Grade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Sky-Pirates of Nimbus Bay
The Golden Compass has been snatched from the Grand Airship Chief! The sky-islands are in chaos. We must help Pip the Sky-Pup and the Nimbus Cloud Rangers track down the sneaky thief before they sail beyond the wind 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 | Navigation Gear | Escape Tool | Earring Style | Bandana Color | Distraction Trick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windy Wendy | brass spyglass | mechanical monkey | left-ear earring | crimson bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Barnaby Wilde | grappling hook | clockwork parrot | left-ear earring | crimson bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Grace OMalley | brass spyglass | hover board | left-ear earring | sapphire bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Helmsman Hank | brass spyglass | clockwork parrot | left-ear earring | crimson bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Captain Flint | wind-up glider | clockwork parrot | right-ear earring | emerald bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Breezy Beatrice | brass spyglass | bubble blaster | right-ear earring | crimson bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Zephyr Zach | sky-map globe | bubble blaster | left-ear earring | sapphire bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Scurvy Steve | grappling hook | clockwork parrot | right-ear earring | sapphire bandana | shiny copper coin |
| Salty Sam | sky-map globe | bubble blaster | right-ear earring | sapphire bandana | squeaky rubber duck |
| Sadie the Goat | grappling hook | bubble blaster | right-ear earring | crimson bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Cloudy Clyde | grappling hook | mechanical monkey | left-ear earring | crimson bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Long John | wind-up glider | pocket telescope | right-ear earring | crimson bandana | shiny copper coin |
| Henry Avery | brass spyglass | mechanical monkey | left-ear earring | crimson bandana | squeaky rubber duck |
| Mary Read | magnetic compass | hover board | left-ear earring | emerald bandana | squeaky rubber duck |
| Navigator Ned | brass spyglass | pocket telescope | right-ear earring | crimson bandana | shiny copper coin |
| Gale Force Gary | magnetic compass | clockwork parrot | right-ear earring | sapphire bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Sir Francis | grappling hook | bubble blaster | left-ear earring | sapphire bandana | shiny copper coin |
| Pegleg Penny | grappling hook | bubble blaster | left-ear earring | crimson bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Calico Jack | wind-up glider | hover board | left-ear earring | sapphire bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Anne Bonny | magnetic compass | pocket telescope | left-ear earring | sapphire bandana | sour lemon drop |
| Stormy Stella | magnetic compass | pocket telescope | left-ear earring | crimson bandana | sour lemon drop |
Clue 1
Addition
To find the next island, we must count all the glowing fuel barrels in the cargo bay. Add the totals together to unlock 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
8208
8353
8157
9628
5299
8946
8946
4460
5299
8368
2546
9871
8157
4502
8368
9871
T
8208
9871
5315
8368
4460
9617
8946
9871
9617
7273
5315
9871
5281
7273
8220
4460
5281
5281
9871
T
8208
2903 + 5305 =T
2495 + 2820 =W
1266 + 1280 =D
4837 + 3383 =P
3744 + 3529 =K
6357 + 3271 =V
1623 + 2837 =A
3248 + 5698 =L
5949 + 3922 =O
2813 + 5540 =H
2602 + 5555 =E
6389 + 3228 =C
1597 + 3702 =I
1797 + 2705 =S
5279 + 3089 =N
1978 + 3303 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
Our airship is too heavy! We need to drop some heavy sandbags over the side. Calculate how many bags are left to get the second 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
1338
5164
3897
T
1338
5164
1373
3897
3349
3102
3897
7113
8125
7420
7113
7420
7480
7113
8125
5616
5475
1373
5963
2793
5475
3897
3349
T
1338
3897
7113
8125
3897
7113
8125
8125
1373
5963
2793
3846 - 2508 =T
8891 - 3416 =L
4839 - 3466 =I
6197 - 3095 =W
9784 - 2304 =P
6067 - 2718 =F
8406 - 2790 =K
8788 - 1675 =A
7870 - 3973 =E
8673 - 3509 =H
10764 - 3344 =S
12466 - 4341 =R
6219 - 256 =N
4030 - 1237 =G
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The pirate left a locked chest with a grid of shiny gold buttons. Multiply the rows and columns of buttons to pop open the 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
42
15
64
22
2
36
T
42
2
16
32
144
15
72
16
32
108
144
12
72
1
80
2
144
1
63
72
56
64
80
1
32
88
72
1
36
6 × 7 =T
11 × 2 =C
8 × 11 =D
1 × 1 =O
3 × 12 =P
8 × 8 =E
9 × 12 =K
1 × 2 =A
12 × 12 =S
5 × 3 =H
9 × 7 =U
4 × 8 =N
12 × 1 =F
10 × 8 =M
12 × 6 =R
4 × 4 =I
8 × 7 =L
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
Our wind radar is acting up and only shows air pressure rounded to the nearest ten. Round the current reading to find 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.
W
900
2300
5000
300
3700
70
370
200
2000
1100
500
70
370
200
300
5000
500
1700
1100
3000
290
200
300
70
30
500
70
370
500
70
500
Round 859 to the nearest hundredW
Round 369 to the nearest tenD
Round 71 to the nearest tenN
Round 290 to the nearest tenM
Round 1,668 to the nearest hundredC
Round 1,106 to the nearest hundredR
Round 3,322 to the nearest thousandI
Round 2,257 to the nearest hundredE
Round 1,552 to the nearest thousandT
Round 27 to the nearest tenB
Round 514 to the nearest hundredA
Round 151 to the nearest hundredS
Round 4,914 to the nearest thousandF
Round 300 to the nearest hundredO
Round 3,655 to the nearest hundredU
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We found a small bag of silver gears. If we split the gears evenly among our crew members, how many does each person get? Solve to reveal the 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
9 ÷ 3 = ?
60 ÷ 12 = ?
100 ÷ 10 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
24 ÷ 6 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
5 ÷ 5 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
44 ÷ 4 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain soars high with the wind-up glider, then shoots a thick wall of soap with a bubble blaster.
2.The villain plots a sneaky escape route on the sky-map globe, then peers through a pocket telescope to find a hiding spot.
3.The villain swings across the clouds with the grappling hook, then escapes while a mechanical monkey throws bananas.
4.The villain steers through the storm with the magnetic compass, then zooms away on a shiny hover board.
5.The villain steers through the storm with the magnetic compass, then peers through a pocket telescope to find a hiding spot.
6.The villain swings across the clouds with the grappling hook, then peers through a pocket telescope to find a hiding spot.
7.The villain soars high with the wind-up glider, then flies off as a clockwork parrot squawks.
8.The villain plots a sneaky escape route on the sky-map globe, then escapes while a mechanical monkey throws bananas.
9.The villain uses the brass spyglass to spot the airship, then shoots a thick wall of soap with a bubble blaster.
10.The villain uses the brass spyglass to spot the airship, then escapes while a mechanical monkey throws bananas.
11.The villain swings across the clouds with the grappling hook, then zooms away on a shiny hover board.
12.The villain swings across the clouds with the grappling hook, then shoots a thick wall of soap with a bubble blaster.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky-Pirates of Nimbus Bay
Culprit: Pegleg Penny (grappling hook · bubble blaster · left-ear earring · crimson bandana · sour lemon drop)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT OWN A CLOCKWORK PARROT"2903 + 5305 = 8208 (T) · 2495 + 2820 = 5315 (W) · 1266 + 1280 = 2546 (D) · 4837 + 3383 = 8220 (P) · 3744 + 3529 = 7273 (K) · 6357 + 3271 = 9628 (V) · 1623 + 2837 = 4460 (A) · 3248 + 5698 = 8946 (L) · 5949 + 3922 = 9871 (O) · 2813 + 5540 = 8353 (H) · 2602 + 5555 = 8157 (E) · 6389 + 3228 = 9617 (C) · 1597 + 3702 = 5299 (I) · 1797 + 2705 = 4502 (S) · 5279 + 3089 = 8368 (N) · 1978 + 3303 = 5281 (R)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF WEARS A SPARKLING LEFTEAR EARRING"3846 - 2508 = 1338 (T) · 8891 - 3416 = 5475 (L) · 4839 - 3466 = 1373 (I) · 6197 - 3095 = 3102 (W) · 9784 - 2304 = 7480 (P) · 6067 - 2718 = 3349 (F) · 8406 - 2790 = 5616 (K) · 8788 - 1675 = 7113 (A) · 7870 - 3973 = 3897 (E) · 8673 - 3509 = 5164 (H) · 10764 - 3344 = 7420 (S) · 12466 - 4341 = 8125 (R) · 6219 - 256 = 5963 (N) · 4030 - 1237 = 2793 (G)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE CAPTAIN SHRINKS FROM A SOUR LEMON DROP"6 × 7 = 42 (T) · 11 × 2 = 22 (C) · 8 × 11 = 88 (D) · 1 × 1 = 1 (O) · 3 × 12 = 36 (P) · 8 × 8 = 64 (E) · 9 × 12 = 108 (K) · 1 × 2 = 2 (A) · 12 × 12 = 144 (S) · 5 × 3 = 15 (H) · 9 × 7 = 63 (U) · 4 × 8 = 32 (N) · 12 × 1 = 12 (F) · 10 × 8 = 80 (M) · 12 × 6 = 72 (R) · 4 × 4 = 16 (I) · 8 × 7 = 56 (L)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF A CRIMSON BANDANA"Round 859 to the nearest hundred = 900 (W) · Round 369 to the nearest ten = 370 (D) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (N) · Round 290 to the nearest ten = 290 (M) · Round 1,668 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (C) · Round 1,106 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (R) · Round 3,322 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (I) · Round 2,257 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (E) · Round 1,552 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (T) · Round 27 to the nearest ten = 30 (B) · Round 514 to the nearest hundred = 500 (A) · Round 151 to the nearest hundred = 200 (S) · Round 4,914 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (F) · Round 300 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 3,655 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (U)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Pegleg Penny9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 24 ÷ 6 = 4 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 5 ÷ 5 = 1 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Sky-Pirates of Nimbus Bay — set in The Floating Islands of Nimbus Bay
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects