Compass has been swiped from the Cloud Keeper's tower! A rogue sky-captain sneaked past the guards using weird flying gear. We must track down the culprit before they sail into the Storm Barrier.
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 engine | special tool | steering hand | headgear | major weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viper Vic | Storm Engine | Spyglass Laser | Right-handed steering | Copper helmet | Citrus juice |
| Captain Caleb | Steam Propeller | Wind Whistle | Right-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Shiny mirrors |
| Uma | Solar Sails | Spyglass Laser | Right-handed steering | Blue bandanna | Loud whistles |
| Ned | Turbo Glider | Cloud Grapple | Right-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Shiny mirrors |
| Jack | Steam Propeller | Spyglass Laser | Right-handed steering | Blue bandanna | Loud whistles |
| Barnaby | Storm Engine | Net Launcher | Left-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Loud whistles |
| Indigo | Solar Sails | Cloud Grapple | Left-handed steering | Copper helmet | Loud whistles |
| Quillon | Steam Propeller | Wind Whistle | Left-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Shiny mirrors |
| Rusty | Gravity Anchor | Net Launcher | Right-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Shiny mirrors |
| Lucky Leo | Gravity Anchor | Cloud Grapple | Right-handed steering | Copper helmet | Loud whistles |
| Tucker | Storm Engine | Wind Whistle | Right-handed steering | Copper helmet | Loud whistles |
| Amelia | Steam Propeller | Wind Whistle | Right-handed steering | Copper helmet | Shiny mirrors |
| Grace | Gravity Anchor | Compass Magnet | Right-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Shiny mirrors |
| Flynn | Gravity Anchor | Wind Whistle | Right-handed steering | Blue bandanna | Citrus juice |
| Kid Koby | Solar Sails | Net Launcher | Left-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Citrus juice |
| Ellie | Steam Propeller | Wind Whistle | Right-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Citrus juice |
| Zack | Storm Engine | Net Launcher | Left-handed steering | Copper helmet | Shiny mirrors |
| Hudson | Steam Propeller | Net Launcher | Left-handed steering | Blue bandanna | Shiny mirrors |
| Otis | Steam Propeller | Spyglass Laser | Left-handed steering | Copper helmet | Citrus juice |
| Dusty | Solar Sails | Compass Magnet | Right-handed steering | Green aviator hat | Shiny mirrors |
| Wendy | Storm Engine | Compass Magnet | Left-handed steering | Copper helmet | Loud whistles |
Clue 1
Addition
We searched the docks for clue scraps. We added up the total cargo logs left behind by the runaway ships.
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
6225
6044
4941
9787
5043
7550
4587
T
6225
4941
2651
2390
4941
4649
6118
2390
T
6225
2180
4649
4941
T
6225
6044
4941
6118
4941
T
6225
3213
4587
2180
6118
5779
6044
4941
7550
1882 + 4343 =T
1817 + 1396 =L
2880 + 3164 =H
4197 + 5590 =P
3853 + 1926 =C
3523 + 2595 =N
2235 + 2414 =S
2681 + 2260 =E
2024 + 2563 =A
3261 + 1782 =I
1227 + 953 =U
843 + 1547 =O
4122 + 3428 =R
1392 + 1259 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
The culprit dropped some map pieces during their escape. We subtracted the ruined pieces from the pile to find the rest.
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
1754
6383
7750
3141
8872
3141
3958
7169
5097
T
1754
6906
6383
7750
7750
3426
6906
2291
4770
6383
7750
3426
6801
5097
8392
T
1754
6383
7750
6646
5097
2855
6383
T
1754
6383
2291
8392
6801
2416 - 662 =T
10675 - 1803 =O
9395 - 1645 =E
10434 - 3265 =P
8997 - 2196 =D
4226 - 268 =K
9781 - 4684 =I
7458 - 812 =R
6926 - 20 =W
2980 - 125 =G
7435 - 4294 =C
12733 - 4341 =N
9741 - 4971 =S
3896 - 470 =L
10230 - 3847 =H
3331 - 1040 =A
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We spotted some crates stacked in neat rows on the launch pad. Multiplying the rows showed us exactly how many items were stolen.
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
9
22
44
56
15
33
63
110
44
90
44
90
5
22
33
63
63
44
110
T
9
22
44
81
90
3
25
22
T
9
12
3
90
90
11
90
5
1 × 9 =T
3 × 5 =L
3 × 11 =U
10 × 9 =R
9 × 9 =B
1 × 3 =I
11 × 4 =E
10 × 11 =D
11 × 2 =H
11 × 1 =O
8 × 7 =P
3 × 4 =M
1 × 5 =S
5 × 5 =G
7 × 9 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
A broken radar screen flashed the escape ship's speed. The screen only shows numbers rounded to the nearest ten.
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
110
130
290
50
20
2900
2000
3000
500
1700
130
130
2900
3000
700
1300
3000
900
50
1700
5000
3000
900
3000
900
900
5000
130
30
170
130
2900
130
Round 111 to the nearest tenW
Round 33 to the nearest tenS
Round 166 to the nearest tenC
Round 289 to the nearest tenF
Round 886 to the nearest hundredT
Round 2,815 to the nearest thousandA
Round 500 to the nearest hundredG
Round 1,756 to the nearest thousandD
Round 1,688 to the nearest hundredR
Round 49 to the nearest tenO
Round 2,888 to the nearest hundredN
Round 1,328 to the nearest hundredI
Round 654 to the nearest hundredV
Round 21 to the nearest tenU
Round 132 to the nearest tenE
Round 4,534 to the nearest thousandH
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We cornered a deckhand who was dividing up stolen fuel canisters. Sharing them equally revealed the final path.
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
121 ÷ 11 = ?
100 ÷ 10 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
27 ÷ 3 = ?
8 ÷ 4 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
5 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain dropped a heavy gravity anchor, then activated a strong compass magnet.
2.The villain unfurled the glowing solar sails, then fired a rusty cloud grapple.
3.The villain dropped a heavy gravity anchor, then shot a heavy net launcher.
4.The villain boosted off with a turbo glider, then blew a magic wind whistle.
5.The villain spun a whistling steam propeller, then activated a strong compass magnet.
6.The villain spun a whistling steam propeller, then fired a rusty cloud grapple.
7.The villain dropped a heavy gravity anchor, then shined a red spyglass laser.
8.The villain spun a whistling steam propeller, then shot a heavy net launcher.
9.The villain boosted off with a turbo glider, then shot a heavy net launcher.
10.The villain unfurled the glowing solar sails, then activated a strong compass magnet.
11.The villain boosted off with a turbo glider, then fired a rusty cloud grapple.
12.The villain spun a whistling steam propeller, then blew a magic wind whistle.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky-Pirate Balloon Mystery
Culprit: Captain Caleb (Steam Propeller · Wind Whistle · Right-handed steering · Green aviator hat · Shiny mirrors)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE PIRATE DOES NOT USE THE NET LAUNCHER"1882 + 4343 = 6225 (T) · 1817 + 1396 = 3213 (L) · 2880 + 3164 = 6044 (H) · 4197 + 5590 = 9787 (P) · 3853 + 1926 = 5779 (C) · 3523 + 2595 = 6118 (N) · 2235 + 2414 = 4649 (S) · 2681 + 2260 = 4941 (E) · 2024 + 2563 = 4587 (A) · 3261 + 1782 = 5043 (I) · 1227 + 953 = 2180 (U) · 843 + 1547 = 2390 (O) · 4122 + 3428 = 7550 (R) · 1392 + 1259 = 2651 (D)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE COCKPIT WHEEL WAS HELD IN THE RIGHT HAND"2416 - 662 = 1754 (T) · 10675 - 1803 = 8872 (O) · 9395 - 1645 = 7750 (E) · 10434 - 3265 = 7169 (P) · 8997 - 2196 = 6801 (D) · 4226 - 268 = 3958 (K) · 9781 - 4684 = 5097 (I) · 7458 - 812 = 6646 (R) · 6926 - 20 = 6906 (W) · 2980 - 125 = 2855 (G) · 7435 - 4294 = 3141 (C) · 12733 - 4341 = 8392 (N) · 9741 - 4971 = 4770 (S) · 3896 - 470 = 3426 (L) · 10230 - 3847 = 6383 (H) · 3331 - 1040 = 2291 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE PLUNDERER SHUNNED THE BRIGHT MIRRORS"1 × 9 = 9 (T) · 3 × 5 = 15 (L) · 3 × 11 = 33 (U) · 10 × 9 = 90 (R) · 9 × 9 = 81 (B) · 1 × 3 = 3 (I) · 11 × 4 = 44 (E) · 10 × 11 = 110 (D) · 11 × 2 = 22 (H) · 11 × 1 = 11 (O) · 8 × 7 = 56 (P) · 3 × 4 = 12 (M) · 1 × 5 = 5 (S) · 5 × 5 = 25 (G) · 7 × 9 = 63 (N)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND A GREEN AVIATOR HAT AT THE SCENE"Round 111 to the nearest ten = 110 (W) · Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (S) · Round 166 to the nearest ten = 170 (C) · Round 289 to the nearest ten = 290 (F) · Round 886 to the nearest hundred = 900 (T) · Round 2,815 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (A) · Round 500 to the nearest hundred = 500 (G) · Round 1,756 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (D) · Round 1,688 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (R) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (O) · Round 2,888 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (N) · Round 1,328 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (I) · Round 654 to the nearest hundred = 700 (V) · Round 21 to the nearest ten = 20 (U) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (E) · Round 4,534 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Captain Caleb121 ÷ 11 = 11 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 8 ÷ 4 = 2 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Sky-Pirate Balloon Mystery — set in Cloud Top Archipelago
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects