Grade 6Reading: grades 3-4PercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision

The Sky-Ship Showdown

The Golden Compass has been stolen from the Sky Temple! The Chief Sky Warden needs your help to catch the cloud thief before they escape past 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	Sky-Ship Engine	Ship Tool	Eye Gear	Headwear	Distraction
Navigator Ben	gravity lift	spark blaster	wears goggles	gold helmet	sweet treats
Anchor Al	turbo prop	net launcher	wears goggles	blue cap	loud noise
Slick Sam	magnet drive	spark blaster	wears goggles	red bandana	sweet treats
Echo Emma	gravity lift	fog horn	no goggles	red bandana	sweet treats
Rudder Ruby	turbo prop	grapple claw	wears goggles	blue cap	loud noise
Zephyr Zack	solar sails	spark blaster	wears goggles	red bandana	loud noise
Gale Gabe	turbo prop	smoke screen	no goggles	blue cap	sweet treats
Beacon Bob	steam engine	net launcher	wears goggles	red bandana	loud noise
Pilot Cole	magnet drive	smoke screen	wears goggles	blue cap	loud noise
Jet Jax	solar sails	grapple claw	wears goggles	red bandana	shiny gems
Skipper Mia	turbo prop	grapple claw	no goggles	blue cap	sweet treats
Stormy Sue	steam engine	fog horn	wears goggles	red bandana	sweet treats
Breezy Bella	steam engine	smoke screen	wears goggles	blue cap	sweet treats
Sunny Sophia	solar sails	net launcher	no goggles	blue cap	sweet treats
Captain Dax	magnet drive	smoke screen	wears goggles	red bandana	loud noise
Cloudy Cleo	gravity lift	grapple claw	no goggles	red bandana	sweet treats
Compass Cora	gravity lift	spark blaster	no goggles	red bandana	loud noise
Windy Will	steam engine	smoke screen	wears goggles	red bandana	loud noise
Skyler Sky	magnet drive	spark blaster	wears goggles	red bandana	loud noise
Clipper Cody	turbo prop	grapple claw	wears goggles	red bandana	sweet treats
Aero Andy	gravity lift	smoke screen	no goggles	red bandana	sweet treats

Clue 1

Percentages

We scanned the sky-ship fuel gauges. The fuel tanks only show the remaining capacity in percentages, but we worked out the math to find 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.

25% of 56 =T

50% of 76 =D

25% of 116 =S

25% of 8 =H

10% of 250 =L

50% of 46 =N

20% of 175 =I

50% of 22 =V

10% of 190 =R

50% of 20 =C

50% of 44 =O

20% of 100 =E

10% of 70 =A

50% of 68 =U

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Exponents

The ship grid is growing in power. The engine levels double with each exponent, helping us track the thief's exact escape speed!

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

144

216

289

169

144

128

289

121

144

361

128

196

225

121

12^2 =T

17^2 =P

2^3 =N

14^2 =R

8^2 =E

19^2 =D

2^2 =G

9^2 =S

2^7 =A

6^2 =H

3^2 =L

11^2 =O

13^2 =C

15^2 =I

6^3 =U

2^4 =W

0/16 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

We found a locked hatch on the getaway ship. We have to solve the math dials in the correct order of operations to crack the code!

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

6 × 7 - 21 =T

4 × 12 - 12 =H

23 + 2 × 8 =E

23 + 2 × 2 =N

8 × 5 - 10 =R

4 + 2 × 3 =A

16 + 5 × 8 =V

10 + 4 × 4 =O

52 + 7 × 2 =C

10 × 10 - 28 =B

36 + 2 × 3 =U

10 + 2 × 3 =I

10 × 8 - 19 =Y

11 × 6 - 20 =S

17 + 3 × 7 =D

10 × 2 - 13 =L

0/16 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We checked the cargo hold docks. The thief ran past several equal rows of supply crates, and multiplying the rows gave us a new lead!

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

108

132

121

132

7 × 6 =W

9 × 12 =U

9 × 6 =E

7 × 5 =T

5 × 9 =C

1 × 6 =R

1 × 2 =D

12 × 11 =N

11 × 11 =B

7 × 11 =H

6 × 3 =O

11 × 8 =S

1 × 1 =A

12 × 7 =F

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The crew is sharing the remaining water rations. Dividing the supplies equally among the sky team helped us pinpoint the thief's direction!

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

5 ÷ 1 = ?

64 ÷ 8 = ?

18 ÷ 6 = ?

2 ÷ 1 = ?

36 ÷ 4 = ?

80 ÷ 8 = ?

88 ÷ 8 = ?

18 ÷ 3 = ?

12 ÷ 12 = ?

32 ÷ 8 = ?

70 ÷ 10 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain floats upward using the gravity lift, then hides in a thick smoke screen.

2.The villain zooms away using the turbo prop, then hides in a thick smoke screen.

3.The villain zooms forward using the magnet drive, then shoots sparks with a spark blaster.

4.The villain glides quietly using the solar sails, then escapes the trap with a net launcher.

5.The villain puffs smoke using the steam engine, then hides in a thick smoke screen.

6.The villain glides quietly using the solar sails, then zips through the sky with a grapple claw.

7.The villain zooms forward using the magnet drive, then escapes the trap with a net launcher.

8.The villain zooms forward using the magnet drive, then hides in a thick smoke screen.

9.The villain floats upward using the gravity lift, then makes a huge racket with a fog horn.

10.The villain glides quietly using the solar sails, then hides in a thick smoke screen.

11.The villain floats upward using the gravity lift, then escapes the trap with a net launcher.

12.The villain glides quietly using the solar sails, then shoots sparks with a spark blaster.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Sky-Ship Showdown

Culprit: Zephyr Zack (solar sails · spark blaster · wears goggles · red bandana · loud noise)

Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE THE NET LAUNCHER"
25% of 56 = 14 (T) · 50% of 76 = 38 (D) · 25% of 116 = 29 (S) · 25% of 8 = 2 (H) · 10% of 250 = 25 (L) · 50% of 46 = 23 (N) · 20% of 175 = 35 (I) · 50% of 22 = 11 (V) · 10% of 190 = 19 (R) · 50% of 20 = 10 (C) · 50% of 44 = 22 (O) · 20% of 100 = 20 (E) · 10% of 70 = 7 (A) · 50% of 68 = 34 (U)
Clue 2 (Exponents): "THE SUSPECT WAS SPOTTED WEARING GOGGLES"
12^2 = 144 (T) · 17^2 = 289 (P) · 2^3 = 8 (N) · 14^2 = 196 (R) · 8^2 = 64 (E) · 19^2 = 361 (D) · 2^2 = 4 (G) · 9^2 = 81 (S) · 2^7 = 128 (A) · 6^2 = 36 (H) · 3^2 = 9 (L) · 11^2 = 121 (O) · 13^2 = 169 (C) · 15^2 = 225 (I) · 6^3 = 216 (U) · 2^4 = 16 (W)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN IS SCARED BY A LOUD NOISE"
6 × 7 - 21 = 21 (T) · 4 × 12 - 12 = 36 (H) · 23 + 2 × 8 = 39 (E) · 23 + 2 × 2 = 27 (N) · 8 × 5 - 10 = 30 (R) · 4 + 2 × 3 = 10 (A) · 16 + 5 × 8 = 56 (V) · 10 + 4 × 4 = 26 (O) · 52 + 7 × 2 = 66 (C) · 10 × 10 - 28 = 72 (B) · 36 + 2 × 3 = 42 (U) · 10 + 2 × 3 = 16 (I) · 10 × 8 - 19 = 61 (Y) · 11 × 6 - 20 = 46 (S) · 17 + 3 × 7 = 38 (D) · 10 × 2 - 13 = 7 (L)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND A RED BANDANA AT THE SCENE"
7 × 6 = 42 (W) · 9 × 12 = 108 (U) · 9 × 6 = 54 (E) · 7 × 5 = 35 (T) · 5 × 9 = 45 (C) · 1 × 6 = 6 (R) · 1 × 2 = 2 (D) · 12 × 11 = 132 (N) · 11 × 11 = 121 (B) · 7 × 11 = 77 (H) · 6 × 3 = 18 (O) · 11 × 8 = 88 (S) · 1 × 1 = 1 (A) · 12 × 7 = 84 (F)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Zephyr Zack
5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 6 math
Math topics: Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Sky-Ship Showdown — set in The Whispering Islands high above the clouds
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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