Grade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingWord problemsMulti-step word problemsSkip countingMissing addends
The Sky Ship Sabotage
The Great Airship Race is about to start, but someone has stolen the Golden Compass! The Chief Engineer needs your help. Look at the clue board, use your math skills, and find the sneaky saboteur before the fleet takes off!
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 | Favorite Tool | Airship Name | Writing Hand | Goggles Style | Fear of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigator Nate | Brass Wrench | The Wind Runner | Left-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Pilot Paige | Steam Hammer | The Sun Seeker | Right-Handed | Round Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Captain Cleo | Copper Pliers | The Star Hopper | Left-Handed | Round Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Pilot Piper | Brass Wrench | The Sun Seeker | Left-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Navigator Ned | Steam Hammer | The Cloud Racer | Left-Handed | Round Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Pilot Peter | Steam Hammer | The Storm Chaser | Left-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Navigator Nina | Steam Hammer | The Cloud Racer | Left-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Skipper Sally | Pocket Compass | The Star Hopper | Right-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Captain Cody | Laser Pointer | The Star Hopper | Right-Handed | Spiky Goggles | Squeaky Toys |
| Pilot Preston | Brass Wrench | The Cloud Racer | Right-Handed | Round Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Skipper Sam | Steam Hammer | The Sun Seeker | Right-Handed | Spiky Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Skipper Silas | Brass Wrench | The Storm Chaser | Left-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Flyer Fiona | Pocket Compass | The Storm Chaser | Left-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Captain Connor | Copper Pliers | The Storm Chaser | Left-Handed | Spiky Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Pilot Penelope | Steam Hammer | The Sun Seeker | Left-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Squeaky Toys |
| Captain Clara | Brass Wrench | The Cloud Racer | Right-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Flyer Felix | Steam Hammer | The Storm Chaser | Right-Handed | Round Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Flyer Fred | Steam Hammer | The Star Hopper | Left-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Squeaky Toys |
| Navigator Nora | Steam Hammer | The Wind Runner | Right-Handed | Tinted Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
| Skipper Skye | Laser Pointer | The Cloud Racer | Left-Handed | Spiky Goggles | Loud Whistles |
| Captain Barnaby | Brass Wrench | The Storm Chaser | Left-Handed | Round Goggles | Bright Flashlights |
Clue 1
Rounding
The fuel gauge is blurry, but rounding the gallons to the nearest ten reveals our 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
130
5000
430
90
1700
1100
1100
30
1700
370
3000
70
430
9000
370
70
T
130
2900
1100
7000
T
130
5000
430
9000
500
370
9000
430
430
110
430
290
Round 134 to the nearest tenT
Round 109 to the nearest tenK
Round 536 to the nearest hundredU
Round 1,685 to the nearest hundredI
Round 69 to the nearest tenO
Round 430 to the nearest tenE
Round 9,100 to the nearest thousandS
Round 7,312 to the nearest thousandY
Round 2,910 to the nearest hundredF
Round 1,131 to the nearest hundredL
Round 374 to the nearest tenN
Round 93 to the nearest tenV
Round 289 to the nearest tenR
Round 3,095 to the nearest thousandD
Round 34 to the nearest tenA
Round 4,956 to the nearest thousandH
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
The dock manager counts the airship propellers to get the next lead.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
27
57
68
61
28
15
9
D
57
D
Captain Rusty lined up 9 rows of 3 compasses. How many compasses in all?L
Captain Rusty found 51 compasses yesterday and 10 more today. How many compasses in all?T
There were 101 balloons. 33 were used up. How many balloons are left?F
Captain Rusty found 3 gears yesterday and 6 more today. How many gears in all?N
Captain Rusty found 36 ropes yesterday and 21 more today. How many ropes in all?E
There were 45 goggles. 17 were used up. How many goggles are left?H
Captain Rusty lined up 3 rows of 5 ropes. How many ropes in all?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
We must calculate the total cargo weight across multiple crates to crack this security safe.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
B
25
19
15
20
18
43
32
L
A
S
18
L
15
20
18
43
S
There were 54 ropes in all. 4 ropes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 2 The Sky Patrol. How many ropes did each get?B
There were 115 compasses in all. 4 The Sky Patrol used 5 compasses each. The other 5 The Sky Patrol shared the rest equally. How many compasses did each of the other The Sky Patrol get?R
There were 92 balloons in all. 1 The Sky Patrol used 20 balloons each. The other 4 The Sky Patrol shared the rest equally. How many balloons did each of the other The Sky Patrol get?H
There were 108 balloons in all. 33 balloons were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 The Sky Patrol. How many balloons did each get?I
Captain Rusty collected 20 goggles in the morning and 40 goggles in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 The Sky Patrol. How many goggles did each get?G
Captain Rusty filled 5 boxes with 5 balloons each, then found 7 more balloons. How many balloons are there in all?F
Captain Rusty filled 5 boxes with 5 balloons each, then found 18 more balloons. How many balloons are there in all?T
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Skip counting
Follow the pattern of numbered sky-steps to find where the thief dropped their notebook.
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
33
28
140
T
33
26
30
110
65
12
24
24
24
15
12
50
30
24
39
26
50
26
65
26
8
T
33
25
140
T
33
15
26
8
65
25
25
50
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39T
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, ___, 33, 36D
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21H
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32I
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30E
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75L
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130G
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12F
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160N
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, ___, 15, 18A
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70R
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35O
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45W
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, ___, 27, 30S
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
We need to balance the scale with the missing gear weight to unlock the final room.
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
3 + ___ = 10
2 + ___ = 13
31 + ___ = 43
9 + ___ = 19
21 + ___ = 25
15 + ___ = 21
19 + ___ = 20
35 + ___ = 43
27 + ___ = 29
17 + ___ = 26
29 + ___ = 34
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain mixed up the engine fuel, then fled in a tiny balloon.
2.The villain hid the pilot logs, then zipped down the sky line.
3.The villain cut the anchor ropes, then fled in a tiny balloon.
4.The villain mixed up the engine fuel, then escaped on a glider.
5.The villain mixed up the engine fuel, then dashed down the wooden dock.
6.The villain hid the pilot logs, then fled in a tiny balloon.
7.The villain stole the golden compass, then zipped down the sky line.
8.The villain tangled the main sails, then zipped down the sky line.
9.The villain tangled the main sails, then jumped into a cloud bank.
10.The villain mixed up the engine fuel, then jumped into a cloud bank.
11.The villain tangled the main sails, then fled in a tiny balloon.
12.The villain cut the anchor ropes, then jumped into a cloud bank.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky Ship Sabotage
Culprit: Pilot Peter (Steam Hammer · The Storm Chaser · Left-Handed · Tinted Goggles · Bright Flashlights)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT FLY THE SUN SEEKER"Round 134 to the nearest ten = 130 (T) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (K) · Round 536 to the nearest hundred = 500 (U) · Round 1,685 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (I) · Round 69 to the nearest ten = 70 (O) · Round 430 to the nearest ten = 430 (E) · Round 9,100 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (S) · Round 7,312 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (Y) · Round 2,910 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (F) · Round 1,131 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (L) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (N) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (V) · Round 289 to the nearest ten = 290 (R) · Round 3,095 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (D) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (A) · Round 4,956 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED"Captain Rusty lined up 9 rows of 3 compasses. How many compasses in all? = 27 (L) · Captain Rusty found 51 compasses yesterday and 10 more today. How many compasses in all? = 61 (T) · There were 101 balloons. 33 were used up. How many balloons are left? = 68 (F) · Captain Rusty found 3 gears yesterday and 6 more today. How many gears in all? = 9 (N) · Captain Rusty found 36 ropes yesterday and 21 more today. How many ropes in all? = 57 (E) · There were 45 goggles. 17 were used up. How many goggles are left? = 28 (H) · Captain Rusty lined up 3 rows of 5 ropes. How many ropes in all? = 15 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "BRIGHT FLASHLIGHTS"There were 54 ropes in all. 4 ropes were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 2 The Sky Patrol. How many ropes did each get? = 25 (B) · There were 115 compasses in all. 4 The Sky Patrol used 5 compasses each. The other 5 The Sky Patrol shared the rest equally. How many compasses did each of the other The Sky Patrol get? = 19 (R) · There were 92 balloons in all. 1 The Sky Patrol used 20 balloons each. The other 4 The Sky Patrol shared the rest equally. How many balloons did each of the other The Sky Patrol get? = 18 (H) · There were 108 balloons in all. 33 balloons were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 5 The Sky Patrol. How many balloons did each get? = 15 (I) · Captain Rusty collected 20 goggles in the morning and 40 goggles in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 The Sky Patrol. How many goggles did each get? = 20 (G) · Captain Rusty filled 5 boxes with 5 balloons each, then found 7 more balloons. How many balloons are there in all? = 32 (F) · Captain Rusty filled 5 boxes with 5 balloons each, then found 18 more balloons. How many balloons are there in all? = 43 (T)
- Clue 4 (Skip counting): "TINTED GLASS SHARDS WERE LEFT ON THE FLOOR"Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39 = 33 (T) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, ___, 33, 36 = 30 (D) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, ___, 18, 21 = 15 (H) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (I) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30 = 26 (E) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75 = 65 (L) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130 = 110 (G) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12 = 8 (F) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160 = 140 (N) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, ___, 15, 18 = 12 (A) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70 = 50 (R) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (O) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (W) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, ___, 27, 30 = 24 (S)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 3) → Pilot Peter3 + ___ = 10 = 7 · 2 + ___ = 13 = 11 · 31 + ___ = 43 = 12 · 9 + ___ = 19 = 10 · 21 + ___ = 25 = 4 · 15 + ___ = 21 = 6 · 19 + ___ = 20 = 1 · 35 + ___ = 43 = 8 · 27 + ___ = 29 = 2 · 17 + ___ = 26 = 9 · 29 + ___ = 34 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Skip counting, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Sky Ship Sabotage — set in The floating docks of Mount Zephyr
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects