Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
The legendary Golden Compass has vanished from the Explorer Cove main lodge right before the big night hike! Someone snuck inside, grabbed the compass, and left behind a trail of clues. Use your math skills and deductive powers to figure out who took it!
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 Item | Secret Gadget | Strap Style | Hat Color | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide Gabe | Pocket Radar | Laser Pointer | Right Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Scout Toby | Grappling Hook | Decoder Ring | Right Shoulder Strap | Forest Green Hat | Salty Snacks |
| Cadet Leo | Pocket Radar | Chirp Whistle | Left Shoulder Strap | Forest Green Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Tracker Tara | Glider Wings | Smoke Capsule | Right Shoulder Strap | Bright Red Hat | Loud Bells |
| Captain Kip | Flash Shield | Laser Pointer | Right Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Camper Cole | Climbing Claws | Chirp Whistle | Right Shoulder Strap | Forest Green Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Explorer Owen | Grappling Hook | Beacon Tag | Left Shoulder Strap | Bright Red Hat | Salty Snacks |
| Cadet Cora | Climbing Claws | Beacon Tag | Left Shoulder Strap | Forest Green Hat | Salty Snacks |
| Scout Sam | Glider Wings | Smoke Capsule | Left Shoulder Strap | Forest Green Hat | Salty Snacks |
| Guide Ivy | Glider Wings | Smoke Capsule | Right Shoulder Strap | Forest Green Hat | Salty Snacks |
| Hiker Hazel | Grappling Hook | Chirp Whistle | Right Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Loud Bells |
| Captain Penny | Climbing Claws | Chirp Whistle | Left Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Loud Bells |
| Guide Grace | Glider Wings | Smoke Capsule | Right Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Camper Cleo | Climbing Claws | Smoke Capsule | Left Shoulder Strap | Forest Green Hat | Salty Snacks |
| Ranger Rex | Climbing Claws | Beacon Tag | Right Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Hiker Hugo | Pocket Radar | Chirp Whistle | Right Shoulder Strap | Forest Green Hat | Loud Bells |
| Explorer Maya | Glider Wings | Beacon Tag | Right Shoulder Strap | Bright Red Hat | Salty Snacks |
| Ranger Rita | Grappling Hook | Laser Pointer | Right Shoulder Strap | Bright Red Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Tracker Ben | Flash Shield | Chirp Whistle | Left Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Ranger Ruby | Grappling Hook | Beacon Tag | Right Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Shiny Mirrors |
| Camper Finn | Pocket Radar | Chirp Whistle | Right Shoulder Strap | Dark Blue Hat | Loud Bells |
Clue 1
Rounding
The scout radar screen only displays rounded distances to nearby tracks. Round the distance to estimate how close the intruder got.
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
2000
5000
500
8000
800
30
30
90
800
3000
5000
90
900
3000
20
900
700
20
40
500
600
90
60
900
50
30
500
Round 2,142 to the nearest thousandT
Round 7,624 to the nearest thousandV
Round 20 to the nearest tenO
Round 5,088 to the nearest thousandH
Round 30 to the nearest tenL
Round 613 to the nearest hundredC
Round 64 to the nearest tenP
Round 827 to the nearest hundredI
Round 2,917 to the nearest thousandN
Round 52 to the nearest tenU
Round 463 to the nearest hundredE
Round 93 to the nearest tenA
Round 720 to the nearest hundredM
Round 908 to the nearest hundredS
Round 42 to the nearest tenK
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
To unlock the map room, team leads must tally up all the trail markers collected today.
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
247
221
352
476
450
566
795
795
795
A
247
221
A
247
795
476
859
A
247
913
664
450
476
745
566
859
352
557
745
476
795
745
664
794
440
923
566
859
125 + 122 =A
181 + 269 =N
390 + 523 =P
343 + 214 =G
89 + 132 =W
354 + 212 =E
544 + 250 =U
380 + 284 =O
207 + 269 =T
510 + 235 =H
387 + 536 =D
159 + 281 =L
393 + 402 =S
441 + 418 =R
231 + 121 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The camp supply manager checks how many lanterns remain after counting what was taken.
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
612
111
250
304
279
671
671
423
279
841
266
423
841
423
445
423
794
222
266
780
858
411
111
279
841
794
858
279
266
266
780
266
411
965 - 353 =T
1032 - 252 =O
1022 - 164 =M
649 - 226 =A
1039 - 198 =N
515 - 293 =F
611 - 307 =V
663 - 218 =W
692 - 281 =S
303 - 37 =R
1070 - 399 =L
1000 - 206 =Y
392 - 281 =H
533 - 254 =I
587 - 337 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The explorers arranged emergency flares into equal rows across the supply tent floor.
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
121
12
60
77
66
90
108
60
21
14
12
49
28
60
49
77
9
63
108
63
49
2
14
35
66
12
27
63
110
11 × 11 =W
7 × 11 =O
9 × 1 =M
1 × 12 =E
9 × 7 =A
11 × 10 =T
10 × 6 =F
2 × 7 =B
2 × 1 =K
7 × 7 =R
7 × 4 =S
9 × 12 =D
9 × 10 =N
3 × 7 =I
3 × 9 =H
11 × 6 =U
7 × 5 =L
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The team must share out the spare energy bars equally among the search squads.
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
1 ÷ 1 = ?
60 ÷ 5 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
12 ÷ 2 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
110 ÷ 10 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
8 ÷ 4 = ?
12 ÷ 3 = ?
45 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scaled the stone wall, then marked the escape path.
2.The villain soared over the gate, then unlocked the hidden chest.
3.The villain soared over the gate, then called the decoy owl.
4.The villain blocked the light beam, then unlocked the hidden chest.
5.The villain swung across the canyon, then distracted the camp guards.
6.The villain tracked the hidden signal, then marked the escape path.
7.The villain swung across the canyon, then marked the escape path.
8.The villain scaled the stone wall, then created a sudden fog.
9.The villain tracked the hidden signal, then distracted the camp guards.
10.The villain scaled the stone wall, then called the decoy owl.
11.The villain scaled the stone wall, then distracted the camp guards.
12.The villain blocked the light beam, then distracted the camp guards.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
Culprit: Guide Gabe (Pocket Radar · Laser Pointer · Right Shoulder Strap · Dark Blue Hat · Shiny Mirrors)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN HAS NO SMOKE CAPSULE"Round 2,142 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (T) · Round 7,624 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (V) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (O) · Round 5,088 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H) · Round 30 to the nearest ten = 30 (L) · Round 613 to the nearest hundred = 600 (C) · Round 64 to the nearest ten = 60 (P) · Round 827 to the nearest hundred = 800 (I) · Round 2,917 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (N) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (U) · Round 463 to the nearest hundred = 500 (E) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 720 to the nearest hundred = 700 (M) · Round 908 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 42 to the nearest ten = 40 (K)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "A WITNESS SAW A STRAP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER"125 + 122 = 247 (A) · 181 + 269 = 450 (N) · 390 + 523 = 913 (P) · 343 + 214 = 557 (G) · 89 + 132 = 221 (W) · 354 + 212 = 566 (E) · 544 + 250 = 794 (U) · 380 + 284 = 664 (O) · 207 + 269 = 476 (T) · 510 + 235 = 745 (H) · 387 + 536 = 923 (D) · 159 + 281 = 440 (L) · 393 + 402 = 795 (S) · 441 + 418 = 859 (R) · 231 + 121 = 352 (I)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN RAN AWAY FROM SHINY MIRRORS"965 - 353 = 612 (T) · 1032 - 252 = 780 (O) · 1022 - 164 = 858 (M) · 649 - 226 = 423 (A) · 1039 - 198 = 841 (N) · 515 - 293 = 222 (F) · 611 - 307 = 304 (V) · 663 - 218 = 445 (W) · 692 - 281 = 411 (S) · 303 - 37 = 266 (R) · 1070 - 399 = 671 (L) · 1000 - 206 = 794 (Y) · 392 - 281 = 111 (H) · 533 - 254 = 279 (I) · 587 - 337 = 250 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND FIBERS FROM A DARK BLUE HAT"11 × 11 = 121 (W) · 7 × 11 = 77 (O) · 9 × 1 = 9 (M) · 1 × 12 = 12 (E) · 9 × 7 = 63 (A) · 11 × 10 = 110 (T) · 10 × 6 = 60 (F) · 2 × 7 = 14 (B) · 2 × 1 = 2 (K) · 7 × 7 = 49 (R) · 7 × 4 = 28 (S) · 9 × 12 = 108 (D) · 9 × 10 = 90 (N) · 3 × 7 = 21 (I) · 3 × 9 = 27 (H) · 11 × 6 = 66 (U) · 7 × 5 = 35 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Guide Gabe1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 60 ÷ 5 = 12 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 12 ÷ 2 = 6 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 110 ÷ 10 = 11 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 8 ÷ 4 = 2 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5
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 Missing Golden Compass — set in Explorer Cove Camp
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects