The Temple of the Golden Jaguar
A sneaky rogue explorer has slipped past the camp guards and stolen the legendary Golden Jaguar mask! The chief archeologist needs your help. We have a list of suspects, but we must use camp clues and local riddles to track down the thief before they escape on the riverboat.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Signature Tool | Escape Vehicle | Flashlight Hold | Mud Stain Color | Camp Obstacle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Hunter | decoder ring | kayak | right-handed grip | gray dust | ancient gate |
| Steve Irwin | decoder ring | dirt bike | right-handed grip | yellow pollen | howler monkey |
| Indiana Jones | metal detector | dirt bike | left-handed grip | red river clay | howler monkey |
| Sacagawea | decoder ring | dirt bike | right-handed grip | yellow pollen | ancient gate |
| Nathan Drake | metal detector | zipline | left-handed grip | gray dust | sticky vine trap |
| Chloe Frazer | machete | rope swing | left-handed grip | red river clay | howler monkey |
| Allan Quatermain | machete | bamboo raft | left-handed grip | red river clay | howler monkey |
| Carmen Sandiego | grappling hook | bamboo raft | right-handed grip | gray dust | ancient gate |
| Sully Sullivan | grappling hook | rope swing | right-handed grip | gray dust | sticky vine trap |
| Amelia Earhart | decoder ring | zipline | left-handed grip | yellow pollen | howler monkey |
| Dirk Pitt | machete | bamboo raft | left-handed grip | red river clay | ancient gate |
| Danny Ocean | decoder ring | dirt bike | left-handed grip | red river clay | ancient gate |
| Lara Croft | spyglass | kayak | left-handed grip | yellow pollen | sticky vine trap |
| Roy Chapman | decoder ring | rope swing | left-handed grip | red river clay | howler monkey |
| Ibn Battuta | metal detector | bamboo raft | left-handed grip | red river clay | sticky vine trap |
| Phileas Fogg | spyglass | bamboo raft | left-handed grip | red river clay | howler monkey |
| Jane Goodall | metal detector | rope swing | right-handed grip | gray dust | ancient gate |
| Benjamin Gates | spyglass | kayak | left-handed grip | gray dust | ancient gate |
| Marco Polo | grappling hook | bamboo raft | left-handed grip | red river clay | ancient gate |
| Evelyn Carnahan | machete | zipline | left-handed grip | red river clay | howler monkey |
| Nellie Bly | grappling hook | bamboo raft | right-handed grip | red river clay | howler monkey |
Fractions of a number
We found a torn explorer logbook by the river. To find out which escape vehicle the thief avoided, we must calculate what fraction of the pages remain dry.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Order of operations
A locked stone door blocks our path. We must solve the multi-step equation carved on the archway in the correct order to reveal the flashlight grip left on the handle.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The team found crates of supply ropes stacked in matching rows. Multiplying the rows reveals the exact number of rope bundles and a clue about what slowed the thief down.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Rounding
A dusty tracking screen in the research tent shows a blurry map. By rounding the distance numbers to the nearest ten, we can pinpoint the exact colored residue left behind.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We must divide our water canteens equally among the search teams before heading into the deep jungle to discover which trap finally stopped the runner.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Temple of the Golden Jaguar
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE THIEF DID NOT ESCAPE ON A ROPE SWING"5/10 of 66 = 33 (T) · 5/10 of 64 = 32 (D) · 1/8 of 88 = 11 (I) · 5/10 of 76 = 38 (N) · 1/5 of 180 = 36 (C) · 1/2 of 24 = 12 (R) · 3/6 of 18 = 9 (F) · 3/6 of 78 = 39 (O) · 1/6 of 168 = 28 (A) · 1/3 of 30 = 10 (G) · 2/6 of 87 = 29 (P) · 3/6 of 62 = 31 (H) · 2/3 of 3 = 2 (W) · 1/8 of 152 = 19 (S) · 2/8 of 20 = 5 (E)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE FLASHLIGHT WAS HELD IN THE LEFT HAND"8 × 12 - 27 = 69 (T) · 41 + 3 × 3 = 50 (E) · 7 × 6 - 12 = 30 (L) · 5 × 7 - 9 = 26 (S) · 12 + 3 × 9 = 39 (I) · 7 × 9 - 16 = 47 (F) · 12 × 5 - 16 = 44 (D) · 3 + 2 × 2 = 7 (W) · 10 + 9 × 6 = 64 (H) · 7 × 7 - 16 = 33 (G) · 10 × 9 - 24 = 66 (N) · 13 + 2 × 3 = 19 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "HOWLER MONKEYS SCREAMED AT THE THIEF"6 × 8 = 48 (H) · 2 × 7 = 14 (A) · 10 × 7 = 70 (C) · 11 × 4 = 44 (W) · 9 × 1 = 9 (M) · 11 × 10 = 110 (S) · 4 × 8 = 32 (T) · 7 × 5 = 35 (E) · 11 × 5 = 55 (F) · 11 × 7 = 77 (R) · 7 × 1 = 7 (D) · 3 × 11 = 33 (O) · 11 × 2 = 22 (I) · 9 × 3 = 27 (L) · 5 × 5 = 25 (Y) · 3 × 5 = 15 (K) · 10 × 5 = 50 (N)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "RED RIVER CLAY WAS LEFT ON THE WALL"Round 2,791 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (R) · Round 5,147 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (V) · Round 427 to the nearest ten = 430 (S) · Round 366 to the nearest ten = 370 (Y) · Round 3,683 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (N) · Round 1,137 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (C) · Round 2,309 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (E) · Round 7,440 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (A) · Round 134 to the nearest ten = 130 (W) · Round 309 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 114 to the nearest ten = 110 (I) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (H) · Round 17 to the nearest ten = 20 (F) · Round 515 to the nearest hundred = 500 (D) · Round 2,928 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (T) · Round 1,294 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Evelyn Carnahan42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 70 ÷ 7 = 10 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Temple of the Golden Jaguar — set in the ancient, vine-covered Temple of the Golden Jaguar deep in the whispering jungle
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects