Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionRoundingMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Sunken Anchor
Someone snuck onto Captain Barnaby's ship and stole the magical Golden Anchor! The thief sailed away toward the misty islands. Help the young deckhands solve the clues and find the pirate thief before they hide the anchor forever!
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 | Navigation Gear | Pirate Costume | Sword Hand | Hairstyle | Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Bonny | wooden cutlass | striped bandanna | right handed | brown curls | ticking pocketwatch |
| Calico Jack | golden compass | leather eye patch | left handed | black braids | sour lime juice |
| Sir Francis | golden compass | feathered tricorn | right handed | black braids | ticking pocketwatch |
| Captain Redbeard | golden compass | leather eye patch | right handed | black braids | sour lime juice |
| Shiver Jim | map scroll | silver belt buckle | right handed | brown curls | ticking pocketwatch |
| Grace OMalley | golden compass | green parrot | left handed | brown curls | ticking pocketwatch |
| Henry Morgan | brass spyglass | feathered tricorn | left handed | red ponytail | sneezing dust |
| Marina Wave | map scroll | leather eye patch | right handed | brown curls | sour lime juice |
| Patchy Paul | golden compass | striped bandanna | right handed | red ponytail | ticking pocketwatch |
| Blackbeard | wooden cutlass | green parrot | right handed | brown curls | ticking pocketwatch |
| Anchor Andy | wooden cutlass | silver belt buckle | left handed | brown curls | sour lime juice |
| Barnacle Bill | rope ladder | green parrot | right handed | brown curls | ticking pocketwatch |
| Breezy Bella | wooden cutlass | leather eye patch | left handed | red ponytail | sour lime juice |
| Scurvy Sam | rope ladder | leather eye patch | left handed | black braids | sneezing dust |
| Pegleg Pete | rope ladder | striped bandanna | right handed | black braids | sour lime juice |
| Captain Kidd | map scroll | striped bandanna | right handed | brown curls | ticking pocketwatch |
| Skurvy Skip | rope ladder | feathered tricorn | left handed | black braids | sneezing dust |
| Mary Read | wooden cutlass | silver belt buckle | right handed | red ponytail | sneezing dust |
| Cannonball Charlie | rope ladder | feathered tricorn | right handed | brown curls | sour lime juice |
| Sunny Sally | brass spyglass | striped bandanna | left handed | black braids | sneezing dust |
| Jolly Roger | brass spyglass | striped bandanna | left handed | brown curls | ticking pocketwatch |
Clue 1
Addition
To find the first clue, we need to count and add all the wooden barrels left on the dock.
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
561
296
519
572
972
202
222
T
561
519
660
693
519
276
781
693
T
561
464
519
222
202
222
276
972
504
599
519
202
950
519
504
T
561
950
773
396
840
504
519
366 + 195 =T
320 + 199 =E
278 + 382 =D
415 + 358 =U
363 + 587 =B
227 + 277 =L
300 + 393 =O
322 + 142 =W
452 + 388 =K
229 + 343 =P
125 + 271 =C
220 + 379 =V
654 + 318 =I
98 + 178 =S
124 + 78 =R
371 + 410 =N
83 + 139 =A
98 + 198 =H
0/18 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
The thief dropped some items as they ran, so we must subtract the lost gear from our total inventory.
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
156
311
602
843
537
140
140
106
537
705
311
602
140
893
T
156
311
602
472
106
534
537
705
T
156
311
602
215
537
181
311
T
156
311
106
705
893
409 - 253 =T
1017 - 312 =N
730 - 258 =M
1202 - 309 =D
250 - 35 =R
862 - 328 =P
347 - 166 =G
301 - 161 =L
581 - 44 =I
257 - 151 =A
962 - 360 =E
912 - 69 =V
512 - 201 =H
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Rounding
Our old ship telescope is blurry, so we can only estimate and round the distance to the nearest ten yards.
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
90
80
700
5000
50
700
600
60
9000
400
5000
50
7000
80
4000
A
90
80
5000
800
200
A
90
8000
7000
80
800
7000
900
5000
A
90
200
9000
20
300
600
A
90
4000
A
90
500
Round 93 to the nearest tenA
Round 5,142 to the nearest thousandC
Round 183 to the nearest hundredM
Round 8,924 to the nearest thousandP
Round 864 to the nearest hundredS
Round 272 to the nearest hundredU
Round 381 to the nearest hundredO
Round 58 to the nearest tenG
Round 7,591 to the nearest thousandD
Round 6,902 to the nearest thousandE
Round 49 to the nearest tenK
Round 461 to the nearest hundredY
Round 725 to the nearest hundredI
Round 842 to the nearest hundredH
Round 3,534 to the nearest thousandW
Round 20 to the nearest tenR
Round 81 to the nearest tenT
Round 645 to the nearest hundredN
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The island crates are stacked in equal rows, so we can multiply the rows to count the food supplies.
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
64
28
28
21
55
3
56
28
14
72
5
80
56
L
64
21
14
55
56
55
L
64
55
99
8
28
72
8
60
55
5
60
35
6
56
8 × 8 =L
11 × 5 =E
1 × 8 =T
7 × 8 =R
7 × 5 =A
10 × 8 =U
9 × 11 =F
10 × 6 =H
7 × 3 =S
4 × 7 =O
8 × 9 =N
5 × 1 =C
1 × 6 =I
3 × 1 =B
7 × 2 =W
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The deckhands need to divide the remaining water bottles equally among the search party to find the final clue.
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 ÷ 1 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
20 ÷ 10 = ?
30 ÷ 10 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
60 ÷ 6 = ?
3 ÷ 3 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
72 ÷ 12 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain peered through the brass spyglass, then fed the green parrot.
2.The villain unrolled the map scroll, then tipped a feathered tricorn.
3.The villain checked the golden compass, then tipped a feathered tricorn.
4.The villain climbed the rope ladder, then flipped a leather eye patch.
5.The villain waved a wooden cutlass, then adjusted a striped bandanna.
6.The villain waved a wooden cutlass, then tipped a feathered tricorn.
7.The villain peered through the brass spyglass, then polished a silver belt buckle.
8.The villain climbed the rope ladder, then fed the green parrot.
9.The villain climbed the rope ladder, then adjusted a striped bandanna.
10.The villain unrolled the map scroll, then flipped a leather eye patch.
11.The villain unrolled the map scroll, then adjusted a striped bandanna.
12.The villain waved a wooden cutlass, then fed the green parrot.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Sunken Anchor
Culprit: Anne Bonny (wooden cutlass · striped bandanna · right handed · brown curls · ticking pocketwatch)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE PIRATE DOES NOT WEAR A SILVER BELT BUCKLE"366 + 195 = 561 (T) · 320 + 199 = 519 (E) · 278 + 382 = 660 (D) · 415 + 358 = 773 (U) · 363 + 587 = 950 (B) · 227 + 277 = 504 (L) · 300 + 393 = 693 (O) · 322 + 142 = 464 (W) · 452 + 388 = 840 (K) · 229 + 343 = 572 (P) · 125 + 271 = 396 (C) · 220 + 379 = 599 (V) · 654 + 318 = 972 (I) · 98 + 178 = 276 (S) · 124 + 78 = 202 (R) · 371 + 410 = 781 (N) · 83 + 139 = 222 (A) · 98 + 198 = 296 (H)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN HELD THE MAP IN THE RIGHT HAND"409 - 253 = 156 (T) · 1017 - 312 = 705 (N) · 730 - 258 = 472 (M) · 1202 - 309 = 893 (D) · 250 - 35 = 215 (R) · 862 - 328 = 534 (P) · 347 - 166 = 181 (G) · 301 - 161 = 140 (L) · 581 - 44 = 537 (I) · 257 - 151 = 106 (A) · 962 - 360 = 602 (E) · 912 - 69 = 843 (V) · 512 - 201 = 311 (H)
- Clue 3 (Rounding): "A TICKING POCKETWATCH MADE THE SCAMP RUN AWAY"Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 5,142 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (C) · Round 183 to the nearest hundred = 200 (M) · Round 8,924 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (P) · Round 864 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 272 to the nearest hundred = 300 (U) · Round 381 to the nearest hundred = 400 (O) · Round 58 to the nearest ten = 60 (G) · Round 7,591 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (D) · Round 6,902 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (E) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (K) · Round 461 to the nearest hundred = 500 (Y) · Round 725 to the nearest hundred = 700 (I) · Round 842 to the nearest hundred = 800 (H) · Round 3,534 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (W) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (R) · Round 81 to the nearest ten = 80 (T) · Round 645 to the nearest hundred = 600 (N)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "LOOSE BROWN CURLS WERE LEFT ON THE CHAIR"8 × 8 = 64 (L) · 11 × 5 = 55 (E) · 1 × 8 = 8 (T) · 7 × 8 = 56 (R) · 7 × 5 = 35 (A) · 10 × 8 = 80 (U) · 9 × 11 = 99 (F) · 10 × 6 = 60 (H) · 7 × 3 = 21 (S) · 4 × 7 = 28 (O) · 8 × 9 = 72 (N) · 5 × 1 = 5 (C) · 1 × 6 = 6 (I) · 3 × 1 = 3 (B) · 7 × 2 = 14 (W)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Anne Bonny12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 3 ÷ 3 = 1 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7 · 72 ÷ 12 = 6 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Sunken Anchor — set in Scurvy Sand Island
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects