🔎 Kid fireplane desaster the kGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6AdditionSubtractionFractions of a numberPlace value
The Whispering Pines Fireplane Disaster
A massive wildfire is raging through the tall pines of Whispering Pines National Park! Chief Joshua Dax Zeno of the Kid Police Fire-Patrol Station has just discovered that someone is flying a rogue plane over the smoke, dropping dry brush instead of water and making the disaster worse. We need to crack the flight logs and identify the rogue pilot before the entire forest is lost!
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 Flight Gear | Auxiliary Flight Gear | Flight Path Observation | Helmet Color | System Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ace Horizon | mega water scooper | emergency turbo boosters | flies in left handed circles | lime green helmet | stuck in sticky pine sap |
| Orville Wright | mega water scooper | retractable solar wings | flies in left handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Jet Aero | dual gel dropper | retractable solar wings | flies in left handed circles | bright yellow helmet | stuck in sticky pine sap |
| Penny Pilot | mega water scooper | night vision headlights | flies in left handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Gale Force | high velocity wind fan | reinforced steel landing gear | flies in right handed circles | neon orange helmet | stuck in sticky pine sap |
| Chuck Yeager | high velocity wind fan | emergency turbo boosters | flies in left handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Maverick Cruz | triple chemical foamer | night vision headlights | flies in right handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Zack Zoom | triple chemical foamer | night vision headlights | flies in left handed circles | bright yellow helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Baron Richthofen | high velocity wind fan | retractable solar wings | flies in left handed circles | lime green helmet | stuck in sticky pine sap |
| Stormy Skies | high velocity wind fan | reinforced steel landing gear | flies in left handed circles | bright yellow helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Max Altitude | triple chemical foamer | emergency turbo boosters | flies in right handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Brooke Beacon | high velocity wind fan | magnetic cargo hook | flies in left handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Rex Radar | high velocity wind fan | reinforced steel landing gear | flies in right handed circles | lime green helmet | clogged by thick maple syrup |
| Charles Lindbergh | thermal heat seeker | emergency turbo boosters | flies in right handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Sally Ride | dual gel dropper | magnetic cargo hook | flies in right handed circles | bright yellow helmet | clogged by thick maple syrup |
| Amelia Earhart | triple chemical foamer | night vision headlights | flies in left handed circles | neon orange helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Leo Valiant | mega water scooper | magnetic cargo hook | flies in left handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Wilbur Wright | dual gel dropper | night vision headlights | flies in right handed circles | bright yellow helmet | stuck in sticky pine sap |
| Cody Copilot | mega water scooper | reinforced steel landing gear | flies in right handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Tex Runway | triple chemical foamer | retractable solar wings | flies in left handed circles | lime green helmet | blinded by high power flashlights |
| Bessie Coleman | triple chemical foamer | magnetic cargo hook | flies in right handed circles | bright yellow helmet | stuck in sticky pine sap |
Clue 1
Addition
Chief Joshua Dax Zeno needs to count the total reserve water barrels in the fire hangar. Add up the barrels in each row to unlock the first clue about the villain's extra gear.
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
5337
5580
8382
2562
9121
3358
8301
8382
2461
8514
8601
9121
T
5337
5427
9121
8382
8473
3070
9121
T
5337
5580
3233
2537
8382
8473
9121
8601
3233
2562
8201
8514
3070
3358
8473
3010 + 2327 =T
899 + 1638 =V
2248 + 985 =A
3592 + 1835 =D
847 + 1715 =R
5550 + 2651 =W
5142 + 3372 =I
5720 + 2581 =U
1453 + 1905 =G
5611 + 2990 =L
4761 + 3712 =S
1048 + 1413 =P
1961 + 3619 =H
1820 + 1250 =N
5280 + 3841 =O
3831 + 4551 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
We need to calculate how much fuel is left in our patrol chopper. Subtract the burned fuel from the starting tank capacity to reveal the suspect's flight pattern.
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
4712
2053
4426
4424
4838
3884
7254
2053
T
4712
3372
4071
1623
4071
3372
8250
2053
1897
3780
8250
1897
6639
4838
8736
4838
4426
4424
T
4712
T
4712
1899
3372
6639
8250
7986 - 3274 =T
8600 - 4716 =I
5933 - 4036 =O
12443 - 3707 =Y
10403 - 2153 =S
5531 - 3908 =D
9234 - 4808 =E
8824 - 4400 =F
10128 - 3489 =N
6856 - 2785 =A
8738 - 4958 =W
2819 - 920 =U
6178 - 2806 =R
10920 - 3666 =G
2680 - 627 =H
6219 - 1381 =L
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Fractions of a number
A flock of forest birds fled the smoke, and a fraction of them flew west toward the culprit's flight path. Calculate this fraction of the flock to pinpoint the second flight tell.
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
13
7
33
36
14
22
28
15
21
34
14
15
33
36
14
22
34
B
13
15
33
30
32
38
32
22
14
38
37
33
15
11
22
4/8 of 26 =B
1/2 of 76 =E
2/6 of 84 =F
1/2 of 42 =A
4/8 of 68 =S
1/6 of 66 =O
1/3 of 111 =P
1/2 of 60 =N
2/6 of 99 =I
1/2 of 72 =G
1/10 of 70 =R
4/6 of 48 =D
7/8 of 16 =H
3/4 of 20 =L
4/10 of 55 =T
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Place value
The suspect's plane left a heavy weight imprint on the muddy runway. Identify the value of the digit in the hundreds place of the weight scale to uncover their gear vulnerability.
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
80
5000
60
20
50
1000
4000
50
50
800
6000
50
5000
20
50
9000
500
A
80
100
100
200
8000
9000
9000
50
300
What is the value of the 8 in 934,681?A
What is the value of the 8 in 198,990?O
What is the value of the 9 in 449,561?T
What is the value of the 2 in 61,129?M
What is the value of the 5 in 611,500?W
What is the value of the 1 in 720,187?S
What is the value of the 2 in 408,204?P
What is the value of the 3 in 942,327?D
What is the value of the 6 in 54,261?I
What is the value of the 5 in 669,456?E
What is the value of the 6 in 226,928?H
What is the value of the 1 in 951,288?G
What is the value of the 4 in 274,739?R
What is the value of the 5 in 335,219?L
What is the value of the 8 in 79,877?N
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
Only a fraction of our foam canisters survived the heat. Find the fraction of the total canisters we can still use to reveal the second gear vulnerability.
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
2/5 of 30 = ?
4/8 of 4 = ?
3/6 of 14 = ?
1/5 of 30 = ?
4/5 of 10 = ?
1/6 of 24 = ?
3/8 of 8 = ?
1/4 of 44 = ?
1/4 of 36 = ?
3/6 of 2 = ?
4/6 of 15 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain drops chemical flame retardant, then hides behind a low mountain ridge.
2.The villain flies dangerously low over the trees, then hides behind a low mountain ridge.
3.The villain scoops up water from the local lake, then zips away above the forest canopy.
4.The villain signals the ground crew with flares, then lands on a secret hidden runway.
5.The villain flies dangerously low over the trees, then zips away above the forest canopy.
6.The villain flies dangerously low over the trees, then escapes into the thick grey smoke.
7.The villain buzzes past the fire watchtower, then zips away above the forest canopy.
8.The villain buzzes past the fire watchtower, then lands on a secret hidden runway.
9.The villain buzzes past the fire watchtower, then heads back to the main airport.
10.The villain buzzes past the fire watchtower, then hides behind a low mountain ridge.
11.The villain flies dangerously low over the trees, then heads back to the main airport.
12.The villain buzzes past the fire watchtower, then escapes into the thick grey smoke.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Whispering Pines Fireplane Disaster
Culprit: Leo Valiant (mega water scooper · magnetic cargo hook · flies in left handed circles · lime green helmet · blinded by high power flashlights)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE ROGUE PILOT DOES NOT HAVE SOLAR WINGS"3010 + 2327 = 5337 (T) · 899 + 1638 = 2537 (V) · 2248 + 985 = 3233 (A) · 3592 + 1835 = 5427 (D) · 847 + 1715 = 2562 (R) · 5550 + 2651 = 8201 (W) · 5142 + 3372 = 8514 (I) · 5720 + 2581 = 8301 (U) · 1453 + 1905 = 3358 (G) · 5611 + 2990 = 8601 (L) · 4761 + 3712 = 8473 (S) · 1048 + 1413 = 2461 (P) · 1961 + 3619 = 5580 (H) · 1820 + 1250 = 3070 (N) · 5280 + 3841 = 9121 (O) · 3831 + 4551 = 8382 (E)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE FLIGHT RADAR SHOWS ONLY LEFT TURNS"7986 - 3274 = 4712 (T) · 8600 - 4716 = 3884 (I) · 5933 - 4036 = 1897 (O) · 12443 - 3707 = 8736 (Y) · 10403 - 2153 = 8250 (S) · 5531 - 3908 = 1623 (D) · 9234 - 4808 = 4426 (E) · 8824 - 4400 = 4424 (F) · 10128 - 3489 = 6639 (N) · 6856 - 2785 = 4071 (A) · 8738 - 4958 = 3780 (W) · 2819 - 920 = 1899 (U) · 6178 - 2806 = 3372 (R) · 10920 - 3666 = 7254 (G) · 2680 - 627 = 2053 (H) · 6219 - 1381 = 4838 (L)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "BRIGHT FLASHLIGHTS BLINDED THE PILOT"4/8 of 26 = 13 (B) · 1/2 of 76 = 38 (E) · 2/6 of 84 = 28 (F) · 1/2 of 42 = 21 (A) · 4/8 of 68 = 34 (S) · 1/6 of 66 = 11 (O) · 1/3 of 111 = 37 (P) · 1/2 of 60 = 30 (N) · 2/6 of 99 = 33 (I) · 1/2 of 72 = 36 (G) · 1/10 of 70 = 7 (R) · 4/6 of 48 = 32 (D) · 7/8 of 16 = 14 (H) · 3/4 of 20 = 15 (L) · 4/10 of 55 = 22 (T)
- Clue 4 (Place value): "A LIME GREEN HELMET WAS SPOTTED"What is the value of the 8 in 934,681? = 80 (A) · What is the value of the 8 in 198,990? = 8000 (O) · What is the value of the 9 in 449,561? = 9000 (T) · What is the value of the 2 in 61,129? = 20 (M) · What is the value of the 5 in 611,500? = 500 (W) · What is the value of the 1 in 720,187? = 100 (S) · What is the value of the 2 in 408,204? = 200 (P) · What is the value of the 3 in 942,327? = 300 (D) · What is the value of the 6 in 54,261? = 60 (I) · What is the value of the 5 in 669,456? = 50 (E) · What is the value of the 6 in 226,928? = 6000 (H) · What is the value of the 1 in 951,288? = 1000 (G) · What is the value of the 4 in 274,739? = 4000 (R) · What is the value of the 5 in 335,219? = 5000 (L) · What is the value of the 8 in 79,877? = 800 (N)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 5) → Leo Valiant2/5 of 30 = 12 · 4/8 of 4 = 2 · 3/6 of 14 = 7 · 1/5 of 30 = 6 · 4/5 of 10 = 8 · 1/6 of 24 = 4 · 3/8 of 8 = 3 · 1/4 of 44 = 11 · 1/4 of 36 = 9 · 3/6 of 2 = 1 · 4/6 of 15 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Fractions of a number, Place value
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Whispering Pines Fireplane Disaster — set in Whispering Pines National Park
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects