🏴☠️ Pirates, Mermaids, Cats, MinGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Sunken Block Pearl
A sneaky pirate cat snuck into the underwater crystal cave and swiped the Glowing Pearl! Help the mermaid guards decode the evidence to find the culprit.
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 | Special Gear | Loot Stash | Whiskers Pattern | Bandana Color | Cat Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calico Anne | Fishing Rod | Glowing Redstone | Left Whisker Twitch | Jungle Green | Cucumber Slices |
| Captain Claw | Coral Trident | Glowing Redstone | Right Whisker Twitch | Jungle Green | Dog Barking |
| Seaweed Sam | Golden Pickaxe | Emerald Blocks | Left Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Cucumber Slices |
| Barnacle Bob | Prismarine Shield | Prismarine Shards | Right Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Cucumber Slices |
| Sir Paws-a-Lot | Diamond Sword | Prismarine Shards | Left Whisker Twitch | Ocean Blue | Cucumber Slices |
| Anchors Aweigh Arthur | Fishing Rod | Glowing Redstone | Left Whisker Twitch | Ocean Blue | Water Splashes |
| Patchy Tail | Coral Trident | Glowing Redstone | Right Whisker Twitch | Ocean Blue | Water Splashes |
| Coral Pearl | Prismarine Shield | Golden Apples | Right Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Dog Barking |
| Admiral Purr | Fishing Rod | Golden Apples | Left Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Cucumber Slices |
| Pearl Diver Penny | Coral Trident | Golden Apples | Left Whisker Twitch | Jungle Green | Dog Barking |
| Skipper Felix | Diamond Sword | Prismarine Shards | Left Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Water Splashes |
| Misty Scales | Fishing Rod | Prismarine Shards | Left Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Cucumber Slices |
| Bubbles McGee | Prismarine Shield | Emerald Blocks | Left Whisker Twitch | Ocean Blue | Cucumber Slices |
| Scupper Jack | Diamond Sword | Tropical Fish | Right Whisker Twitch | Jungle Green | Water Splashes |
| Nautilus Nick | Prismarine Shield | Glowing Redstone | Left Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Water Splashes |
| Coral Sea-Tail | Diamond Sword | Tropical Fish | Left Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Cucumber Slices |
| First Mate Mittens | Coral Trident | Emerald Blocks | Left Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Water Splashes |
| Salty Whiskers | Golden Pickaxe | Golden Apples | Right Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Water Splashes |
| Barnaby Swash | Coral Trident | Glowing Redstone | Left Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Cucumber Slices |
| Captain Tom | Coral Trident | Golden Apples | Left Whisker Twitch | Jungle Green | Water Splashes |
| Swashbuckler Tabby | Diamond Sword | Tropical Fish | Right Whisker Twitch | Crimson Red | Cucumber Slices |
Clue 1
Rounding
The sonar device at the dock only shows approximate distance numbers. Solve the math to reveal the first suspect clue!
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
50
60
3000
400
500
4000
90
9000
600
T
50
2000
800
3000
20
5000
800
T
50
20
T
50
200
20
60
30
800
4000
2000
3000
5000
200
90
90
4000
3000
20
Round 48 to the nearest tenT
Round 4,856 to the nearest thousandN
Round 213 to the nearest hundredA
Round 3,119 to the nearest thousandE
Round 584 to the nearest hundredI
Round 832 to the nearest hundredO
Round 9,016 to the nearest thousandR
Round 33 to the nearest tenG
Round 18 to the nearest tenS
Round 549 to the nearest hundredU
Round 368 to the nearest hundredC
Round 4,344 to the nearest thousandL
Round 64 to the nearest tenH
Round 92 to the nearest tenP
Round 1,524 to the nearest thousandD
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The mermaid guard tallied up the shiny shell fragments left near the vault. Add the totals to uncover the next hint.
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
516
355
910
699
512
895
279
279
279
A
516
355
A
516
398
895
692
699
355
258
910
279
843
895
547
699
355
910
699
619
258
346 + 170 =A
471 + 424 =E
316 + 303 =C
270 + 573 =K
244 + 448 =F
203 + 195 =L
455 + 244 =T
197 + 158 =W
132 + 126 =H
212 + 335 =R
300 + 212 =N
106 + 173 =S
356 + 554 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
Some stolen fish were dropped on the trail. Subtract the missing count to figure out the trail 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.
T
748
249
819
396
432
819
855
513
556
855
432
376
556
281
136
790
201
790
201
136
262
819
556
396
628
744
790
819
396
816 - 68 =T
596 - 347 =H
604 - 91 =K
577 - 21 =R
980 - 125 =A
542 - 110 =N
536 - 255 =O
642 - 266 =F
991 - 247 =I
975 - 347 =L
351 - 215 =M
561 - 165 =S
834 - 44 =C
344 - 143 =U
492 - 230 =B
882 - 63 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The pirate crew arranged craft blocks in equal rows on the deck. Multiply to find the secret pattern!
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
49
15
54
42
7
25
54
88
10
120
45
84
84
88
15
7
6
42
88
72
36
24
84
10
T
49
15
88
54
7
6
24
7 × 7 =T
11 × 8 =R
2 × 3 =D
9 × 4 =M
7 × 12 =O
6 × 7 =C
8 × 9 =I
5 × 9 =L
10 × 1 =N
12 × 10 =F
5 × 3 =H
5 × 5 =V
7 × 1 =A
6 × 4 =S
6 × 9 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The guard divided the leftover pearls equally among the rescue buckets. Solve the division puzzle to finish the investigation!
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
22 ÷ 11 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
60 ÷ 12 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
66 ÷ 11 = ?
84 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain cast a fishing rod, then grabbed prismarine shards.
2.The villain swung a golden pickaxe, then scooped up emerald blocks.
3.The villain swung a diamond sword, then snatched golden apples.
4.The villain threw a coral trident, then pocketed glowing redstone.
5.The villain raised a prismarine shield, then snatched golden apples.
6.The villain swung a diamond sword, then scooped up emerald blocks.
7.The villain raised a prismarine shield, then pocketed glowing redstone.
8.The villain swung a golden pickaxe, then pocketed glowing redstone.
9.The villain swung a golden pickaxe, then grabbed prismarine shards.
10.The villain cast a fishing rod, then swiped tropical fish.
11.The villain cast a fishing rod, then scooped up emerald blocks.
12.The villain swung a diamond sword, then swiped tropical fish.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Sunken Block Pearl
Culprit: Coral Sea-Tail (Diamond Sword · Tropical Fish · Left Whisker Twitch · Crimson Red · Cucumber Slices)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE CULPRIT DOES NOT STASH GOLDEN APPLES"Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (T) · Round 4,856 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (N) · Round 213 to the nearest hundred = 200 (A) · Round 3,119 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (E) · Round 584 to the nearest hundred = 600 (I) · Round 832 to the nearest hundred = 800 (O) · Round 9,016 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (R) · Round 33 to the nearest ten = 30 (G) · Round 18 to the nearest ten = 20 (S) · Round 549 to the nearest hundred = 500 (U) · Round 368 to the nearest hundred = 400 (C) · Round 4,344 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (L) · Round 64 to the nearest ten = 60 (H) · Round 92 to the nearest ten = 90 (P) · Round 1,524 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (D)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "A WITNESS SAW A LEFT WHISKER TWITCH"346 + 170 = 516 (A) · 471 + 424 = 895 (E) · 316 + 303 = 619 (C) · 270 + 573 = 843 (K) · 244 + 448 = 692 (F) · 203 + 195 = 398 (L) · 455 + 244 = 699 (T) · 197 + 158 = 355 (W) · 132 + 126 = 258 (H) · 212 + 335 = 547 (R) · 300 + 212 = 512 (N) · 106 + 173 = 279 (S) · 356 + 554 = 910 (I)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SNEAK RAN FROM CUCUMBER SLICES"816 - 68 = 748 (T) · 596 - 347 = 249 (H) · 604 - 91 = 513 (K) · 577 - 21 = 556 (R) · 980 - 125 = 855 (A) · 542 - 110 = 432 (N) · 536 - 255 = 281 (O) · 642 - 266 = 376 (F) · 991 - 247 = 744 (I) · 975 - 347 = 628 (L) · 351 - 215 = 136 (M) · 561 - 165 = 396 (S) · 834 - 44 = 790 (C) · 344 - 143 = 201 (U) · 492 - 230 = 262 (B) · 882 - 63 = 819 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE CAVERN FLOOR HAD CRIMSON THREADS"7 × 7 = 49 (T) · 11 × 8 = 88 (R) · 2 × 3 = 6 (D) · 9 × 4 = 36 (M) · 7 × 12 = 84 (O) · 6 × 7 = 42 (C) · 8 × 9 = 72 (I) · 5 × 9 = 45 (L) · 10 × 1 = 10 (N) · 12 × 10 = 120 (F) · 5 × 3 = 15 (H) · 5 × 5 = 25 (V) · 7 × 1 = 7 (A) · 6 × 4 = 24 (S) · 6 × 9 = 54 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Coral Sea-Tail22 ÷ 11 = 2 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 84 ÷ 12 = 7
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 Sunken Block Pearl — set in The Blocky Atoll Lagoon
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects