🔎 ManateesGrade 6Reading: grades 7-9PercentagesExponentsOrder of operationsMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Missing Sea Grass Sanctuary
Late last night, someone breached the security gates at Crystal Cove Manatee Reserve, disabling the hydrophone network and stealing rare acoustic tracking tags meant for vulnerable manatee calves. As dawn breaks over the misty mangroves, the sanctuary team must decipher the scattered digital logs and physical evidence left behind to identify the culprit before the morning tide.
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 | Gear Gadget | Submersible Vehicle | Observation Habit | Wetsuit Hood Color | Distraction Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Nadia Patel | Algae Cannon | Paddle Craft | Left-Handed Grip | Cobalt Blue Hood | Crinkly Seagrass Snack |
| Tech Jonah Vance | Thermal Camera | Propeller Sled | Left-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Officer Paige Miller | Hydro Scooter | Propeller Sled | Left-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | High Pitched Whistle |
| Scientist Iris DuPont | Thermal Camera | Mini Submarine | Left-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Officer Liam Connor | Thermal Camera | Paddle Craft | Right-Handed Grip | Cobalt Blue Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Diver Owen Mercer | Thermal Camera | Hydrofoil Board | Right-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Crinkly Seagrass Snack |
| Diver Aaron Blake | Acoustic Beacon | Propeller Sled | Left-Handed Grip | Bright Orange Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Chief Valerie Vance | Thermal Camera | Propeller Sled | Right-Handed Grip | Cobalt Blue Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Officer Sam Brooks | Algae Cannon | Diving Bell | Right-Handed Grip | Cobalt Blue Hood | Crinkly Seagrass Snack |
| Ranger Maya Lin | Acoustic Beacon | Paddle Craft | Left-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Dr Julian Wade | Thermal Camera | Diving Bell | Right-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Crinkly Seagrass Snack |
| Biologist Tara Singh | Acoustic Beacon | Diving Bell | Left-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Professor Clara Wu | Algae Cannon | Mini Submarine | Right-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Chief Elena Rostova | Acoustic Beacon | Hydrofoil Board | Right-Handed Grip | Bright Orange Hood | Crinkly Seagrass Snack |
| Scientist Chloe Bennett | Thermal Camera | Diving Bell | Right-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Tech Marcus Reed | Acoustic Beacon | Mini Submarine | Left-Handed Grip | Cobalt Blue Hood | High Pitched Whistle |
| Captain Hugo Frost | Sonar Mapper | Paddle Craft | Right-Handed Grip | Cobalt Blue Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Professor Leo Cruz | Hydro Scooter | Hydrofoil Board | Left-Handed Grip | Cobalt Blue Hood | Crinkly Seagrass Snack |
| Diver Kai Sterling | Sonar Mapper | Mini Submarine | Right-Handed Grip | Bright Orange Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Ranger Seth Harper | Acoustic Beacon | Hydrofoil Board | Left-Handed Grip | Neon Yellow Hood | Squeaky Toy Sound |
| Ranger Silas Thorne | Algae Cannon | Mini Submarine | Left-Handed Grip | Cobalt Blue Hood | High Pitched Whistle |
Clue 1
Percentages
The sanctuary telemetry screen displays the percentage of restored satellite telemetry channels needed to decode the first 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
18
33
39
27
1
27
6
39
11
T
18
41
5
41
30
25
T
18
39
27
11
16
6
39
25
30
16
6
16
41
41
36
39
11
19
16
10
T
18
5% of 360 =T
75% of 52 =E
50% of 50 =O
10% of 50 =I
50% of 22 =C
25% of 4 =U
60% of 45 =S
75% of 48 =L
50% of 82 =D
20% of 80 =A
20% of 50 =F
25% of 132 =H
60% of 50 =N
5% of 120 =P
50% of 38 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Exponents
Analyzing the exponential decay of the intruder hydrophone frequencies reveals the next encryption key.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
9
27
289
225
36
144
144
36
144
144
256
W
9
256
400
36
361
289
169
256
225
16
36
16
216
49
27
81
125
225
289
169
36
400
256
289
243
169
3^2 =W
13^2 =H
3^3 =I
12^2 =S
2^4 =D
5^3 =O
3^5 =C
19^2 =F
15^2 =N
9^2 =P
16^2 =A
6^2 =E
20^2 =L
6^3 =G
17^2 =T
7^2 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
Solving the multi-step water quality order of operations reveals a hidden camera log entry.
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
26
11
77
10
31
A
26
25
49
42
64
49
11
64
10
27
38
33
A
26
58
27
42
71
49
31
21
30
64
31
38
A
26
29
A
26
49
6 × 8 - 22 =A
8 × 8 - 22 =T
3 × 11 - 6 =N
9 × 3 - 2 =K
8 × 5 - 9 =E
11 + 9 × 2 =W
33 + 5 × 5 =I
10 × 10 - 29 =L
12 × 6 - 23 =Y
24 + 3 × 3 =F
4 × 7 - 7 =C
6 × 6 - 26 =U
7 + 2 × 2 =S
10 × 10 - 23 =Q
9 + 7 × 3 =H
8 × 11 - 24 =O
26 + 6 × 2 =D
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Multiplying the counted feed bundles stored in each lagoon bay pinpoints the suspect transit corridor.
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
96
66
15
11
42
S
96
72
2
11
99
1
72
99
21
1
63
63
72
77
6
72
72
10
77
1
15
1
2
72
88
99
10
8 × 12 =S
7 × 11 =W
3 × 2 =H
9 × 11 =N
6 × 11 =C
12 × 6 =O
3 × 7 =Y
5 × 3 =R
6 × 7 =P
1 × 2 =F
1 × 1 =E
11 × 8 =U
10 × 1 =D
11 × 1 =A
7 × 9 =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
Dividing the remaining tracking tags evenly among patrol skiffs decrypts the final location report.
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
60 ÷ 10 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
4 ÷ 2 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
40 ÷ 5 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
55 ÷ 5 = ?
100 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain activated an acoustic beacon to confuse sensors, then submerged using a diving bell.
2.The villain switched on a thermal camera in the dark, then fled inside a mini submarine.
3.The villain blasted an algae cannon across the bay, then fled inside a mini submarine.
4.The villain used a sonar mapper to locate the nursery, then skimmed the reef on a hydrofoil board.
5.The villain used a sonar mapper to locate the nursery, then steered off using a paddle craft.
6.The villain switched on a thermal camera in the dark, then zoomed away on a propeller sled.
7.The villain blasted an algae cannon across the bay, then steered off using a paddle craft.
8.The villain blasted an algae cannon across the bay, then zoomed away on a propeller sled.
9.The villain blasted an algae cannon across the bay, then submerged using a diving bell.
10.The villain activated an acoustic beacon to confuse sensors, then zoomed away on a propeller sled.
11.The villain used a sonar mapper to locate the nursery, then fled inside a mini submarine.
12.The villain activated an acoustic beacon to confuse sensors, then skimmed the reef on a hydrofoil board.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Sea Grass Sanctuary
Culprit: Ranger Seth Harper (Acoustic Beacon · Hydrofoil Board · Left-Handed Grip · Neon Yellow Hood · Squeaky Toy Sound)
- Clue 1 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT DID NOT ESCAPE ON A PADDLE CRAFT"5% of 360 = 18 (T) · 75% of 52 = 39 (E) · 50% of 50 = 25 (O) · 10% of 50 = 5 (I) · 50% of 22 = 11 (C) · 25% of 4 = 1 (U) · 60% of 45 = 27 (S) · 75% of 48 = 36 (L) · 50% of 82 = 41 (D) · 20% of 80 = 16 (A) · 20% of 50 = 10 (F) · 25% of 132 = 33 (H) · 60% of 50 = 30 (N) · 5% of 120 = 6 (P) · 50% of 38 = 19 (R)
- Clue 2 (Exponents): "WITNESSES SAW A LEFT HANDED GRIP ON THE LATCH"3^2 = 9 (W) · 13^2 = 169 (H) · 3^3 = 27 (I) · 12^2 = 144 (S) · 2^4 = 16 (D) · 5^3 = 125 (O) · 3^5 = 243 (C) · 19^2 = 361 (F) · 15^2 = 225 (N) · 9^2 = 81 (P) · 16^2 = 256 (A) · 6^2 = 36 (E) · 20^2 = 400 (L) · 6^3 = 216 (G) · 17^2 = 289 (T) · 7^2 = 49 (R)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "A SQUEAKY TOY SOUND FAINTLY ECHOED AWAY"6 × 8 - 22 = 26 (A) · 8 × 8 - 22 = 42 (T) · 3 × 11 - 6 = 27 (N) · 9 × 3 - 2 = 25 (K) · 8 × 5 - 9 = 31 (E) · 11 + 9 × 2 = 29 (W) · 33 + 5 × 5 = 58 (I) · 10 × 10 - 29 = 71 (L) · 12 × 6 - 23 = 49 (Y) · 24 + 3 × 3 = 33 (F) · 4 × 7 - 7 = 21 (C) · 6 × 6 - 26 = 10 (U) · 7 + 2 × 2 = 11 (S) · 10 × 10 - 23 = 77 (Q) · 9 + 7 × 3 = 30 (H) · 8 × 11 - 24 = 64 (O) · 26 + 6 × 2 = 38 (D)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SCRAPS OF A NEON YELLOW HOOD WERE FOUND"8 × 12 = 96 (S) · 7 × 11 = 77 (W) · 3 × 2 = 6 (H) · 9 × 11 = 99 (N) · 6 × 11 = 66 (C) · 12 × 6 = 72 (O) · 3 × 7 = 21 (Y) · 5 × 3 = 15 (R) · 6 × 7 = 42 (P) · 1 × 2 = 2 (F) · 1 × 1 = 1 (E) · 11 × 8 = 88 (U) · 10 × 1 = 10 (D) · 11 × 1 = 11 (A) · 7 × 9 = 63 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 12) → Ranger Seth Harper60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 40 ÷ 5 = 8 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Percentages, Exponents, Order of operations, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Sea Grass Sanctuary — set in Crystal Cove Manatee Reserve
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects