🔎 History about the trail of tGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberOrder of operationsMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Mystery
An irreplaceable hand-drawn map of the original northern land route from 1838 has gone missing from the Cherokee National Historical Trail Center. As junior rangers, we must piece together the clues to find the thief before the map is lost forever.
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 | Historical Specialty | Research Tool | Dominant Hand | Field Hat | Trail Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archivist Lee | treaty history | field notebook | right handed writer | tan trail hat | dried hickory nuts |
| Dr Foreman | native plants | digital camera | right handed writer | tan trail hat | parched corn |
| Guide John | cherokee language | field notebook | right handed writer | green park cap | wild blackberries |
| Archivist Lowery | cherokee language | field notebook | right handed writer | green park cap | parched corn |
| Ranger Martin | cherokee language | uv flashlight | right handed writer | tan trail hat | dried hickory nuts |
| Ranger Daniel | archival maps | magnifying glass | left handed writer | green park cap | dried hickory nuts |
| Dr Cho | treaty history | digital camera | right handed writer | green park cap | parched corn |
| Historian Adair | cherokee language | digital camera | left handed writer | tan trail hat | parched corn |
| Historian Ross | archival maps | field notebook | right handed writer | green park cap | parched corn |
| Historian Ward | clan genealogy | handheld gps | right handed writer | green park cap | dried hickory nuts |
| Guide Mary | treaty history | magnifying glass | left handed writer | grey wool beanie | wild blackberries |
| Guide Gist | clan genealogy | uv flashlight | right handed writer | green park cap | parched corn |
| Ranger Walker | native plants | magnifying glass | left handed writer | grey wool beanie | wild blackberries |
| Guide Bushyhead | archival maps | digital camera | right handed writer | green park cap | parched corn |
| Dr Vann | treaty history | handheld gps | right handed writer | tan trail hat | parched corn |
| Ranger Clara | clan genealogy | field notebook | right handed writer | tan trail hat | parched corn |
| Dr Ridge | clan genealogy | field notebook | right handed writer | grey wool beanie | parched corn |
| Ranger Evans | treaty history | field notebook | right handed writer | grey wool beanie | wild blackberries |
| Ranger Davis | native plants | field notebook | right handed writer | tan trail hat | parched corn |
| Dr Thomas | clan genealogy | handheld gps | right handed writer | tan trail hat | wild blackberries |
| Curator Smith | cherokee language | magnifying glass | left handed writer | green park cap | parched corn |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
We check the logbook of daily visitors to the historical center. The curator says only a fraction of yesterday's group went near the restricted archives.
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
34
13
25
11
21
11
8
25
2
T
34
22
33
22
19
32
T
34
21
11
25
16
21
9
23
3
16
11
13
3
33
17
13
T
34
2/5 of 85 =T
1/10 of 20 =C
8/10 of 20 =A
2/8 of 100 =E
3/6 of 18 =V
1/6 of 192 =O
1/6 of 126 =U
1/8 of 152 =N
1/5 of 15 =L
3/6 of 34 =G
2/8 of 132 =I
4/8 of 16 =P
2/6 of 39 =H
2/4 of 46 =F
2/4 of 22 =S
1/8 of 176 =D
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Order of operations
A complicated security passcode was used on the back door. Solving this multi-step equation reveals the terminal code that logged the entry time.
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
73
48
62
T
73
48
25
62
74
54
43
28
T
73
62
35
28
59
23
54
25
T
73
48
T
73
48
62
25
43
43
25
59
48
T
73
48
30
44
33
61 + 2 × 6 =T
6 × 6 - 3 =D
8 + 9 × 3 =L
4 × 10 - 12 =O
6 × 12 - 10 =E
5 + 3 × 6 =S
28 + 5 × 3 =R
10 + 4 × 5 =A
9 × 9 - 7 =F
11 × 5 - 1 =W
33 + 3 × 5 =H
7 + 2 × 9 =I
11 × 6 - 7 =G
14 + 6 × 5 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We inspect the supply shelves in the ranger office. To find the total count of missing field notebooks, we count the rows of empty boxes.
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
14
33
12
96
9
1
4
4
33
96
110
144
110
50
1
90
4
110
9
45
14
33
96
45
1
9
88
7 × 6 =T
5 × 9 =C
4 × 1 =P
12 × 8 =D
5 × 10 =G
3 × 11 =E
12 × 12 =B
1 × 1 =O
1 × 9 =R
11 × 8 =N
10 × 9 =F
2 × 6 =Y
2 × 7 =H
10 × 11 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The historic GPS tracker logged a signal, but the coordinates are fuzzy. We must round the numbers to the nearest tenth to find the trail coordinates.
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
700
3000
130
4300
30
430
230
50
900
500
3000
3000
430
300
50
500
2300
170
50
300
430
3000
50
500
200
2900
3000
230
4300
4300
500
Round 677 to the nearest hundredW
Round 189 to the nearest hundredT
Round 2,647 to the nearest thousandE
Round 493 to the nearest hundredR
Round 2,923 to the nearest hundredH
Round 48 to the nearest tenA
Round 228 to the nearest tenD
Round 323 to the nearest hundredP
Round 28 to the nearest tenU
Round 128 to the nearest tenF
Round 429 to the nearest tenN
Round 4,256 to the nearest hundredO
Round 943 to the nearest hundredG
Round 172 to the nearest tenC
Round 2,341 to the nearest hundredK
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The ranger team shares a stack of old route maps. Dividing the maps equally among the search teams reveals the final clue about the suspect.
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
6 ÷ 2 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
56 ÷ 7 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
88 ÷ 8 = ?
5 ÷ 1 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
27 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain inspects the historic ledger, then takes a photo of the document.
2.The villain inspects the historic ledger, then grabs the archival letters.
3.The villain searches the treaty archives, then takes a photo of the document.
4.The villain scans the trail marker, then hides the vintage compass.
5.The villain unlocks the display case, then takes a photo of the document.
6.The villain examines the old map cabinet, then grabs the archival letters.
7.The villain unlocks the display case, then pockets the replica coin.
8.The villain searches the treaty archives, then pockets the replica coin.
9.The villain unlocks the display case, then slips the diary into a backpack.
10.The villain examines the old map cabinet, then pockets the replica coin.
11.The villain inspects the historic ledger, then hides the vintage compass.
12.The villain examines the old map cabinet, then takes a photo of the document.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Mystery
Culprit: Historian Ross (archival maps · field notebook · right handed writer · green park cap · parched corn)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT DID NOT USE A UV FLASHLIGHT"2/5 of 85 = 34 (T) · 1/10 of 20 = 2 (C) · 8/10 of 20 = 16 (A) · 2/8 of 100 = 25 (E) · 3/6 of 18 = 9 (V) · 1/6 of 192 = 32 (O) · 1/6 of 126 = 21 (U) · 1/8 of 152 = 19 (N) · 1/5 of 15 = 3 (L) · 3/6 of 34 = 17 (G) · 2/8 of 132 = 33 (I) · 4/8 of 16 = 8 (P) · 2/6 of 39 = 13 (H) · 2/4 of 46 = 23 (F) · 2/4 of 22 = 11 (S) · 1/8 of 176 = 22 (D)
- Clue 2 (Order of operations): "THE THIEF WROTE LOGS WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"61 + 2 × 6 = 73 (T) · 6 × 6 - 3 = 33 (D) · 8 + 9 × 3 = 35 (L) · 4 × 10 - 12 = 28 (O) · 6 × 12 - 10 = 62 (E) · 5 + 3 × 6 = 23 (S) · 28 + 5 × 3 = 43 (R) · 10 + 4 × 5 = 30 (A) · 9 × 9 - 7 = 74 (F) · 11 × 5 - 1 = 54 (W) · 33 + 3 × 5 = 48 (H) · 7 + 2 × 9 = 25 (I) · 11 × 6 - 7 = 59 (G) · 14 + 6 × 5 = 44 (N)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THEY DROPPED A BAG OF PARCHED CORN"7 × 6 = 42 (T) · 5 × 9 = 45 (C) · 4 × 1 = 4 (P) · 12 × 8 = 96 (D) · 5 × 10 = 50 (G) · 3 × 11 = 33 (E) · 12 × 12 = 144 (B) · 1 × 1 = 1 (O) · 1 × 9 = 9 (R) · 11 × 8 = 88 (N) · 10 × 9 = 90 (F) · 2 × 6 = 12 (Y) · 2 × 7 = 14 (H) · 10 × 11 = 110 (A)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND A GREEN PARK CAP NEAR THE DOOR"Round 677 to the nearest hundred = 700 (W) · Round 189 to the nearest hundred = 200 (T) · Round 2,647 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (E) · Round 493 to the nearest hundred = 500 (R) · Round 2,923 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (H) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (A) · Round 228 to the nearest ten = 230 (D) · Round 323 to the nearest hundred = 300 (P) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (U) · Round 128 to the nearest ten = 130 (F) · Round 429 to the nearest ten = 430 (N) · Round 4,256 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 943 to the nearest hundred = 900 (G) · Round 172 to the nearest ten = 170 (C) · Round 2,341 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (K)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Historian Ross6 ÷ 2 = 3 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9
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 Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Mystery — set in Cherokee National Historical Trail Center
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects