🏴☠️ PiratesGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
The famous Golden Compass has vanished from the harbor master vault at Salty Cutlass Cove! A rogue pirate snuck aboard after dark. Inspect the clues to catch the rascal.
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 | Pirate Tool | Ship Weapon | Stance | Beard Style | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave Rider Wendy | Grappling Hook | Smoke Bomb | Left-Handed | Clean Shaven | Parrot Screeches |
| Deckhand Daisy | Brass Compass | Catapult | Left-Handed | Clean Shaven | Ticklish Feathers |
| Reef Runner Ray | Cutlass | Smoke Bomb | Left-Handed | Bushy Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Blackbeard Barnaby | Wooden Peg | Cannon | Right-Handed | Clean Shaven | Sea Monster Tales |
| Scupper Scott | Cutlass | Smoke Bomb | Right-Handed | Bushy Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Cannonball Kate | Grappling Hook | Harpoon | Right-Handed | Bushy Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Sailor Sally | Spyglass | Net Launcher | Left-Handed | Braided Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Jolly Jonah | Cutlass | Smoke Bomb | Left-Handed | Bushy Beard | Sea Monster Tales |
| Gunner Grace | Grappling Hook | Smoke Bomb | Right-Handed | Clean Shaven | Parrot Screeches |
| Rudder Ricky | Spyglass | Catapult | Right-Handed | Bushy Beard | Ticklish Feathers |
| Mariner Mary | Cutlass | Catapult | Left-Handed | Bushy Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Calico Clara | Wooden Peg | Net Launcher | Left-Handed | Bushy Beard | Ticklish Feathers |
| Breeze Morgan | Spyglass | Harpoon | Right-Handed | Clean Shaven | Sea Monster Tales |
| Pegleg Pete | Grappling Hook | Cannon | Left-Handed | Bushy Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Anchor Anne | Spyglass | Net Launcher | Right-Handed | Braided Beard | Ticklish Feathers |
| Captain Coral | Spyglass | Cannon | Left-Handed | Bushy Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Harbor Hank | Cutlass | Harpoon | Right-Handed | Bushy Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Skiff Redbeard | Spyglass | Harpoon | Left-Handed | Bushy Beard | Sea Monster Tales |
| Tide Tracker Tom | Grappling Hook | Cannon | Left-Handed | Braided Beard | Parrot Screeches |
| Barnacle Bob | Wooden Peg | Net Launcher | Right-Handed | Bushy Beard | Ticklish Feathers |
| First Mate Finn | Cutlass | Harpoon | Left-Handed | Bushy Beard | Parrot Screeches |
Clue 1
Rounding
The quartermaster checked the compass dial, but the worn glass only showed numbers rounded to the nearest hundred.
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
90
2300
130
290
1700
300
300
50
1700
7000
500
3700
130
110
7000
3700
T
90
4300
110
130
50
2300
50
1100
3000
3700
3700
7000
Round 86 to the nearest tenT
Round 3,655 to the nearest hundredO
Round 320 to the nearest hundredL
Round 2,307 to the nearest hundredH
Round 1,085 to the nearest hundredR
Round 2,514 to the nearest thousandP
Round 110 to the nearest tenS
Round 6,915 to the nearest thousandN
Round 134 to the nearest tenE
Round 292 to the nearest tenV
Round 4,315 to the nearest hundredU
Round 1,685 to the nearest hundredI
Round 48 to the nearest tenA
Round 539 to the nearest hundredD
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The deckhands tallied up all the stolen doubloons collected from the three lower cabins.
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
4494
3862
6759
5760
9637
6232
2785
6759
8281
5760
6759
4788
T
4494
3862
6759
7125
5760
7336
7176
5253
4788
7125
T
4494
3862
T
4494
3862
6759
3213
6759
2895
T
4494
3862
7176
5789
8281
1948 + 2546 =T
2398 + 2855 =P
2027 + 1186 =L
3723 + 3613 =M
1019 + 1876 =F
1887 + 4345 =G
4979 + 4658 =O
5318 + 2963 =D
2850 + 2910 =R
3782 + 3343 =I
1741 + 2121 =H
1609 + 3179 =W
4150 + 3026 =A
3792 + 1997 =N
3110 + 3649 =E
1734 + 1051 =U
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The ship doctor calculated how many sea biscuits were taken from the pantry barrel.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
L
5809
6438
2564
3419
6084
2268
6742
6742
6438
3570
2620
7354
6742
3447
3447
7354
6579
3447
2620
1274
2268
3419
3447
3570
6579
3447
6742
6438
2866
2564
3447
6742
2564
1323
10028 - 4219 =L
7005 - 921 =P
2583 - 19 =U
9101 - 2522 =H
5839 - 2973 =G
2507 - 1184 =N
5499 - 4225 =M
9837 - 3095 =R
6512 - 3892 =S
4716 - 1297 =D
5594 - 2024 =T
4105 - 1837 =A
4991 - 1544 =E
9443 - 3005 =O
9523 - 2169 =C
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The spotter counted equal rows of cannonballs stacked along the gun deck.
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
36
45
28
1
3
B
36
90
2
27
81
1
2
96
27
9
2
28
8
30
45
7
81
30
7
4
1
90
56
2
4
84
1
12 × 3 =B
8 × 7 =L
1 × 1 =H
9 × 10 =E
9 × 3 =R
1 × 2 =A
9 × 9 =D
1 × 3 =Y
2 × 2 =T
10 × 3 =O
8 × 12 =I
7 × 1 =N
1 × 9 =W
2 × 4 =F
9 × 5 =U
7 × 4 =S
7 × 12 =C
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The lookout shared the recovered silver coins equally among the crew mates.
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
24 ÷ 8 = ?
100 ÷ 10 = ?
45 ÷ 5 = ?
33 ÷ 3 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
120 ÷ 10 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
24 ÷ 3 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
28 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain crawled along the anchor chain, then threw a heavy anchor.
2.The villain sneaked through the porthole, then fired a wide net launcher.
3.The villain swung across on a rope, then fired a loud cannon.
4.The villain picked the vault lock, then fired a loud cannon.
5.The villain sneaked through the porthole, then launched a heavy catapult.
6.The villain picked the vault lock, then fired a wide net launcher.
7.The villain sneaked through the porthole, then threw a heavy anchor.
8.The villain scaled the wooden hull, then threw a heavy anchor.
9.The villain picked the vault lock, then launched a heavy catapult.
10.The villain sneaked through the porthole, then fired a loud cannon.
11.The villain scaled the wooden hull, then fired a wide net launcher.
12.The villain crawled along the anchor chain, then fired a loud cannon.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Compass
Culprit: Reef Runner Ray (Cutlass · Smoke Bomb · Left-Handed · Bushy Beard · Parrot Screeches)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A HARPOON"Round 86 to the nearest ten = 90 (T) · Round 3,655 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (O) · Round 320 to the nearest hundred = 300 (L) · Round 2,307 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (H) · Round 1,085 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (R) · Round 2,514 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (P) · Round 110 to the nearest ten = 110 (S) · Round 6,915 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (N) · Round 134 to the nearest ten = 130 (E) · Round 292 to the nearest ten = 290 (V) · Round 4,315 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (U) · Round 1,685 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (I) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (A) · Round 539 to the nearest hundred = 500 (D)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE ROGUE DREW THEIR MAP WITH THE LEFT HAND"1948 + 2546 = 4494 (T) · 2398 + 2855 = 5253 (P) · 2027 + 1186 = 3213 (L) · 3723 + 3613 = 7336 (M) · 1019 + 1876 = 2895 (F) · 1887 + 4345 = 6232 (G) · 4979 + 4658 = 9637 (O) · 5318 + 2963 = 8281 (D) · 2850 + 2910 = 5760 (R) · 3782 + 3343 = 7125 (I) · 1741 + 2121 = 3862 (H) · 1609 + 3179 = 4788 (W) · 4150 + 3026 = 7176 (A) · 3792 + 1997 = 5789 (N) · 3110 + 3649 = 6759 (E) · 1734 + 1051 = 2785 (U)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "LOUD PARROT SCREECHES MADE THE ROGUE RUN"10028 - 4219 = 5809 (L) · 7005 - 921 = 6084 (P) · 2583 - 19 = 2564 (U) · 9101 - 2522 = 6579 (H) · 5839 - 2973 = 2866 (G) · 2507 - 1184 = 1323 (N) · 5499 - 4225 = 1274 (M) · 9837 - 3095 = 6742 (R) · 6512 - 3892 = 2620 (S) · 4716 - 1297 = 3419 (D) · 5594 - 2024 = 3570 (T) · 4105 - 1837 = 2268 (A) · 4991 - 1544 = 3447 (E) · 9443 - 3005 = 6438 (O) · 9523 - 2169 = 7354 (C)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "BUSHY BEARD HAIR WAS FOUND ON THE LATCH"12 × 3 = 36 (B) · 8 × 7 = 56 (L) · 1 × 1 = 1 (H) · 9 × 10 = 90 (E) · 9 × 3 = 27 (R) · 1 × 2 = 2 (A) · 9 × 9 = 81 (D) · 1 × 3 = 3 (Y) · 2 × 2 = 4 (T) · 10 × 3 = 30 (O) · 8 × 12 = 96 (I) · 7 × 1 = 7 (N) · 1 × 9 = 9 (W) · 2 × 4 = 8 (F) · 9 × 5 = 45 (U) · 7 × 4 = 28 (S) · 7 × 12 = 84 (C)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Reef Runner Ray24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 120 ÷ 10 = 12 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 24 ÷ 3 = 8 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Compass — set in Salty Cutlass Cove
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects