Grade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberOrder of operationsRoundingDivision
The Sky-Islands Heist
The legendary Golden Propeller has been snatched from the Grand Airship! The Chief Mechanic needs our help. By analyzing the clues left behind on the floating islands, we can identify the Rogue Sky Pirate before they escape into the deep clouds.
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 | Escape Gear | Navigation Tool | Gear Belt Style | Headwear Found | Physical Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Hawkins | smoke bomb | wind gauge | left-handed belt | welding goggles | afraid of heights |
| Bessie Coleman | glider wing | brass compass | right-handed belt | feathered cap | gets seasick easily |
| Nancy Drew | jetpack boot | signal flare | left-handed belt | welding goggles | afraid of heights |
| Sally Ride | glider wing | wind gauge | right-handed belt | feathered cap | afraid of heights |
| Steve Irwin | smoke bomb | pocket watch | right-handed belt | feathered cap | allergic to pine needles |
| Robin Hood | magnetic glove | pocket watch | right-handed belt | feathered cap | gets seasick easily |
| Orville Wright | smoke bomb | signal flare | left-handed belt | feathered cap | afraid of heights |
| Amelia Earhart | glider wing | wind gauge | right-handed belt | welding goggles | afraid of heights |
| Sinbad | smoke bomb | spyglass | right-handed belt | feathered cap | gets seasick easily |
| Joe Hardy | jetpack boot | signal flare | left-handed belt | feathered cap | afraid of heights |
| Phileas Fogg | smoke bomb | signal flare | left-handed belt | leather aviator helmet | afraid of heights |
| Bear Grylls | grappling hook | spyglass | left-handed belt | welding goggles | afraid of heights |
| Lara Croft | glider wing | spyglass | left-handed belt | feathered cap | afraid of heights |
| Wilbur Wright | glider wing | spyglass | left-handed belt | leather aviator helmet | afraid of heights |
| Captain Nemo | jetpack boot | wind gauge | right-handed belt | welding goggles | allergic to pine needles |
| Charles Lindbergh | magnetic glove | signal flare | right-handed belt | leather aviator helmet | gets seasick easily |
| Marco Polo | grappling hook | brass compass | right-handed belt | leather aviator helmet | gets seasick easily |
| Nellie Bly | magnetic glove | spyglass | left-handed belt | feathered cap | allergic to pine needles |
| Robinson Crusoe | jetpack boot | brass compass | left-handed belt | feathered cap | afraid of heights |
| Wendy Darling | jetpack boot | brass compass | left-handed belt | leather aviator helmet | afraid of heights |
| Frank Hardy | jetpack boot | wind gauge | left-handed belt | feathered cap | afraid of heights |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We found the pirate's cargo hold, filled with supply crates stacked in equal rows. Multiply the rows of crates to find the code that unlocks the first 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.
T
16
80
15
36
25
36
21
15
20
T
16
120
108
15
36
50
108
T
16
20
144
11
11
7
144
90
11
144
36
36
20
108
54
21
144
36
36
8 × 2 =T
12 × 9 =O
3 × 5 =E
6 × 9 =M
5 × 5 =U
10 × 12 =D
7 × 3 =P
9 × 10 =B
10 × 5 =N
2 × 10 =C
12 × 12 =A
8 × 10 =H
12 × 3 =S
1 × 7 =Y
11 × 1 =R
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Fractions of a number
Inside the logbook, we see a map of the floating islands. Only a fraction of these islands are safe to land on. Work out the fraction of the total islands to find the correct coordinates.
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
23
39
6
34
6
17
T
23
39
14
36
16
6
16
8
6
34
T
23
33
14
32
34
6
17
T
23
14
T
23
T
23
39
6
32
5
6
36
6
1/5 of 115 =T
6/8 of 44 =W
1/2 of 34 =F
2/6 of 24 =B
2/6 of 117 =H
4/8 of 68 =L
8/10 of 40 =S
1/10 of 140 =A
3/6 of 32 =D
2/6 of 18 =E
4/8 of 10 =C
2/6 of 108 =N
0/12 letters found
Clue 3
Order of operations
The ship's control panel has a complicated lock. Solve the multi-step equation using the correct order of operations to power up the navigation screen.
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
41
65
70
79
18
51
51
30
18
17
39
70
30
60
74
65
18
21
65
75
51
30
11
70
74
30
17
50
11
51
18
39
39
74
25 + 8 × 2 =T
6 × 11 - 1 =H
11 × 8 - 9 =V
11 × 8 - 18 =E
65 + 2 × 5 =P
6 × 12 - 21 =L
15 + 5 × 3 =A
42 + 2 × 9 =R
10 × 3 - 12 =I
3 × 7 - 10 =C
20 + 6 × 9 =S
5 + 4 × 4 =G
10 × 5 - 11 =F
2 × 12 - 7 =N
10 × 6 - 10 =D
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
Our cloud-radar is scanning for the runaway ship, but the system only displays rounded distances. Round the radar readings to the nearest hundred to pinpoint their direction.
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
4300
700
5000
A
4300
1300
3000
5000
900
700
900
2300
500
A
4300
300
A
4300
1100
290
A
4300
50
700
2300
1700
9000
2000
2300
9000
1300
3000
5000
2000
5000
300
230
Round 4,284 to the nearest hundredA
Round 1,284 to the nearest hundredT
Round 479 to the nearest hundredM
Round 9,344 to the nearest thousandN
Round 287 to the nearest tenW
Round 695 to the nearest hundredF
Round 3,035 to the nearest thousandH
Round 231 to the nearest tenK
Round 856 to the nearest hundredR
Round 2,337 to the nearest hundredO
Round 346 to the nearest hundredC
Round 4,598 to the nearest thousandE
Round 47 to the nearest tenS
Round 2,109 to the nearest thousandD
Round 1,700 to the nearest hundredU
Round 1,059 to the nearest hundredP
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
To bribe the cloud-gull messengers for info, we must divide our bag of shiny gears equally among them. Calculate how many gears each gull receives to get their secret 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
30 ÷ 3 = ?
81 ÷ 9 = ?
32 ÷ 4 = ?
70 ÷ 10 = ?
88 ÷ 8 = ?
132 ÷ 11 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
12 ÷ 6 = ?
60 ÷ 10 = ?
45 ÷ 9 = ?
15 ÷ 5 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scaled the metallic hull with a magnetic glove, then after firing a bright red signal flare.
2.The villain escaped in a cloud of smoke from a smoke bomb, then while navigating without a brass compass.
3.The villain swung across the deck using a grappling hook, then while keeping perfect time with a pocket watch.
4.The villain zoomed over the clouds with a jetpack boot, then after checking the wind speed with a wind gauge.
5.The villain swung across the deck using a grappling hook, then while checking the horizon with a spyglass.
6.The villain escaped in a cloud of smoke from a smoke bomb, then while checking the horizon with a spyglass.
7.The villain zoomed over the clouds with a jetpack boot, then while checking the horizon with a spyglass.
8.The villain zoomed over the clouds with a jetpack boot, then after firing a bright red signal flare.
9.The villain glided silently away using a glider wing, then while checking the horizon with a spyglass.
10.The villain escaped in a cloud of smoke from a smoke bomb, then after firing a bright red signal flare.
11.The villain escaped in a cloud of smoke from a smoke bomb, then while keeping perfect time with a pocket watch.
12.The villain scaled the metallic hull with a magnetic glove, then while keeping perfect time with a pocket watch.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Sky-Islands Heist
Culprit: Frank Hardy (jetpack boot · wind gauge · left-handed belt · feathered cap · afraid of heights)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT CARRY A BRASS COMPASS"8 × 2 = 16 (T) · 12 × 9 = 108 (O) · 3 × 5 = 15 (E) · 6 × 9 = 54 (M) · 5 × 5 = 25 (U) · 10 × 12 = 120 (D) · 7 × 3 = 21 (P) · 9 × 10 = 90 (B) · 10 × 5 = 50 (N) · 2 × 10 = 20 (C) · 12 × 12 = 144 (A) · 8 × 10 = 80 (H) · 12 × 3 = 36 (S) · 1 × 7 = 7 (Y) · 11 × 1 = 11 (R)
- Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE LEFT HANDED BELT WAS LEFT AT THE SCENE"1/5 of 115 = 23 (T) · 6/8 of 44 = 33 (W) · 1/2 of 34 = 17 (F) · 2/6 of 24 = 8 (B) · 2/6 of 117 = 39 (H) · 4/8 of 68 = 34 (L) · 8/10 of 40 = 32 (S) · 1/10 of 140 = 14 (A) · 3/6 of 32 = 16 (D) · 2/6 of 18 = 6 (E) · 4/8 of 10 = 5 (C) · 2/6 of 108 = 36 (N)
- Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE VILLAIN FEARS HIGH PLACES AND CLIFFS"25 + 8 × 2 = 41 (T) · 6 × 11 - 1 = 65 (H) · 11 × 8 - 9 = 79 (V) · 11 × 8 - 18 = 70 (E) · 65 + 2 × 5 = 75 (P) · 6 × 12 - 21 = 51 (L) · 15 + 5 × 3 = 30 (A) · 42 + 2 × 9 = 60 (R) · 10 × 3 - 12 = 18 (I) · 3 × 7 - 10 = 11 (C) · 20 + 6 × 9 = 74 (S) · 5 + 4 × 4 = 21 (G) · 10 × 5 - 11 = 39 (F) · 2 × 12 - 7 = 17 (N) · 10 × 6 - 10 = 50 (D)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A FEATHER FROM A CAP WAS FOUND ON THE DECK"Round 4,284 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (A) · Round 1,284 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (T) · Round 479 to the nearest hundred = 500 (M) · Round 9,344 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (N) · Round 287 to the nearest ten = 290 (W) · Round 695 to the nearest hundred = 700 (F) · Round 3,035 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 231 to the nearest ten = 230 (K) · Round 856 to the nearest hundred = 900 (R) · Round 2,337 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (O) · Round 346 to the nearest hundred = 300 (C) · Round 4,598 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (E) · Round 47 to the nearest ten = 50 (S) · Round 2,109 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (D) · Round 1,700 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (U) · Round 1,059 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (P)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Frank Hardy30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 81 ÷ 9 = 9 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 70 ÷ 10 = 7 · 88 ÷ 8 = 11 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 12 ÷ 6 = 2 · 60 ÷ 10 = 6 · 45 ÷ 9 = 5 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Sky-Islands Heist — set in The Floating Sky-Islands of Aeronautica
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects