Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Golden Compass
Someone snuck into camp and took the legendary Golden Compass right off the chief explorer's desk! The Jungle Rescue Club must solve five math clues to track down the culprit before they escape into the deep forest.
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 | Main Gear | Extra Tool | Watch Color | Helmet Color | Jungle Mishap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iris Grove | stealth glider | magnet gloves | silver watch | dark green helmet | startled by parrot |
| Eli Birch | sonar scanner | laser torch | silver watch | bright blue helmet | splashed with mud |
| Luke Stone | sonar scanner | laser torch | gold watch | bright blue helmet | tripped by vine |
| Toby Flint | sonar scanner | zip line wheel | gold watch | neon red helmet | startled by parrot |
| Sam Crest | stealth glider | magnet gloves | silver watch | bright blue helmet | tripped by vine |
| Ella Fern | mini drone | smoke bombs | silver watch | bright blue helmet | tripped by vine |
| Owen Trail | mini drone | magnet gloves | silver watch | neon red helmet | tripped by vine |
| Ruby Moss | grappling hook | magnet gloves | silver watch | bright blue helmet | tripped by vine |
| Ben Rivers | night vision goggles | magnet gloves | silver watch | dark green helmet | splashed with mud |
| Kai Sterling | stealth glider | decoy whistle | gold watch | neon red helmet | splashed with mud |
| Dash Horizon | stealth glider | zip line wheel | gold watch | neon red helmet | startled by parrot |
| Mia Drake | sonar scanner | laser torch | silver watch | neon red helmet | tripped by vine |
| Chloe Peak | grappling hook | zip line wheel | gold watch | dark green helmet | tripped by vine |
| Maya Swift | mini drone | zip line wheel | gold watch | neon red helmet | startled by parrot |
| Finn Forest | stealth glider | decoy whistle | silver watch | bright blue helmet | tripped by vine |
| Cole Wilder | stealth glider | laser torch | silver watch | bright blue helmet | tripped by vine |
| Ava Sterling | night vision goggles | smoke bombs | gold watch | bright blue helmet | splashed with mud |
| Leo Ranger | grappling hook | laser torch | gold watch | bright blue helmet | tripped by vine |
| Piper Scout | night vision goggles | zip line wheel | gold watch | neon red helmet | tripped by vine |
| Zoe Canyon | grappling hook | smoke bombs | silver watch | dark green helmet | splashed with mud |
| Lily Vanguard | stealth glider | laser torch | silver watch | neon red helmet | splashed with mud |
Clue 1
Rounding
The fuzzy jungle radar screen only shows estimated distances rounded to the nearest ten.
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
6000
600
2000
80
200
40
40
5000
200
400
70
3000
2000
90
400
3000
T
6000
700
90
2000
70
2000
30
3000
8000
60
600
200
90
T
6000
40
2000
Round 6,178 to the nearest thousandT
Round 39 to the nearest tenL
Round 32 to the nearest tenC
Round 173 to the nearest hundredI
Round 4,764 to the nearest thousandA
Round 62 to the nearest tenW
Round 76 to the nearest tenV
Round 87 to the nearest tenS
Round 697 to the nearest hundredU
Round 67 to the nearest tenD
Round 7,585 to the nearest thousandY
Round 411 to the nearest hundredN
Round 2,842 to the nearest thousandO
Round 638 to the nearest hundredH
Round 2,266 to the nearest thousandE
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The team tallied up the total number of rescue supplies gathered at camp.
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
381
447
409
491
549
273
273
273
697
W
381
697
273
447
688
608
549
344
W
381
697
409
986
390
662
491
W
381
344
447
273
409
188 + 193 =W
157 + 187 =R
279 + 168 =I
643 + 343 =C
268 + 223 =N
107 + 166 =S
462 + 235 =A
306 + 243 =E
334 + 328 =O
148 + 242 =H
341 + 267 =V
276 + 412 =L
284 + 125 =T
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The scout counted how many trail markers were left after the storm destroyed some.
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
598
157
849
225
615
791
791
551
615
148
234
551
652
T
598
687
615
895
895
849
169
550
422
551
225
615
148
849
654 - 56 =T
1232 - 383 =E
692 - 5 =R
1125 - 230 =P
1002 - 387 =I
757 - 206 =A
768 - 218 =B
1006 - 215 =L
328 - 171 =H
876 - 224 =S
340 - 171 =D
564 - 339 =V
614 - 192 =Y
397 - 163 =W
181 - 33 =N
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The guide counted equal rows of supply crates stacked inside the storage tent.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
B
70
32
96
81
2
81
32
42
81
44
144
56
8
3
25
144
99
81
8
81
32
81
36
44
B
70
81
2
40
9
20
7 × 10 =B
11 × 9 =W
5 × 4 =D
3 × 12 =F
12 × 12 =S
3 × 3 =N
4 × 11 =T
8 × 7 =C
2 × 4 =R
1 × 2 =H
5 × 5 =P
8 × 4 =L
9 × 9 =E
3 × 1 =A
12 × 8 =U
6 × 7 =M
8 × 5 =I
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The explorers divided the total energy snacks equally among all rescue packs.
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
12 ÷ 4 = ?
88 ÷ 8 = ?
32 ÷ 8 = ?
4 ÷ 4 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
22 ÷ 11 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain activated a sonar scanner, then dropped a smoke bomb.
2.The villain fired a grappling hook, then melted the lock with a laser torch.
3.The villain soared on a stealth glider, then grabbed the key with magnet gloves.
4.The villain launched a mini drone, then dropped a smoke bomb.
5.The villain fired a grappling hook, then grabbed the key with magnet gloves.
6.The villain fired a grappling hook, then dropped a smoke bomb.
7.The villain activated a sonar scanner, then zipped down a wire.
8.The villain launched a mini drone, then melted the lock with a laser torch.
9.The villain switched on night vision goggles, then melted the lock with a laser torch.
10.The villain launched a mini drone, then blew a decoy whistle.
11.The villain soared on a stealth glider, then melted the lock with a laser torch.
12.The villain fired a grappling hook, then blew a decoy whistle.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Golden Compass
Culprit: Ruby Moss (grappling hook · magnet gloves · silver watch · bright blue helmet · tripped by vine)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE DECOY WHISTLE"Round 6,178 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (T) · Round 39 to the nearest ten = 40 (L) · Round 32 to the nearest ten = 30 (C) · Round 173 to the nearest hundred = 200 (I) · Round 4,764 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (A) · Round 62 to the nearest ten = 60 (W) · Round 76 to the nearest ten = 80 (V) · Round 87 to the nearest ten = 90 (S) · Round 697 to the nearest hundred = 700 (U) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (D) · Round 7,585 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (Y) · Round 411 to the nearest hundred = 400 (N) · Round 2,842 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (O) · Round 638 to the nearest hundred = 600 (H) · Round 2,266 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (E)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "WITNESS SAW A SILVER WATCH ON WRIST"188 + 193 = 381 (W) · 157 + 187 = 344 (R) · 279 + 168 = 447 (I) · 643 + 343 = 986 (C) · 268 + 223 = 491 (N) · 107 + 166 = 273 (S) · 462 + 235 = 697 (A) · 306 + 243 = 549 (E) · 334 + 328 = 662 (O) · 148 + 242 = 390 (H) · 341 + 267 = 608 (V) · 276 + 412 = 688 (L) · 284 + 125 = 409 (T)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN WAS TRIPPED BY A VINE"654 - 56 = 598 (T) · 1232 - 383 = 849 (E) · 692 - 5 = 687 (R) · 1125 - 230 = 895 (P) · 1002 - 387 = 615 (I) · 757 - 206 = 551 (A) · 768 - 218 = 550 (B) · 1006 - 215 = 791 (L) · 328 - 171 = 157 (H) · 876 - 224 = 652 (S) · 340 - 171 = 169 (D) · 564 - 339 = 225 (V) · 614 - 192 = 422 (Y) · 397 - 163 = 234 (W) · 181 - 33 = 148 (N)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "BLUE HELMET SCRAPS WERE LEFT BEHIND"7 × 10 = 70 (B) · 11 × 9 = 99 (W) · 5 × 4 = 20 (D) · 3 × 12 = 36 (F) · 12 × 12 = 144 (S) · 3 × 3 = 9 (N) · 4 × 11 = 44 (T) · 8 × 7 = 56 (C) · 2 × 4 = 8 (R) · 1 × 2 = 2 (H) · 5 × 5 = 25 (P) · 8 × 4 = 32 (L) · 9 × 9 = 81 (E) · 3 × 1 = 3 (A) · 12 × 8 = 96 (U) · 6 × 7 = 42 (M) · 8 × 5 = 40 (I)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Ruby Moss12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Golden Compass — set in Whispering Jungle Expedition Base
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects