Grade 4Reading: grades 5-6RoundingWord problemsAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Case of the Golden Compass Thief
While exploring the Sunken Sun Temple, the Expedition Leader's prized Golden Compass was stolen! Track down the mystery bandit before they escape the island.
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 | Gear | Skill | Stance | Hat | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scout Penny | Climbing Claws | Deciphering Glyphs | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Victor Vale | Glider Wings | Map Reading | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Loud Whistles |
| Captain Bram | Flash Flare | Map Reading | Right Handed | Feather Band | Bright Mirrors |
| Tracker Trent | Smoke Pellets | Map Reading | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Daring Dirk | Flash Flare | Map Reading | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Bright Mirrors |
| Gideon Gold | Smoke Pellets | Camouflage | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Water Sprays |
| Quentin Quarry | Climbing Claws | Camouflage | Right Handed | Feather Band | Bright Mirrors |
| Pippa Pines | Flash Flare | Camouflage | Right Handed | Feather Band | Bright Mirrors |
| Sammy Sands | Smoke Pellets | Lock Picking | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Water Sprays |
| Explorer Flint | Climbing Claws | Deciphering Glyphs | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Water Sprays |
| Maya Cruz | Climbing Claws | Rope Swinging | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Water Sprays |
| Sienna Brooks | Smoke Pellets | Lock Picking | Right Handed | Leather Cap | Water Sprays |
| Hazel Hunter | Grappling Hook | Lock Picking | Left Handed | Pith Helmet | Water Sprays |
| Dr Alistair | Smoke Pellets | Map Reading | Left Handed | Pith Helmet | Water Sprays |
| Professor Oakwood | Smoke Pellets | Map Reading | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Bright Mirrors |
| Chloe Canyon | Glider Wings | Rope Swinging | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Bright Mirrors |
| Navigator Nora | Grappling Hook | Camouflage | Right Handed | Pith Helmet | Water Sprays |
| Ranger Rick | Climbing Claws | Rope Swinging | Left Handed | Pith Helmet | Bright Mirrors |
| Jasper Ridge | Flash Flare | Deciphering Glyphs | Left Handed | Pith Helmet | Bright Mirrors |
| Fiona Falls | Glider Wings | Map Reading | Left Handed | Leather Cap | Water Sprays |
| Hunter Todd | Grappling Hook | Rope Swinging | Right Handed | Leather Cap | Bright Mirrors |
Clue 1
Rounding
You interview the camp cook and review the supply log to gather initial clues.
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
70
4300
430
50
2900
9000
300
30
T
70
300
200
430
90
9000
200
T
70
2300
90
430
300
430
900
30
500
4300
430
110
30
9000
2000
2000
1300
5000
500
4300
90
Round 68 to the nearest tenT
Round 31 to the nearest tenI
Round 94 to the nearest tenS
Round 432 to the nearest tenE
Round 169 to the nearest hundredO
Round 53 to the nearest tenB
Round 2,374 to the nearest thousandG
Round 4,283 to the nearest hundredH
Round 2,925 to the nearest hundredA
Round 1,270 to the nearest hundredL
Round 260 to the nearest hundredD
Round 9,367 to the nearest thousandN
Round 864 to the nearest hundredC
Round 2,266 to the nearest hundredU
Round 4,817 to the nearest thousandY
Round 111 to the nearest tenR
Round 465 to the nearest hundredP
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
The temple security scanner only displays estimated energy readings rounded to the nearest hundred.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
60
34
37
77
17
41
75
D
34
D
Junior Explorer found 58 map fragments yesterday and 2 more today. How many map fragments in all?L
There were 23 map fragments. 6 were used up. How many map fragments are left?H
Junior Explorer found 32 map fragments yesterday and 43 more today. How many map fragments in all?N
There were 71 rubies. 37 were used up. How many rubies are left?E
There were 75 rubies. 38 were used up. How many rubies are left?F
Junior Explorer lined up 11 rows of 7 canteen drops. How many canteen drops in all?T
Junior Explorer found 24 torch batteries yesterday and 17 more today. How many torch batteries in all?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
You combine all the artifact tally marks found etched on the stone walls.
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
3957
3702
3723
7471
4466
9588
3613
4340
T
3957
3613
7266
4234
6732
3723
3613
3673
6413
5905
2024
9813
4466
T
3957
3723
6413
9097
2250
6413
4466
4085
9097
2469 + 1488 =T
1952 + 1721 =F
2363 + 1722 =Y
5047 + 2219 =U
3044 + 6769 =W
2069 + 1654 =E
4651 + 2820 =B
5977 + 3611 =N
2114 + 3791 =O
5703 + 3394 =S
1993 + 2347 =I
3903 + 2510 =R
1020 + 1230 =P
2024 + 4708 =K
1342 + 2360 =H
1372 + 2241 =D
1019 + 1005 =M
2744 + 1490 =C
2898 + 1568 =A
0/19 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
You calculate how many gold coins are missing by comparing the original chest weight to the remainder.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
3964
7789
8992
4742
A
3964
6684
2148
7040
A
3964
8471
3339
A
3964
4065
8354
3339
4742
8992
A
3964
6684
2496
A
3964
7789
7040
2148
8681
7992
8290
5255 - 1291 =A
13222 - 4868 =H
6421 - 1679 =R
8819 - 348 =L
8486 - 196 =D
2566 - 418 =O
10990 - 4306 =P
13241 - 4249 =C
5542 - 3046 =W
10765 - 3725 =F
9673 - 1884 =S
9248 - 1256 =N
7355 - 4016 =E
8901 - 220 =U
6741 - 2676 =T
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
You divide the total path steps equally among your search team to pinpoint the trail.
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
35 ÷ 7 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
40 ÷ 4 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
45 ÷ 5 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
10 ÷ 10 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blinded the guards with a flash flare, then picked the ancient lock on the vault.
2.The villain blinded the guards with a flash flare, then read the secret map to find the exit.
3.The villain scaled the stone wall using climbing claws, then swung across the river on a rope.
4.The villain blinded the guards with a flash flare, then blended into the jungle camouflage.
5.The villain soared across the chasm with glider wings, then read the secret map to find the exit.
6.The villain soared across the chasm with glider wings, then decoded the temple glyphs.
7.The villain threw down smoke pellets, then blended into the jungle camouflage.
8.The villain scaled the stone wall using climbing claws, then decoded the temple glyphs.
9.The villain threw down smoke pellets, then swung across the river on a rope.
10.The villain scaled the stone wall using climbing claws, then read the secret map to find the exit.
11.The villain threw down smoke pellets, then picked the ancient lock on the vault.
12.The villain swung on a vine using a grappling hook, then blended into the jungle camouflage.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Golden Compass Thief
Culprit: Sammy Sands (Smoke Pellets · Lock Picking · Left Handed · Leather Cap · Water Sprays)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT USE DECIPHERING GLYPHS"Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (T) · Round 31 to the nearest ten = 30 (I) · Round 94 to the nearest ten = 90 (S) · Round 432 to the nearest ten = 430 (E) · Round 169 to the nearest hundred = 200 (O) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (B) · Round 2,374 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (G) · Round 4,283 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (H) · Round 2,925 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (A) · Round 1,270 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (L) · Round 260 to the nearest hundred = 300 (D) · Round 9,367 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (N) · Round 864 to the nearest hundred = 900 (C) · Round 2,266 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (U) · Round 4,817 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (Y) · Round 111 to the nearest ten = 110 (R) · Round 465 to the nearest hundred = 500 (P)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED"Junior Explorer found 58 map fragments yesterday and 2 more today. How many map fragments in all? = 60 (L) · There were 23 map fragments. 6 were used up. How many map fragments are left? = 17 (H) · Junior Explorer found 32 map fragments yesterday and 43 more today. How many map fragments in all? = 75 (N) · There were 71 rubies. 37 were used up. How many rubies are left? = 34 (E) · There were 75 rubies. 38 were used up. How many rubies are left? = 37 (F) · Junior Explorer lined up 11 rows of 7 canteen drops. How many canteen drops in all? = 77 (T) · Junior Explorer found 24 torch batteries yesterday and 17 more today. How many torch batteries in all? = 41 (A)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THE BANDIT DUCKED FROM WATER SPRAYS"2469 + 1488 = 3957 (T) · 1952 + 1721 = 3673 (F) · 2363 + 1722 = 4085 (Y) · 5047 + 2219 = 7266 (U) · 3044 + 6769 = 9813 (W) · 2069 + 1654 = 3723 (E) · 4651 + 2820 = 7471 (B) · 5977 + 3611 = 9588 (N) · 2114 + 3791 = 5905 (O) · 5703 + 3394 = 9097 (S) · 1993 + 2347 = 4340 (I) · 3903 + 2510 = 6413 (R) · 1020 + 1230 = 2250 (P) · 2024 + 4708 = 6732 (K) · 1342 + 2360 = 3702 (H) · 1372 + 2241 = 3613 (D) · 1019 + 1005 = 2024 (M) · 2744 + 1490 = 4234 (C) · 2898 + 1568 = 4466 (A)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A SCRAP OF A LEATHER CAP WAS FOUND"5255 - 1291 = 3964 (A) · 13222 - 4868 = 8354 (H) · 6421 - 1679 = 4742 (R) · 8819 - 348 = 8471 (L) · 8486 - 196 = 8290 (D) · 2566 - 418 = 2148 (O) · 10990 - 4306 = 6684 (P) · 13241 - 4249 = 8992 (C) · 5542 - 3046 = 2496 (W) · 10765 - 3725 = 7040 (F) · 9673 - 1884 = 7789 (S) · 9248 - 1256 = 7992 (N) · 7355 - 4016 = 3339 (E) · 8901 - 220 = 8681 (U) · 6741 - 2676 = 4065 (T)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Sammy Sands35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 40 ÷ 4 = 10 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 10 ÷ 10 = 1 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Word problems, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Golden Compass Thief — set in Sunken Sun Temple
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects