🏴☠️ Fishing piratesGrade 4Reading: grades 5-6RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Barnacle Bay Heist
Someone raided the harbor vaults and swapped the trophy catches for old boots! Examine the clues left across the docks to uncover the pirate captain responsible.
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 | Fishing Gear | Sea Pet | Stance | Beard Style | Bait Allergy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stede Bonnet | Harpoon Cannon | Attack Crab | Left Handed | Bushy Beard | Salty Worms |
| Bartholomew Roberts | Titanium Net | Giant Octopus | Left Handed | Clean Shaven | Smelly Chum |
| William Kidd | Golden Fishing Rod | Trained Pelican | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Salty Worms |
| Barnacle Bill | Harpoon Cannon | Guard Seagull | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Sour Lemon |
| Calico Jack | Harpoon Cannon | Giant Octopus | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Smelly Chum |
| Jean Lafitte | Golden Fishing Rod | Guard Seagull | Right Handed | Bushy Beard | Smelly Chum |
| Patchy Pete | Titanium Net | Guard Seagull | Right Handed | Bushy Beard | Sour Lemon |
| Francois lOlonnais | Golden Fishing Rod | Attack Crab | Left Handed | Clean Shaven | Sour Lemon |
| Barbarossa | Harpoon Cannon | Attack Crab | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Sour Lemon |
| Long John Silver | Deep Sea Sonar | Trained Pelican | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Salty Worms |
| Charles Vane | Harpoon Cannon | Giant Octopus | Left Handed | Clean Shaven | Sour Lemon |
| Zheng Yi Sao | Electric Lure | Salty Otter | Right Handed | Bushy Beard | Salty Worms |
| Woodes Rogers | Harpoon Cannon | Trained Pelican | Left Handed | Braided Beard | Sour Lemon |
| Edward England | Deep Sea Sonar | Guard Seagull | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Salty Worms |
| Thomas Tew | Electric Lure | Salty Otter | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Salty Worms |
| Mary Read | Harpoon Cannon | Trained Pelican | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Sour Lemon |
| Anne Bonny | Golden Fishing Rod | Attack Crab | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Salty Worms |
| Grace OMalley | Electric Lure | Trained Pelican | Right Handed | Clean Shaven | Smelly Chum |
| Howell Davis | Golden Fishing Rod | Guard Seagull | Left Handed | Clean Shaven | Salty Worms |
| Blackbeard | Golden Fishing Rod | Guard Seagull | Right Handed | Bushy Beard | Salty Worms |
| Henry Morgan | Golden Fishing Rod | Giant Octopus | Right Handed | Braided Beard | Salty Worms |
Clue 1
Rounding
The harbor sonar screen rounds the distance to the sneaking ship 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.
T
30
5000
2900
230
50
2000
2000
110
50
3000
9000
70
2900
1700
3000
70
T
30
5000
110
230
2900
110
1700
110
2000
T
30
130
70
T
30
T
30
2900
3700
Round 31 to the nearest tenT
Round 1,553 to the nearest thousandL
Round 229 to the nearest tenV
Round 1,679 to the nearest hundredS
Round 3,414 to the nearest thousandN
Round 108 to the nearest tenA
Round 132 to the nearest tenY
Round 9,471 to the nearest thousandD
Round 5,347 to the nearest thousandH
Round 3,674 to the nearest hundredR
Round 71 to the nearest tenO
Round 2,861 to the nearest hundredE
Round 54 to the nearest tenI
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The deckhand added up all the heavy crate weights found on the docks.
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
3304
3265
2836
2126
3653
2126
8744
2836
8842
T
3304
8842
6620
2126
T
3304
T
3304
3265
2836
3424
6322
5864
3424
9077
2836
4631
3424
T
3304
3265
T
3304
3265
2836
6322
3424
6692
3265
T
3304
3265
6620
9077
2959
2141 + 1163 =T
4296 + 2396 =G
1905 + 1360 =H
3201 + 5543 =P
2939 + 1692 =W
2467 + 3855 =R
4889 + 4188 =N
1086 + 1873 =D
2181 + 4439 =A
2054 + 3810 =L
1773 + 1063 =E
3952 + 4890 =C
1181 + 945 =S
1548 + 2105 =U
2082 + 1342 =I
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The navigator subtracted the missing fish weight from the logbook.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
2952
7028
7702
8863
3203
3029
2190
1327
6135
S
2952
6135
7028
8019
6605
8863
7012
6605
2327
7028
2068
8863
7028
7583
1698
S
2952
7583
2327
3741
4950 - 1998 =S
6947 - 3744 =Y
7125 - 4096 =W
4699 - 2631 =P
3792 - 2094 =N
8420 - 2285 =M
9116 - 2104 =H
5316 - 3989 =R
10978 - 3395 =I
7631 - 603 =A
12877 - 4858 =D
10978 - 2115 =T
7004 - 4677 =C
10701 - 2999 =L
5642 - 1901 =K
10974 - 4369 =E
2523 - 333 =O
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The quartermaster counted equal rows of tackle boxes stacked on the pier.
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
28
14
121
64
40
27
40
B
28
27
121
14
40
80
121
64
14
50
121
8
54
60
56
99
40
60
99
100
80
27
40
27
96
21
4 × 7 =B
9 × 3 =E
10 × 10 =T
12 × 8 =C
7 × 3 =K
12 × 5 =O
10 × 5 =W
8 × 8 =I
5 × 8 =D
11 × 9 =N
6 × 9 =F
8 × 1 =S
7 × 8 =U
8 × 10 =H
2 × 7 =R
11 × 11 =A
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The lookout split the total silver coins equally among the dock guards.
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
54 ÷ 6 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
18 ÷ 6 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
72 ÷ 6 = ?
30 ÷ 6 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
64 ÷ 8 = ?
30 ÷ 5 = ?
8 ÷ 2 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain reeled in the golden rod, then signaled the pelican.
2.The villain zapped with the electric lure, then whistled for the attack crab.
3.The villain scanned with deep sea sonar, then released the guard seagull.
4.The villain fired the harpoon cannon, then whistled for the salty otter.
5.The villain reeled in the golden rod, then released the guard seagull.
6.The villain zapped with the electric lure, then signaled the pelican.
7.The villain fired the harpoon cannon, then released the guard seagull.
8.The villain reeled in the golden rod, then whistled for the salty otter.
9.The villain reeled in the golden rod, then whistled for the attack crab.
10.The villain cast the titanium net, then commanded the giant octopus.
11.The villain reeled in the golden rod, then commanded the giant octopus.
12.The villain fired the harpoon cannon, then whistled for the attack crab.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Barnacle Bay Heist
Culprit: Henry Morgan (Golden Fishing Rod · Giant Octopus · Right Handed · Braided Beard · Salty Worms)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT HAVE A SALTY OTTER"Round 31 to the nearest ten = 30 (T) · Round 1,553 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (L) · Round 229 to the nearest ten = 230 (V) · Round 1,679 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (S) · Round 3,414 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (N) · Round 108 to the nearest ten = 110 (A) · Round 132 to the nearest ten = 130 (Y) · Round 9,471 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (D) · Round 5,347 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H) · Round 3,674 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (R) · Round 71 to the nearest ten = 70 (O) · Round 2,861 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (E) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (I)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT CAST THEIR LINE WITH THE RIGHT HAND"2141 + 1163 = 3304 (T) · 4296 + 2396 = 6692 (G) · 1905 + 1360 = 3265 (H) · 3201 + 5543 = 8744 (P) · 2939 + 1692 = 4631 (W) · 2467 + 3855 = 6322 (R) · 4889 + 4188 = 9077 (N) · 1086 + 1873 = 2959 (D) · 2181 + 4439 = 6620 (A) · 2054 + 3810 = 5864 (L) · 1773 + 1063 = 2836 (E) · 3952 + 4890 = 8842 (C) · 1181 + 945 = 2126 (S) · 1548 + 2105 = 3653 (U) · 2082 + 1342 = 3424 (I)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "SALTY WORMS MADE THE CAPTAIN SICK"4950 - 1998 = 2952 (S) · 6947 - 3744 = 3203 (Y) · 7125 - 4096 = 3029 (W) · 4699 - 2631 = 2068 (P) · 3792 - 2094 = 1698 (N) · 8420 - 2285 = 6135 (M) · 9116 - 2104 = 7012 (H) · 5316 - 3989 = 1327 (R) · 10978 - 3395 = 7583 (I) · 7631 - 603 = 7028 (A) · 12877 - 4858 = 8019 (D) · 10978 - 2115 = 8863 (T) · 7004 - 4677 = 2327 (C) · 10701 - 2999 = 7702 (L) · 5642 - 1901 = 3741 (K) · 10974 - 4369 = 6605 (E) · 2523 - 333 = 2190 (O)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "BRAIDED BEARD HAIR WAS FOUND ON THE DECK"4 × 7 = 28 (B) · 9 × 3 = 27 (E) · 10 × 10 = 100 (T) · 12 × 8 = 96 (C) · 7 × 3 = 21 (K) · 12 × 5 = 60 (O) · 10 × 5 = 50 (W) · 8 × 8 = 64 (I) · 5 × 8 = 40 (D) · 11 × 9 = 99 (N) · 6 × 9 = 54 (F) · 8 × 1 = 8 (S) · 7 × 8 = 56 (U) · 8 × 10 = 80 (H) · 2 × 7 = 14 (R) · 11 × 11 = 121 (A)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Henry Morgan54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Barnacle Bay Heist — set in Barnacle Bay Harbor
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects