Grade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionRoundingSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Golden Compass
Someone snatched the golden compass from the camp director's tent on Adventure Island! Decode the clues to find out who did it.
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 | Main Gadget | Side Tool | Watch Wrist | Cap Color | Afraid Of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyatt | Smoke Bomb | Decodable Whistle | Right Wrist | Red Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Ethan | Grappling Hook | Mini Spyglass | Right Wrist | Red Cap | Bright Lights |
| Noah | Zipline Pulley | Decodable Whistle | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Bright Lights |
| Mason | Grappling Hook | Compass Watch | Right Wrist | Red Cap | Bright Lights |
| Lucas | Zipline Pulley | Signal Mirror | Right Wrist | Green Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Ava | Zipline Pulley | Decodable Whistle | Right Wrist | Blue Cap | Bright Lights |
| Leo | Zipline Pulley | Decodable Whistle | Left Wrist | Green Cap | Bright Lights |
| Finn | Flashlight Glove | Trail Marker | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Snap Traps |
| Eli | Smoke Bomb | Trail Marker | Left Wrist | Green Cap | Bright Lights |
| Sam | Grappling Hook | Decodable Whistle | Right Wrist | Red Cap | Snap Traps |
| Owen | Smoke Bomb | Signal Mirror | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Bright Lights |
| Zoe | Smoke Bomb | Decodable Whistle | Left Wrist | Red Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Isla | Glider Wings | Decodable Whistle | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Bright Lights |
| Hazel | Zipline Pulley | Mini Spyglass | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Bright Lights |
| Mia | Glider Wings | Trail Marker | Left Wrist | Green Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Nora | Zipline Pulley | Compass Watch | Left Wrist | Green Cap | Snap Traps |
| Caleb | Flashlight Glove | Signal Mirror | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Loud Whistles |
| Maya | Flashlight Glove | Mini Spyglass | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Bright Lights |
| Chloe | Grappling Hook | Compass Watch | Left Wrist | Blue Cap | Bright Lights |
| Jack | Glider Wings | Mini Spyglass | Right Wrist | Blue Cap | Bright Lights |
| Lily | Smoke Bomb | Decodable Whistle | Left Wrist | Green Cap | Snap Traps |
Clue 1
Addition
We tallied up all the lost supply crates found along the river trail to get our first secret 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
688
364
253
564
745
629
629
750
745
646
246
975
253
624
646
975
T
688
448
624
253
750
390
975
430
549
750
624
624
369
750
T
688
390
364
462 + 226 =T
134 + 119 =E
284 + 280 =V
123 + 123 =D
293 + 137 =M
174 + 375 =P
317 + 329 =N
241 + 207 =U
384 + 361 =I
199 + 430 =L
239 + 511 =A
178 + 186 =H
193 + 176 =W
184 + 206 =C
677 + 298 =O
254 + 370 =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The island radar scanner rounds every distance to the nearest ten yards to track movement.
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
6000
90
20
60
5000
60
300
20
50
T
6000
4000
20
2000
9000
60
2000
4000
2000
T
6000
50
90
500
70
T
6000
90
20
700
20
200
T
6000
4000
9000
800
60
T
6000
Round 6,270 to the nearest thousandT
Round 49 to the nearest tenC
Round 4,338 to the nearest thousandW
Round 2,086 to the nearest thousandA
Round 251 to the nearest hundredP
Round 56 to the nearest tenS
Round 16 to the nearest tenE
Round 9,445 to the nearest thousandR
Round 832 to the nearest hundredI
Round 494 to the nearest hundredO
Round 74 to the nearest tenN
Round 87 to the nearest tenH
Round 721 to the nearest hundredL
Round 5,338 to the nearest thousandU
Round 166 to the nearest hundredF
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
We measured the missing fruit snacks from the canteen pantry to find out what was 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
792
138
864
308
421
444
444
769
421
402
598
444
421
402
244
864
153
138
769
873
153
769
T
792
598
873
421
267
138
T
792
444
421
267
138
T
792
692
1082 - 290 =T
631 - 323 =V
477 - 75 =N
562 - 118 =L
774 - 82 =S
1101 - 237 =E
559 - 138 =I
472 - 334 =H
845 - 76 =A
515 - 362 =D
518 - 274 =K
780 - 182 =B
460 - 193 =G
1175 - 302 =R
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The scouts arranged four equal rows of tents to organize the jungle search team.
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
72
10
30
15
30
T
72
30
54
T
72
84
48
30
1
22
88
81
15
100
T
72
22
63
81
121
77
88
30
54
100
12
T
72
10
63
30
100
15
6 × 12 =T
7 × 12 =I
9 × 9 =N
2 × 11 =O
6 × 2 =P
7 × 11 =L
9 × 6 =C
1 × 1 =F
11 × 11 =B
11 × 8 =U
10 × 3 =E
4 × 12 =V
1 × 10 =H
10 × 10 =A
3 × 5 =D
7 × 9 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We shared the clue cards equally among the three patrol teams to solve the final puzzle.
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 ÷ 6 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
27 ÷ 9 = ?
20 ÷ 4 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
16 ÷ 4 = ?
36 ÷ 4 = ?
8 ÷ 1 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
33 ÷ 3 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain soared over the treetops on glider wings, then blew a signal using a decodable whistle.
2.The villain zipped down the high cable with a zipline pulley, then spied ahead with a mini spyglass.
3.The villain zipped down the high cable with a zipline pulley, then blew a signal using a decodable whistle.
4.The villain lit up the dark trail with a flashlight glove, then flashed a secret beam with a signal mirror.
5.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then spied ahead with a mini spyglass.
6.The villain lit up the dark trail with a flashlight glove, then spied ahead with a mini spyglass.
7.The villain zipped down the high cable with a zipline pulley, then marked the dirt using a trail marker.
8.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then checked the route with a compass watch.
9.The villain soared over the treetops on glider wings, then spied ahead with a mini spyglass.
10.The villain lit up the dark trail with a flashlight glove, then marked the dirt using a trail marker.
11.The villain swung across the ravine with a grappling hook, then blew a signal using a decodable whistle.
12.The villain zipped down the high cable with a zipline pulley, then flashed a secret beam with a signal mirror.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Golden Compass
Culprit: Maya (Flashlight Glove · Mini Spyglass · Left Wrist · Blue Cap · Bright Lights)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A COMPASS WATCH"462 + 226 = 688 (T) · 134 + 119 = 253 (E) · 284 + 280 = 564 (V) · 123 + 123 = 246 (D) · 293 + 137 = 430 (M) · 174 + 375 = 549 (P) · 317 + 329 = 646 (N) · 241 + 207 = 448 (U) · 384 + 361 = 745 (I) · 199 + 430 = 629 (L) · 239 + 511 = 750 (A) · 178 + 186 = 364 (H) · 193 + 176 = 369 (W) · 184 + 206 = 390 (C) · 677 + 298 = 975 (O) · 254 + 370 = 624 (S)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT WEARS A WATCH ON THE LEFT WRIST"Round 6,270 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (T) · Round 49 to the nearest ten = 50 (C) · Round 4,338 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (W) · Round 2,086 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (A) · Round 251 to the nearest hundred = 300 (P) · Round 56 to the nearest ten = 60 (S) · Round 16 to the nearest ten = 20 (E) · Round 9,445 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (R) · Round 832 to the nearest hundred = 800 (I) · Round 494 to the nearest hundred = 500 (O) · Round 74 to the nearest ten = 70 (N) · Round 87 to the nearest ten = 90 (H) · Round 721 to the nearest hundred = 700 (L) · Round 5,338 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (U) · Round 166 to the nearest hundred = 200 (F)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE VILLAIN BLINKED HARD AT BRIGHT LIGHTS"1082 - 290 = 792 (T) · 631 - 323 = 308 (V) · 477 - 75 = 402 (N) · 562 - 118 = 444 (L) · 774 - 82 = 692 (S) · 1101 - 237 = 864 (E) · 559 - 138 = 421 (I) · 472 - 334 = 138 (H) · 845 - 76 = 769 (A) · 515 - 362 = 153 (D) · 518 - 274 = 244 (K) · 780 - 182 = 598 (B) · 460 - 193 = 267 (G) · 1175 - 302 = 873 (R)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE DETECTIVE FOUND A TORN BLUE CAP THREAD"6 × 12 = 72 (T) · 7 × 12 = 84 (I) · 9 × 9 = 81 (N) · 2 × 11 = 22 (O) · 6 × 2 = 12 (P) · 7 × 11 = 77 (L) · 9 × 6 = 54 (C) · 1 × 1 = 1 (F) · 11 × 11 = 121 (B) · 11 × 8 = 88 (U) · 10 × 3 = 30 (E) · 4 × 12 = 48 (V) · 1 × 10 = 10 (H) · 10 × 10 = 100 (A) · 3 × 5 = 15 (D) · 7 × 9 = 63 (R)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Maya12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3 · 20 ÷ 4 = 5 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 16 ÷ 4 = 4 · 36 ÷ 4 = 9 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Rounding, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Golden Compass — set in Adventure Island Camp
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects