🏴‍☠️ PiratesGrade 5Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision

The Case of the Missing Golden Anchor

Someone snuck onto Captain Redbeard's flagship and swiped the sacred Golden Anchor right before the grand parade! Solve the clues and unmask the thief before they set sail.

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	Primary Weapon	Navigational Relic	Dominant Hand	Hairstyle	Fear Factor
Captain Morgan	Boarding Axe	Silver Whistle	RIGHT HANDED	RED BRAIDS	LOUD BELLS
Jolly Jonah	Flintlock Pistol	Pocket Sundial	RIGHT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	LOUD BELLS
Anne Bonny	Boarding Axe	Brass Spyglass	LEFT HANDED	RED BRAIDS	SOUR LEMONS
Blackbeard Edward	Boarding Axe	Pocket Sundial	RIGHT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	SOUR LEMONS
Salty Sam	Boarding Axe	Silver Whistle	LEFT HANDED	RED BRAIDS	LOUD BELLS
Calico Jack	Flintlock Pistol	Silver Whistle	RIGHT HANDED	BLACK BEARD	SOUR LEMONS
Pegleg Pete	Cutlass Saber	Brass Spyglass	RIGHT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	SOUR LEMONS
Cannonball Jack	Flintlock Pistol	Silver Whistle	RIGHT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	LOUD BELLS
Stormy Stella	Throwing Dagger	Brass Spyglass	RIGHT HANDED	BLACK BEARD	SOUR LEMONS
Scurvy Sid	Flintlock Pistol	Enchanted Compass	RIGHT HANDED	BLACK BEARD	SOUR LEMONS
Grace O Malley	Throwing Dagger	Pocket Sundial	LEFT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	LOUD BELLS
William Kidd	Flintlock Pistol	Brass Spyglass	LEFT HANDED	BLACK BEARD	SOUR LEMONS
Cutlass Cora	Boarding Axe	Brass Spyglass	RIGHT HANDED	BLACK BEARD	LOUD BELLS
Samuel Bellamy	Throwing Dagger	Star Chart	LEFT HANDED	BLACK BEARD	LOUD BELLS
Sea Dog Silas	Throwing Dagger	Star Chart	RIGHT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	LOUD BELLS
Wave Skimmer Wendy	Cutlass Saber	Pocket Sundial	RIGHT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	LOUD BELLS
Stede Bonnet	Cutlass Saber	Brass Spyglass	LEFT HANDED	RED BRAIDS	LOUD BELLS
Timber Tom	Hook Hand	Enchanted Compass	RIGHT HANDED	BLACK BEARD	SHINY MIRRORS
Mary Read	Throwing Dagger	Pocket Sundial	LEFT HANDED	RED BRAIDS	LOUD BELLS
Barnacle Bill	Throwing Dagger	Pocket Sundial	RIGHT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	LOUD BELLS
Rusty Roger	Throwing Dagger	Star Chart	LEFT HANDED	SILVER PONYTAIL	SOUR LEMONS

Clue 1

Place value

The harbor master found a secret digit code carved into the ship log standard. Read the place values to reveal the first 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.

4000

400

5000

2000

7000

3000

5000

300

7000

5000

900

7000

4000

3000

900

5000

6000

900

4000

6000

2000

200

400

6000

2000

4000

What is the value of the 4 in 94,708?T

What is the value of the 5 in 145,688?E

What is the value of the 6 in 47,868?N

What is the value of the 6 in 16,173?A

What is the value of the 2 in 80,727?G

What is the value of the 4 in 93,475?H

What is the value of the 7 in 67,123?O

What is the value of the 9 in 641,904?S

What is the value of the 2 in 62,109?R

What is the value of the 3 in 194,315?D

What is the value of the 2 in 45,273?C

What is the value of the 3 in 823,870?U

0/12 letters found

Clue 2

Addition

First Mate Morgan tallied the total number of iron doubloons collected from the three lower decks to find the next trail.

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

8884

4311

4114

8884

4311

2210

4114

5113

8434

4114

5113

8884

7205

7705

2210

6144

4311

8884

4311

7205

2971

7701

4114

7701

4162

7705

2210

2971

8884

4103

2971

7913

4103

7701

5405 + 3479 =T

3551 + 4362 =W

2985 + 4720 =R

2631 + 1483 =E

2624 + 3520 =G

2403 + 1908 =H

2006 + 2097 =O

1705 + 1266 =N

3444 + 3761 =A

5161 + 3273 =L

2723 + 1439 =P

2354 + 2759 =F

4481 + 3220 =D

1184 + 1026 =I

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Subtraction

Quartermaster Barnaby calculated how many wooden crates were missing after the thief fled down the gangplank.

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

7076

6438

1968

7076

6438

6871

1968

6562

6227

4321

5555

1925

6438

1968

5555

8331

6753

3824

4232

1712

1968

8331

4406

4521

6438

6871

1471

1968

4232

10382 - 3306 =T

8265 - 1512 =O

3554 - 1586 =E

7973 - 2418 =N

5919 - 1687 =D

10810 - 3939 =I

6679 - 2158 =C

2832 - 1120 =B

9282 - 3055 =R

5904 - 1498 =S

7737 - 3416 =A

9464 - 3026 =H

2826 - 1355 =M

12482 - 4151 =L

10126 - 3564 =F

7276 - 3452 =U

4504 - 2579 =W

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Multiplication facts (1-12)

Captain Redbeard checked the grid rows of gunpowder barrels lined up in the ship armory.

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

120

132

120

7 × 12 =S

5 × 2 =A

9 × 9 =Y

12 × 11 =W

8 × 8 =R

6 × 5 =T

4 × 8 =V

12 × 10 =H

11 × 6 =E

11 × 7 =I

8 × 2 =P

12 × 6 =N

5 × 11 =L

11 × 3 =F

11 × 1 =O

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The deckhands split their remaining rations of hardtack equally to figure out where the thief was hiding.

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 ÷ 5 = ?

24 ÷ 8 = ?

132 ÷ 12 = ?

54 ÷ 6 = ?

60 ÷ 5 = ?

6 ÷ 3 = ?

44 ÷ 11 = ?

4 ÷ 4 = ?

96 ÷ 12 = ?

15 ÷ 3 = ?

80 ÷ 8 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain flung a throwing dagger, then spotted ships with a brass spyglass.

2.The villain flung a throwing dagger, then called crew with a silver whistle.

3.The villain swung a cutlass saber, then checked time on a pocket sundial.

4.The villain swung a cutlass saber, then steered using an enchanted compass.

5.The villain slammed a hook hand, then called crew with a silver whistle.

6.The villain fired a flintlock pistol, then called crew with a silver whistle.

7.The villain flung a throwing dagger, then checked time on a pocket sundial.

8.The villain flung a throwing dagger, then read the stars with a star chart.

9.The villain fired a flintlock pistol, then steered using an enchanted compass.

10.The villain slammed a hook hand, then spotted ships with a brass spyglass.

11.The villain fired a flintlock pistol, then checked time on a pocket sundial.

12.The villain slammed a hook hand, then read the stars with a star chart.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Anchor

Culprit: Cannonball Jack (Flintlock Pistol · Silver Whistle · RIGHT HANDED · SILVER PONYTAIL · LOUD BELLS)

Clue 1 (Place value): "THE ROGUE DOES NOT USE A STAR CHART"
What is the value of the 4 in 94,708? = 4000 (T) · What is the value of the 5 in 145,688? = 5000 (E) · What is the value of the 6 in 47,868? = 60 (N) · What is the value of the 6 in 16,173? = 6000 (A) · What is the value of the 2 in 80,727? = 20 (G) · What is the value of the 4 in 93,475? = 400 (H) · What is the value of the 7 in 67,123? = 7000 (O) · What is the value of the 9 in 641,904? = 900 (S) · What is the value of the 2 in 62,109? = 2000 (R) · What is the value of the 3 in 194,315? = 300 (D) · What is the value of the 2 in 45,273? = 200 (C) · What is the value of the 3 in 823,870? = 3000 (U)
Clue 2 (Addition): "THE THIEF LEFT A RIGHT HANDED PRINT ON WOOD"
5405 + 3479 = 8884 (T) · 3551 + 4362 = 7913 (W) · 2985 + 4720 = 7705 (R) · 2631 + 1483 = 4114 (E) · 2624 + 3520 = 6144 (G) · 2403 + 1908 = 4311 (H) · 2006 + 2097 = 4103 (O) · 1705 + 1266 = 2971 (N) · 3444 + 3761 = 7205 (A) · 5161 + 3273 = 8434 (L) · 2723 + 1439 = 4162 (P) · 2354 + 2759 = 5113 (F) · 4481 + 3220 = 7701 (D) · 1184 + 1026 = 2210 (I)
Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF RAN WHEN LOUD BELLS CHIMED"
10382 - 3306 = 7076 (T) · 8265 - 1512 = 6753 (O) · 3554 - 1586 = 1968 (E) · 7973 - 2418 = 5555 (N) · 5919 - 1687 = 4232 (D) · 10810 - 3939 = 6871 (I) · 6679 - 2158 = 4521 (C) · 2832 - 1120 = 1712 (B) · 9282 - 3055 = 6227 (R) · 5904 - 1498 = 4406 (S) · 7737 - 3416 = 4321 (A) · 9464 - 3026 = 6438 (H) · 2826 - 1355 = 1471 (M) · 12482 - 4151 = 8331 (L) · 10126 - 3564 = 6562 (F) · 7276 - 3452 = 3824 (U) · 4504 - 2579 = 1925 (W)
Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SILVER PONYTAIL HAIR WAS LEFT ON THE SHIP"
7 × 12 = 84 (S) · 5 × 2 = 10 (A) · 9 × 9 = 81 (Y) · 12 × 11 = 132 (W) · 8 × 8 = 64 (R) · 6 × 5 = 30 (T) · 4 × 8 = 32 (V) · 12 × 10 = 120 (H) · 11 × 6 = 66 (E) · 11 × 7 = 77 (I) · 8 × 2 = 16 (P) · 12 × 6 = 72 (N) · 5 × 11 = 55 (L) · 11 × 3 = 33 (F) · 11 × 1 = 11 (O)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Cannonball Jack
35 ÷ 5 = 7 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 6 ÷ 3 = 2 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 15 ÷ 3 = 5 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Case of the Missing Golden Anchor — set in Barnacle Bay Pirate Haven
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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