🏀 BasketballGrade 1Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionRoundingMissing addends
The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Right before the championship game, the trophy vanished from the locker room showcase! The court security team found five clue pads near the scoreboard. Solve the math problems to unlock each clue and catch the culprit before tip-off!
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 | signature move | gear item | wristband side | hair style | distinguishing trait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Jordan | three point swish | golden whistle | right wristband | braided locs | noisy keychain |
| Sabrina Ionescu | three point swish | high top kicks | right wristband | high top fade | noisy keychain |
| Maya Moore | sky hook shot | grippy gloves | right wristband | braided locs | noisy keychain |
| Kobe Bryant | crossover dribble | foam finger | left wristband | high top fade | noisy keychain |
| Kevin Durant | slam dunk | neon headband | left wristband | high top fade | noisy keychain |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | crossover dribble | high top kicks | left wristband | high top fade | bright laces |
| Aja Wilson | sky hook shot | foam finger | left wristband | high top fade | squeaky shoes |
| Luka Doncic | crossover dribble | grippy gloves | left wristband | high top fade | noisy keychain |
| Candace Parker | slam dunk | foam finger | right wristband | buzz cut | squeaky shoes |
| Diana Taurasi | slam dunk | foam finger | right wristband | high top fade | squeaky shoes |
| Nikola Jokic | no look pass | foam finger | right wristband | braided locs | noisy keychain |
| Damian Lillard | three point swish | golden whistle | right wristband | buzz cut | bright laces |
| Breanna Stewart | sky hook shot | grippy gloves | left wristband | braided locs | noisy keychain |
| LeBron James | three point swish | neon headband | left wristband | high top fade | noisy keychain |
| Tim Duncan | crossover dribble | foam finger | right wristband | high top fade | bright laces |
| Anthony Edwards | no look pass | neon headband | right wristband | high top fade | noisy keychain |
| Devin Booker | three point swish | grippy gloves | left wristband | high top fade | noisy keychain |
| Jayson Tatum | slam dunk | grippy gloves | left wristband | braided locs | squeaky shoes |
| Sue Bird | no look pass | foam finger | left wristband | high top fade | bright laces |
| Angel Reese | three point swish | high top kicks | right wristband | buzz cut | squeaky shoes |
| Dirk Nowitzki | three point swish | foam finger | right wristband | buzz cut | bright laces |
Clue 1
Place value
The stat tracker shows digits for tens and ones from the arena entrance code.
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
33
15
90
65
73
65
16
90
34
T
33
28
80
90
65
76
80
T
33
73
65
90
25
62
80
25
95
62
89
76
31
90
55
What number has 3 tens and 3 ones?T
What number has 7 tens and 6 ones?N
What number has 1 ten and 6 ones?P
What number has 9 tens and 5 ones?M
What number has 8 tens and 0 ones?O
What number has 3 tens and 4 ones?C
What number has 2 tens and 8 ones?D
What number has 6 tens and 5 ones?S
What number has 1 ten and 5 ones?H
What number has 6 tens and 2 ones?F
What number has 8 tens and 9 ones?I
What number has 9 tens and 0 ones?E
What number has 3 tens and 1 one?G
What number has 5 tens and 5 ones?R
What number has 7 tens and 3 ones?U
What number has 2 tens and 5 ones?A
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Coach counted up all the practice basketballs gathered from both halves of the court.
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
13
15
16
10
8
6
6
6
19
W
13
19
W
13
5
15
6
16
3
19
10
17
18
10
16
12
8
20
8
9
16
19
5
4
9 + 4 =W
1 + 4 =R
14 + 5 =A
8 + 10 =O
10 + 5 =I
5 + 12 =D
2 + 2 =M
3 + 3 =S
3 + 5 =E
7 + 3 =N
13 + 7 =L
10 + 6 =T
3 + 9 =H
2 + 1 =B
5 + 4 =F
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The court manager checked how many towels were left after handing some to the 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
18
13
5
14
19
11
17
4
16
13
5
11
17
4
11
7
15
2
16
8
12
5
8
6
13
11
2
7
19 - 1 =T
20 - 5 =O
18 - 1 =R
12 - 8 =D
16 - 3 =H
18 - 7 =A
15 - 9 =C
17 - 5 =K
20 - 1 =U
6 - 1 =E
18 - 2 =S
17 - 3 =G
10 - 8 =I
8 - 1 =N
10 - 2 =Y
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The giant scoreboard display rounds the attendance number to the nearest ten.
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
90
70
20
60
70
40
800
400
900
A
90
700
30
80
A
90
200
200
30
30
500
800
500
300
A
90
600
30
50
A
90
Round 89 to the nearest tenA
Round 24 to the nearest tenI
Round 713 to the nearest hundredD
Round 757 to the nearest hundredO
Round 81 to the nearest tenW
Round 206 to the nearest hundredS
Round 57 to the nearest tenG
Round 44 to the nearest tenT
Round 34 to the nearest tenE
Round 915 to the nearest hundredF
Round 293 to the nearest hundredC
Round 422 to the nearest hundredP
Round 67 to the nearest tenH
Round 48 to the nearest tenR
Round 614 to the nearest hundredM
Round 524 to the nearest hundredN
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The equipment box was missing a few whistles so we solved the mystery gap to open it.
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
8 + ___ = 20
8 + ___ = 12
6 + ___ = 14
3 + ___ = 9
4 + ___ = 15
4 + ___ = 9
5 + ___ = 12
3 + ___ = 13
6 + ___ = 8
1 + ___ = 10
1 + ___ = 2
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain launched a sky hook shot, then waved a foam finger.
2.The villain launched a sky hook shot, then blew the golden whistle.
3.The villain executed a crossover dribble, then pulled on grippy gloves.
4.The villain threw down a slam dunk, then adjusted a neon headband.
5.The villain swished a three point shot, then blew the golden whistle.
6.The villain executed a crossover dribble, then laced up high top kicks.
7.The villain threw down a slam dunk, then laced up high top kicks.
8.The villain swished a three point shot, then adjusted a neon headband.
9.The villain dished a no look pass, then pulled on grippy gloves.
10.The villain launched a sky hook shot, then pulled on grippy gloves.
11.The villain threw down a slam dunk, then pulled on grippy gloves.
12.The villain swished a three point shot, then pulled on grippy gloves.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Culprit: Luka Doncic (crossover dribble · grippy gloves · left wristband · high top fade · noisy keychain)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT USE A FOAM FINGER"What number has 3 tens and 3 ones? = 33 (T) · What number has 7 tens and 6 ones? = 76 (N) · What number has 1 ten and 6 ones? = 16 (P) · What number has 9 tens and 5 ones? = 95 (M) · What number has 8 tens and 0 ones? = 80 (O) · What number has 3 tens and 4 ones? = 34 (C) · What number has 2 tens and 8 ones? = 28 (D) · What number has 6 tens and 5 ones? = 65 (S) · What number has 1 ten and 5 ones? = 15 (H) · What number has 6 tens and 2 ones? = 62 (F) · What number has 8 tens and 9 ones? = 89 (I) · What number has 9 tens and 0 ones? = 90 (E) · What number has 3 tens and 1 one? = 31 (G) · What number has 5 tens and 5 ones? = 55 (R) · What number has 7 tens and 3 ones? = 73 (U) · What number has 2 tens and 5 ones? = 25 (A)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "WITNESS SAW A WRISTBAND ON THE LEFT ARM"9 + 4 = 13 (W) · 1 + 4 = 5 (R) · 14 + 5 = 19 (A) · 8 + 10 = 18 (O) · 10 + 5 = 15 (I) · 5 + 12 = 17 (D) · 2 + 2 = 4 (M) · 3 + 3 = 6 (S) · 3 + 5 = 8 (E) · 7 + 3 = 10 (N) · 13 + 7 = 20 (L) · 10 + 6 = 16 (T) · 3 + 9 = 12 (H) · 2 + 1 = 3 (B) · 5 + 4 = 9 (F)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE GUARDS HEARD A NOISY KEYCHAIN"19 - 1 = 18 (T) · 20 - 5 = 15 (O) · 18 - 1 = 17 (R) · 12 - 8 = 4 (D) · 16 - 3 = 13 (H) · 18 - 7 = 11 (A) · 15 - 9 = 6 (C) · 17 - 5 = 12 (K) · 20 - 1 = 19 (U) · 6 - 1 = 5 (E) · 18 - 2 = 16 (S) · 17 - 3 = 14 (G) · 10 - 8 = 2 (I) · 8 - 1 = 7 (N) · 10 - 2 = 8 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A HIGH TOP FADE WAS SEEN ON CAMERA"Round 89 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 24 to the nearest ten = 20 (I) · Round 713 to the nearest hundred = 700 (D) · Round 757 to the nearest hundred = 800 (O) · Round 81 to the nearest ten = 80 (W) · Round 206 to the nearest hundred = 200 (S) · Round 57 to the nearest ten = 60 (G) · Round 44 to the nearest ten = 40 (T) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (E) · Round 915 to the nearest hundred = 900 (F) · Round 293 to the nearest hundred = 300 (C) · Round 422 to the nearest hundred = 400 (P) · Round 67 to the nearest ten = 70 (H) · Round 48 to the nearest ten = 50 (R) · Round 614 to the nearest hundred = 600 (M) · Round 524 to the nearest hundred = 500 (N)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 3) → Luka Doncic8 + ___ = 20 = 12 · 8 + ___ = 12 = 4 · 6 + ___ = 14 = 8 · 3 + ___ = 9 = 6 · 4 + ___ = 15 = 11 · 4 + ___ = 9 = 5 · 5 + ___ = 12 = 7 · 3 + ___ = 13 = 10 · 6 + ___ = 8 = 2 · 1 + ___ = 10 = 9 · 1 + ___ = 2 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Rounding, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy — set in The Timberland Arena Locker Room
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects