🚀 Not a spaceship the kid warsGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationFractions of a number

The Mystery of the Santiana Flag

A sneaky culprit has swiped Captain Joshua Dax Zeno's prized golden captain flag right from the mast of the Santiana! It is up to you to search the ship, solve the math mysteries, and find out who took 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	Primary Station	Deck Gear	Steering Hand	Bandana Color	Sweets Weakness
Breezy	Engine Room	Spyglass	Left-Handed Steerer	Blue Bandana	Sour Gummies
Patch	Galley Deck	Grappling Hook	Right-Handed Steerer	Blue Bandana	Choc Chip Cookies
Zeno Kid	Anchor Bay	Grappling Hook	Left-Handed Steerer	Black Bandana	Choc Chip Cookies
Scooter	Anchor Bay	Grappling Hook	Right-Handed Steerer	Blue Bandana	Sour Gummies
Rigging Ron	Crow's Nest	Grappling Hook	Right-Handed Steerer	Red Bandana	Licorice Whips
Rusty	Anchor Bay	Smoke Screen	Right-Handed Steerer	Red Bandana	Licorice Whips
Tack	Anchor Bay	Smoke Screen	Right-Handed Steerer	Black Bandana	Licorice Whips
Skipper Joey	Galley Deck	Signal Flare	Left-Handed Steerer	Red Bandana	Licorice Whips
Finley	Anchor Bay	Smoke Screen	Right-Handed Steerer	Red Bandana	Choc Chip Cookies
Plank	Captain's Cabin	Water Cannon	Left-Handed Steerer	Black Bandana	Licorice Whips
Barnaby	Captain's Cabin	Smoke Screen	Left-Handed Steerer	Red Bandana	Sour Gummies
Salty Sam	Crow's Nest	Grappling Hook	Right-Handed Steerer	Blue Bandana	Sour Gummies
Cove	Galley Deck	Signal Flare	Right-Handed Steerer	Blue Bandana	Sour Gummies
Keel	Anchor Bay	Signal Flare	Right-Handed Steerer	Red Bandana	Choc Chip Cookies
Sailor Sue	Engine Room	Spyglass	Right-Handed Steerer	Blue Bandana	Licorice Whips
Jib	Anchor Bay	Signal Flare	Left-Handed Steerer	Red Bandana	Choc Chip Cookies
Marina	Galley Deck	Smoke Screen	Right-Handed Steerer	Blue Bandana	Sour Gummies
Skiff	Galley Deck	Smoke Screen	Right-Handed Steerer	Red Bandana	Licorice Whips
Captain Dax	Engine Room	Water Cannon	Right-Handed Steerer	Blue Bandana	Sour Gummies
Pip	Anchor Bay	Spyglass	Left-Handed Steerer	Black Bandana	Choc Chip Cookies
Beacon	Captain's Cabin	Signal Flare	Right-Handed Steerer	Black Bandana	Sour Gummies

Clue 1

Addition

Captain Joshua Dax Zeno needs a quick count of all the spare wooden planks stacked on the main deck. Add up these piles so we can clear the path to look for clues.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

6981

7955

7156

5690

7539

3113

8182

7539

9625

9014

7539

9014

9625

8192

6981

8481

3579

7156

8182

3579

4359

8192

3034

7156

3579

6080

6164

7156

9625

2494 + 4487 =T

2721 + 2969 =V

2716 + 1643 =M

1413 + 1621 =K

3621 + 2543 =R

2890 + 5065 =H

2821 + 5371 =O

1513 + 1600 =L

4958 + 3523 =U

4874 + 2282 =E

2569 + 3511 =C

5373 + 2809 =A

6004 + 3010 =D

2146 + 1433 =S

3258 + 4281 =I

6157 + 3468 =N

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Subtraction

Our water barrels are leaking into the bilge. Subtract the spilled gallons from our total stock so the Santiana does not run dry during the chase.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

4686

8624

7008

7718

6394

8064

8624

4686

8624

4828

4846

6442

8064

7718

4828

7573

7008

6442

4686

8624

7008

5719

8624

6394

3296

5732

5425

1911

3296

4828

5719

8430 - 3744 =T

6654 - 935 =S

10632 - 2568 =G

10728 - 3010 =R

10588 - 4194 =I

6702 - 260 =D

6466 - 4555 =M

13011 - 4387 =H

8788 - 1780 =E

3435 - 139 =P

6169 - 1341 =A

8605 - 2873 =C

9585 - 4739 =N

5472 - 47 =O

11785 - 4212 =B

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Multiplication facts (1-12)

The deckhands stacked heavy crates of oranges in equal rows to keep them from rolling. Multiply the rows by the crates to find how many we have left.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

120

6 × 12 =S

11 × 9 =E

3 × 9 =U

11 × 6 =R

12 × 8 =W

8 × 11 =P

3 × 12 =A

10 × 5 =H

12 × 5 =T

5 × 7 =F

4 × 1 =Y

11 × 5 =B

9 × 2 =O

9 × 6 =M

12 × 10 =G

8 × 8 =L

0/16 letters found

Clue 4

Fractions of a number

A flock of hungry seagulls landed on the rigging. If we calculate what fraction of the flock flew away, we can figure out which path the culprit took.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

3/6 of 34 =A

2/6 of 60 =I

1/4 of 60 =B

2/10 of 170 =D

2/6 of 6 =F

4/5 of 35 =O

1/5 of 160 =M

1/6 of 60 =W

1/8 of 192 =T

1/2 of 8 =E

3/5 of 5 =L

1/2 of 50 =N

3/4 of 36 =S

1/6 of 174 =H

1/6 of 96 =U

8/10 of 50 =R

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Fractions of a number — the last clue

Captain Zeno wants to share our backup map pieces evenly among the patrol boats. Solve this fraction of our map pile to see who gets the search area.

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

2/6 of 3 = ?

4/6 of 12 = ?

4/10 of 30 = ?

1/10 of 60 = ?

1/6 of 12 = ?

2/8 of 44 = ?

5/10 of 8 = ?

3/6 of 14 = ?

1/10 of 30 = ?

3/8 of 24 = ?

5/10 of 20 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain escapes from the engine room, then blasts a giant water cannon.

2.The villain creeps away from the galley deck, then swings away on a grappling hook.

3.The villain climbs up from the anchor bay, then deploys a thick smoke screen.

4.The villain creeps away from the galley deck, then blasts a giant water cannon.

5.The villain creeps away from the galley deck, then fires a bright signal flare.

6.The villain sneaks down from the crow's nest, then fires a bright signal flare.

7.The villain sneaks down from the crow's nest, then deploys a thick smoke screen.

8.The villain climbs up from the anchor bay, then swings away on a grappling hook.

9.The villain slips out of the captain's cabin, then blasts a giant water cannon.

10.The villain slips out of the captain's cabin, then fires a bright signal flare.

11.The villain escapes from the engine room, then deploys a thick smoke screen.

12.The villain sneaks down from the crow's nest, then swings away on a grappling hook.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Mystery of the Santiana Flag

Culprit: Cove (Galley Deck · Signal Flare · Right-Handed Steerer · Blue Bandana · Sour Gummies)

Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DID NOT USE A SMOKE SCREEN"
2494 + 4487 = 6981 (T) · 2721 + 2969 = 5690 (V) · 2716 + 1643 = 4359 (M) · 1413 + 1621 = 3034 (K) · 3621 + 2543 = 6164 (R) · 2890 + 5065 = 7955 (H) · 2821 + 5371 = 8192 (O) · 1513 + 1600 = 3113 (L) · 4958 + 3523 = 8481 (U) · 4874 + 2282 = 7156 (E) · 2569 + 3511 = 6080 (C) · 5373 + 2809 = 8182 (A) · 6004 + 3010 = 9014 (D) · 2146 + 1433 = 3579 (S) · 3258 + 4281 = 7539 (I) · 6157 + 3468 = 9625 (N)
Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE RIGHT HAND GRABBED THE SHIP COMPASS"
8430 - 3744 = 4686 (T) · 6654 - 935 = 5719 (S) · 10632 - 2568 = 8064 (G) · 10728 - 3010 = 7718 (R) · 10588 - 4194 = 6394 (I) · 6702 - 260 = 6442 (D) · 6466 - 4555 = 1911 (M) · 13011 - 4387 = 8624 (H) · 8788 - 1780 = 7008 (E) · 3435 - 139 = 3296 (P) · 6169 - 1341 = 4828 (A) · 8605 - 2873 = 5732 (C) · 9585 - 4739 = 4846 (N) · 5472 - 47 = 5425 (O) · 11785 - 4212 = 7573 (B)
Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SOUR GUMMY WRAPPERS WERE LEFT BY THE SAFE"
6 × 12 = 72 (S) · 11 × 9 = 99 (E) · 3 × 9 = 27 (U) · 11 × 6 = 66 (R) · 12 × 8 = 96 (W) · 8 × 11 = 88 (P) · 3 × 12 = 36 (A) · 10 × 5 = 50 (H) · 12 × 5 = 60 (T) · 5 × 7 = 35 (F) · 4 × 1 = 4 (Y) · 11 × 5 = 55 (B) · 9 × 2 = 18 (O) · 9 × 6 = 54 (M) · 12 × 10 = 120 (G) · 8 × 8 = 64 (L)
Clue 4 (Fractions of a number): "A BLUE THREAD FROM A BANDANA WAS LEFT BEHIND"
3/6 of 34 = 17 (A) · 2/6 of 60 = 20 (I) · 1/4 of 60 = 15 (B) · 2/10 of 170 = 34 (D) · 2/6 of 6 = 2 (F) · 4/5 of 35 = 28 (O) · 1/5 of 160 = 32 (M) · 1/6 of 60 = 10 (W) · 1/8 of 192 = 24 (T) · 1/2 of 8 = 4 (E) · 3/5 of 5 = 3 (L) · 1/2 of 50 = 25 (N) · 3/4 of 36 = 27 (S) · 1/6 of 174 = 29 (H) · 1/6 of 96 = 16 (U) · 8/10 of 50 = 40 (R)
Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 5) → Cove
2/6 of 3 = 1 · 4/6 of 12 = 8 · 4/10 of 30 = 12 · 1/10 of 60 = 6 · 1/6 of 12 = 2 · 2/8 of 44 = 11 · 5/10 of 8 = 4 · 3/6 of 14 = 7 · 1/10 of 30 = 3 · 3/8 of 24 = 9 · 5/10 of 20 = 10

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Fractions of a number
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Mystery of the Santiana Flag — set in the great deck of the Santiana, a giant kid-built warship docked in the secret cove
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

More free printable math cases

5th grade worksheets Addition worksheets Subtraction worksheets Multiplication worksheets Fractions of a number worksheets 🏴‍☠️ Pirates worksheets All worksheets →

The Lunar Outpost Mystery

Grade 5

Mystery at Cretacia Park

Grade 5

The Mystery of the Autumn Manor Library

Grade 5

The Lunar Base Mystery

Grade 5