Grade 6Reading: grades 5-6PercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsMultiplicationMissing addends

The Sky-Pirate Balloon Mystery

The golden weather vane of Skylandia has been stolen from the weather station! Without it, the floating islands cannot predict the shifting winds. The Chief Meteorologist needs your help to find which aviator took it before the storm hits!

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	Flight Method	Escape Tool	Goggles Placement	Hair Color	Critical Weakness
Silas Spark	harpoon grapple	spy camera	goggles on cap	dusty brown hair	allergic to pine needles
Stella Starboard	electric propeller	spy camera	goggles on cap	dusty brown hair	allergic to pine needles
Arthur Anchor	harpoon grapple	spy camera	goggles on neck	dusty brown hair	dazzled by shiny mirrors
Nora Navigator	harpoon grapple	smoke bomb	goggles on neck	jet black hair	allergic to pine needles
Maya Jetstream	steam jetpack	spy camera	goggles on cap	bright orange hair	allergic to pine needles
Finn Flapjack	magnet hook	flare launcher	goggles on neck	jet black hair	allergic to pine needles
Penny Propeller	steam jetpack	net shooter	goggles on neck	jet black hair	allergic to pine needles
Amelia Skyward	wind glider	smoke bomb	goggles on cap	bright orange hair	allergic to pine needles
Hazel Altitude	steam jetpack	net shooter	goggles on neck	dusty brown hair	afraid of loud horns
Toby Turbine	wind glider	net shooter	goggles on neck	jet black hair	allergic to pine needles
Buster Balloon	harpoon grapple	flare launcher	goggles on neck	jet black hair	afraid of loud horns
Miles Mapmaker	magnet hook	signal whistle	goggles on neck	jet black hair	allergic to pine needles
Clara Compass	electric propeller	signal whistle	goggles on cap	bright orange hair	afraid of loud horns
Leo Zephyr	harpoon grapple	flare launcher	goggles on neck	bright orange hair	allergic to pine needles
Rufus Rudder	magnet hook	signal whistle	goggles on neck	jet black hair	afraid of loud horns
Gus Cloudhopper	steam jetpack	net shooter	goggles on cap	jet black hair	allergic to pine needles
Gemma Gearbox	wind glider	spy camera	goggles on neck	dusty brown hair	afraid of loud horns
Captain Barnaby	steam jetpack	signal whistle	goggles on neck	jet black hair	afraid of loud horns
Pip Stratus	steam jetpack	signal whistle	goggles on neck	jet black hair	allergic to pine needles
Victor Velocity	electric propeller	smoke bomb	goggles on cap	dusty brown hair	allergic to pine needles
Jax Aero	wind glider	smoke bomb	goggles on neck	dusty brown hair	afraid of loud horns

Clue 1

Percentages

To narrow down the suspect airships, we check the weather station's solar batteries. We calculate what percentage of power remains to boot up the security log.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

25% of 32 =T

40% of 75 =G

60% of 15 =L

25% of 52 =D

20% of 10 =A

40% of 95 =U

25% of 180 =S

40% of 25 =N

5% of 460 =I

20% of 185 =E

5% of 60 =O

60% of 25 =V

25% of 100 =H

10% of 290 =W

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

The thief escaped by climbing several flights of sky-stairs. We calculate the total steps by squaring the island's tier number to find the correct landing platform.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

324

216

289

100

125

289

361

289

361

324

128

100

243

256

324

216

289

144

225

18^2 =T

2^7 =A

5^3 =L

7^2 =W

9^2 =N

5^2 =I

2^8 =D

17^2 =E

15^2 =K

19^2 =S

12^2 =C

10^2 =O

2^5 =R

6^3 =H

2^2 =G

3^5 =U

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

We find a locked brass canister on the launch pad. Solving the multi-step order of operations code on the dial pops the lid open to reveal a 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.

3 × 8 - 15 =T

7 × 12 - 15 =H

9 × 8 - 6 =D

26 + 7 × 4 =F

67 + 5 × 2 =N

4 + 4 × 2 =E

2 + 2 × 2 =I

8 × 8 - 29 =L

3 × 12 - 7 =O

1 + 6 × 8 =G

3 + 3 × 6 =A

10 × 5 - 8 =P

5 × 6 - 5 =S

7 × 8 - 1 =U

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

Looking at the supply deck, we count the rows of heavy sandbags left behind. Multiplying the rows by the columns tells us how much ballast the thief dropped.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

132

121

110

121

12 × 11 =B

3 × 11 =C

6 × 3 =H

3 × 7 =F

5 × 5 =T

10 × 2 =A

2 × 4 =K

8 × 4 =E

9 × 9 =I

7 × 4 =L

6 × 9 =G

11 × 10 =W

5 × 9 =P

3 × 9 =D

10 × 8 =S

12 × 5 =N

10 × 7 =U

11 × 11 =R

11 × 9 =O

0/19 letters found

Clue 5

Missing addends — the last clue

To balance the scale on the getaway dock, we must figure out the exact missing weight of the fuel canisters that were carried away.

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

16 + ___ = 23

25 + ___ = 30

28 + ___ = 30

25 + ___ = 28

21 + ___ = 27

11 + ___ = 21

3 + ___ = 15

33 + ___ = 34

18 + ___ = 26

33 + ___ = 37

34 + ___ = 43

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain swings across with a harpoon grapple, then tangles the pursuit team in a net.

2.The villain zooms away on a steam jetpack, then tangles the pursuit team in a net.

3.The villain flies high with an electric propeller, then lights up the dark sky with a flare.

4.The villain swings across with a harpoon grapple, then snaps a picture with a spy camera.

5.The villain climbs up with a magnet hook, then lights up the dark sky with a flare.

6.The villain flies high with an electric propeller, then snaps a picture with a spy camera.

7.The villain swings across with a harpoon grapple, then escapes into a cloud of smoke.

8.The villain soars down using a wind glider, then snaps a picture with a spy camera.

9.The villain flies high with an electric propeller, then escapes into a cloud of smoke.

10.The villain climbs up with a magnet hook, then calls for backup using a whistle.

11.The villain soars down using a wind glider, then tangles the pursuit team in a net.

12.The villain zooms away on a steam jetpack, then calls for backup using a whistle.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Sky-Pirate Balloon Mystery

Culprit: Toby Turbine (wind glider · net shooter · goggles on neck · jet black hair · allergic to pine needles)

Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE THE SIGNAL WHISTLE"
25% of 32 = 8 (T) · 40% of 75 = 30 (G) · 60% of 15 = 9 (L) · 25% of 52 = 13 (D) · 20% of 10 = 2 (A) · 40% of 95 = 38 (U) · 25% of 180 = 45 (S) · 40% of 25 = 10 (N) · 5% of 460 = 23 (I) · 20% of 185 = 37 (E) · 5% of 60 = 3 (O) · 60% of 25 = 15 (V) · 25% of 100 = 25 (H) · 10% of 290 = 29 (W)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE GOGGLES WERE RESTING AROUND THE NECK"
18^2 = 324 (T) · 2^7 = 128 (A) · 5^3 = 125 (L) · 7^2 = 49 (W) · 9^2 = 81 (N) · 5^2 = 25 (I) · 2^8 = 256 (D) · 17^2 = 289 (E) · 15^2 = 225 (K) · 19^2 = 361 (S) · 12^2 = 144 (C) · 10^2 = 100 (O) · 2^5 = 32 (R) · 6^3 = 216 (H) · 2^2 = 4 (G) · 3^5 = 243 (U)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE FLIGHT SUIT HAD PINE NEEDLES ON IT"
3 × 8 - 15 = 9 (T) · 7 × 12 - 15 = 69 (H) · 9 × 8 - 6 = 66 (D) · 26 + 7 × 4 = 54 (F) · 67 + 5 × 2 = 77 (N) · 4 + 4 × 2 = 12 (E) · 2 + 2 × 2 = 6 (I) · 8 × 8 - 29 = 35 (L) · 3 × 12 - 7 = 29 (O) · 1 + 6 × 8 = 49 (G) · 3 + 3 × 6 = 21 (A) · 10 × 5 - 8 = 42 (P) · 5 × 6 - 5 = 25 (S) · 7 × 8 - 1 = 55 (U)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "BLACK STRANDS WERE FOUND ON THE COCKPIT RUG"
12 × 11 = 132 (B) · 3 × 11 = 33 (C) · 6 × 3 = 18 (H) · 3 × 7 = 21 (F) · 5 × 5 = 25 (T) · 10 × 2 = 20 (A) · 2 × 4 = 8 (K) · 8 × 4 = 32 (E) · 9 × 9 = 81 (I) · 7 × 4 = 28 (L) · 6 × 9 = 54 (G) · 11 × 10 = 110 (W) · 5 × 9 = 45 (P) · 3 × 9 = 27 (D) · 10 × 8 = 80 (S) · 12 × 5 = 60 (N) · 10 × 7 = 70 (U) · 11 × 11 = 121 (R) · 11 × 9 = 99 (O)
Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 11) → Toby Turbine
16 + ___ = 23 = 7 · 25 + ___ = 30 = 5 · 28 + ___ = 30 = 2 · 25 + ___ = 28 = 3 · 21 + ___ = 27 = 6 · 11 + ___ = 21 = 10 · 3 + ___ = 15 = 12 · 33 + ___ = 34 = 1 · 18 + ___ = 26 = 8 · 33 + ___ = 37 = 4 · 34 + ___ = 43 = 9

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 6 math
Math topics: Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Multiplication, Missing addends
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Sky-Pirate Balloon Mystery — set in The Floating Archipelago of Skylandia, a realm of floating islands and brass airships
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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