🔎 GeographyGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Great Map Mystery
The priceless Golden Globe has vanished from the Compass City Map Museum! The thief left behind strange grid coordinates and expedition clues. Detective, use your geography skills to solve the mystery and stop the Map Snatcher!
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 | Map Skill | Travel Gear | Compass Grip | Explorer Hat | Geographic Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Humboldt | Latitude Tracking | Pocket Altimeter | Holds compass in right hand | Wool Beanie | Fear of Canyons |
| Ibn Battuta | Latitude Tracking | Folding Map | Holds compass in right hand | Wool Beanie | Confused by Equator |
| Barbara Washburn | Contour Drawing | Leather Backpack | Holds compass in right hand | Pith Helmet | Fear of Canyons |
| Jeanne Baret | Compass Navigation | Pocket Altimeter | Holds compass in right hand | Safari Cap | Fear of Canyons |
| Mary Anning | Compass Navigation | Brass Quadrant | Holds compass in right hand | Pith Helmet | Fear of Canyons |
| Amerigo Vespucci | Topography Reading | Field Telescope | Holds compass in left hand | Wool Beanie | Fear of Canyons |
| Jacques Cousteau | Contour Drawing | Field Telescope | Holds compass in right hand | Pith Helmet | Fear of Canyons |
| David Livingstone | Compass Navigation | Leather Backpack | Holds compass in right hand | Pith Helmet | Lost in Deserts |
| Ranulph Fiennes | Latitude Tracking | Brass Quadrant | Holds compass in right hand | Wool Beanie | Fear of Canyons |
| Isabella Bird | Compass Navigation | Pocket Altimeter | Holds compass in left hand | Safari Cap | Confused by Equator |
| Robert Peary | Compass Navigation | Folding Map | Holds compass in left hand | Safari Cap | Fear of Canyons |
| Matthew Henson | Topography Reading | Leather Backpack | Holds compass in left hand | Pith Helmet | Fear of Canyons |
| Roald Amundsen | Compass Navigation | Field Telescope | Holds compass in left hand | Wool Beanie | Fear of Canyons |
| Leif Erikson | Latitude Tracking | Leather Backpack | Holds compass in right hand | Pith Helmet | Confused by Equator |
| Gertrude Bell | Climate Analysis | Field Telescope | Holds compass in left hand | Pith Helmet | Lost in Deserts |
| Freya Stark | Latitude Tracking | Brass Quadrant | Holds compass in right hand | Safari Cap | Lost in Deserts |
| Mary Kingsley | Topography Reading | Folding Map | Holds compass in right hand | Pith Helmet | Fear of Canyons |
| Nellie Bly | Contour Drawing | Brass Quadrant | Holds compass in left hand | Wool Beanie | Confused by Equator |
| Sacagawea | Latitude Tracking | Pocket Altimeter | Holds compass in right hand | Pith Helmet | Fear of Canyons |
| Ernest Shackleton | Contour Drawing | Folding Map | Holds compass in left hand | Safari Cap | Confused by Equator |
| James Cook | Latitude Tracking | Brass Quadrant | Holds compass in right hand | Safari Cap | Fear of Canyons |
Clue 1
Rounding
The digital GPS readout in the museum vault rounded the distance traveled to the nearest thousand miles.
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
1100
230
290
7000
30
130
20
7000
T
50
2900
1100
230
170
3700
300
230
130
20
300
T
50
2000
130
230
7000
700
300
9000
3700
500
20
5000
290
7000
30
Round 52 to the nearest tenT
Round 489 to the nearest hundredI
Round 8,935 to the nearest thousandL
Round 6,519 to the nearest thousandA
Round 29 to the nearest tenP
Round 2,913 to the nearest hundredC
Round 1,117 to the nearest hundredH
Round 3,697 to the nearest hundredD
Round 5,344 to the nearest thousandG
Round 300 to the nearest hundredO
Round 2,113 to the nearest thousandU
Round 698 to the nearest hundredF
Round 19 to the nearest tenN
Round 233 to the nearest tenE
Round 292 to the nearest tenM
Round 168 to the nearest tenR
Round 129 to the nearest tenS
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The museum curator added up all the stolen travel journals from the east and west wings to check the total count.
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
6355
6031
4524
T
6355
6233
4594
7386
6610
8107
8107
6031
5391
3511
4594
6233
2681
3861
6031
T
6355
6031
4594
2544
9214
4524
9214
7386
5391
3190
7481
4594
8107
8107
3861
6233
2681
7481
2185 + 4170 =T
1119 + 2071 =M
1221 + 2640 =G
1186 + 1495 =I
4006 + 5208 =D
2744 + 1780 =E
1272 + 1272 =N
1288 + 2223 =W
2712 + 5395 =S
2975 + 4506 =P
2433 + 2161 =A
1894 + 3497 =O
4743 + 2643 =C
2239 + 4371 =K
2882 + 3149 =H
4067 + 2166 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The detective subtracted the remaining map scrolls from the morning inventory to see how many were 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
5849
2554
6853
T
5849
2554
3274
6853
1105
6392
3804
5626
3274
1918
8315
6853
2051
6840
2554
6853
5626
5626
6853
3804
2047
3274
5626
3417
2051
6853
6853
6392
1918
3804
5626
3940
3556
5626
8432
10446 - 4597 =T
6094 - 4043 =D
5557 - 1753 =A
2560 - 6 =H
8698 - 1845 =E
6544 - 4626 =C
11943 - 3628 =K
4847 - 1291 =O
9770 - 2930 =W
2195 - 1090 =F
8372 - 4955 =G
4883 - 2836 =R
5983 - 2709 =I
4107 - 167 =Y
9826 - 1394 =S
10011 - 4385 =N
9690 - 3298 =P
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The thief left behind identical stacks of atlas pages arranged in neat rows across the exhibition room 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.
A
2
14
121
5
110
110
8
63
3
8
5
1
5
144
A
2
14
11
A
2
1
63
8
90
5
A
2
5
5
110
8
1
42
8
27
8
2 × 1 =A
10 × 9 =F
12 × 12 =R
7 × 9 =L
10 × 11 =H
7 × 6 =C
3 × 9 =N
11 × 11 =I
1 × 8 =E
11 × 1 =W
1 × 5 =T
1 × 1 =S
1 × 3 =M
2 × 7 =P
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The investigation team divided the expedition search grid into equal zones for each rescue squad.
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
9 ÷ 9 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
50 ÷ 10 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
18 ÷ 2 = ?
20 ÷ 10 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
8 ÷ 2 = ?
88 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain plotted grid coordinates, then focused a field telescope.
2.The villain aligned the magnetic compass, then focused a field telescope.
3.The villain calculated mountain heights, then packed a leather backpack.
4.The villain traced contour lines on the floor, then checked a pocket altimeter.
5.The villain calculated mountain heights, then adjusted a brass quadrant.
6.The villain aligned the magnetic compass, then adjusted a brass quadrant.
7.The villain calculated mountain heights, then focused a field telescope.
8.The villain plotted grid coordinates, then packed a leather backpack.
9.The villain aligned the magnetic compass, then checked a pocket altimeter.
10.The villain checked latitude marks on the wall, then checked a pocket altimeter.
11.The villain plotted grid coordinates, then adjusted a brass quadrant.
12.The villain plotted grid coordinates, then checked a pocket altimeter.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Map Mystery
Culprit: Sacagawea (Latitude Tracking · Pocket Altimeter · Holds compass in right hand · Pith Helmet · Fear of Canyons)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE MAP SNATCHER DOES NOT USE A FOLDING MAP"Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (T) · Round 489 to the nearest hundred = 500 (I) · Round 8,935 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (L) · Round 6,519 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (A) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (P) · Round 2,913 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (C) · Round 1,117 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (H) · Round 3,697 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (D) · Round 5,344 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (G) · Round 300 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 2,113 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (U) · Round 698 to the nearest hundred = 700 (F) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (N) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (E) · Round 292 to the nearest ten = 290 (M) · Round 168 to the nearest ten = 170 (R) · Round 129 to the nearest ten = 130 (S)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE TRACKS SHOW A RIGHT HANDED COMPASS GRIP"2185 + 4170 = 6355 (T) · 1119 + 2071 = 3190 (M) · 1221 + 2640 = 3861 (G) · 1186 + 1495 = 2681 (I) · 4006 + 5208 = 9214 (D) · 2744 + 1780 = 4524 (E) · 1272 + 1272 = 2544 (N) · 1288 + 2223 = 3511 (W) · 2712 + 5395 = 8107 (S) · 2975 + 4506 = 7481 (P) · 2433 + 2161 = 4594 (A) · 1894 + 3497 = 5391 (O) · 4743 + 2643 = 7386 (C) · 2239 + 4371 = 6610 (K) · 2882 + 3149 = 6031 (H) · 4067 + 2166 = 6233 (R)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF PANICKED WHEN NEARING DEEP CANYONS"10446 - 4597 = 5849 (T) · 6094 - 4043 = 2051 (D) · 5557 - 1753 = 3804 (A) · 2560 - 6 = 2554 (H) · 8698 - 1845 = 6853 (E) · 6544 - 4626 = 1918 (C) · 11943 - 3628 = 8315 (K) · 4847 - 1291 = 3556 (O) · 9770 - 2930 = 6840 (W) · 2195 - 1090 = 1105 (F) · 8372 - 4955 = 3417 (G) · 4883 - 2836 = 2047 (R) · 5983 - 2709 = 3274 (I) · 4107 - 167 = 3940 (Y) · 9826 - 1394 = 8432 (S) · 10011 - 4385 = 5626 (N) · 9690 - 3298 = 6392 (P)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A PITH HELMET STRAP WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE"2 × 1 = 2 (A) · 10 × 9 = 90 (F) · 12 × 12 = 144 (R) · 7 × 9 = 63 (L) · 10 × 11 = 110 (H) · 7 × 6 = 42 (C) · 3 × 9 = 27 (N) · 11 × 11 = 121 (I) · 1 × 8 = 8 (E) · 11 × 1 = 11 (W) · 1 × 5 = 5 (T) · 1 × 1 = 1 (S) · 1 × 3 = 3 (M) · 2 × 7 = 14 (P)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Sacagawea9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 18 ÷ 2 = 9 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Map Mystery — set in Compass City Map Museum
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects