🏀 BasketballGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionMissing addends
The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Just hours before the big championship game, the shiny gold trophy went missing from the locker room! Coach Marcus found sneaker prints near center court. Decode the clues to find out who sneaked into the arena!
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 Shot | Sneaker Style | Shooting Hand | Headwear | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrie Irving | Eurostep Drive | Striped Mid Tops | Left Handed | Red Headband | Salty Pretzels |
| Devin Booker | Sky Hook | Golden Low Tops | Left Handed | Black Sweatband | Orange Slices |
| Anthony Edwards | Sky Hook | Golden Low Tops | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Cheesy Popcorn |
| LeBron James | Sky Hook | Neon High Tops | Right Handed | Red Headband | Cheesy Popcorn |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Fadeaway Jump | Retro Leather Shoes | Left Handed | Black Sweatband | Orange Slices |
| Jimmy Butler | Eurostep Drive | Retro Leather Shoes | Right Handed | Red Headband | Salty Pretzels |
| Sabrina Ionescu | Fadeaway Jump | Striped Mid Tops | Right Handed | Black Sweatband | Orange Slices |
| Klay Thompson | Fadeaway Jump | Neon High Tops | Right Handed | Black Sweatband | Orange Slices |
| Caitlin Clark | Sky Hook | Striped Mid Tops | Left Handed | Red Headband | Orange Slices |
| Shaquille ONeal | Three Pointer | Glitter Sneakers | Right Handed | Black Sweatband | Orange Slices |
| Aja Wilson | Three Pointer | Retro Leather Shoes | Right Handed | Black Sweatband | Cheesy Popcorn |
| Luka Doncic | Three Pointer | Golden Low Tops | Right Handed | Blue Cap | Orange Slices |
| Nikola Jokic | Fadeaway Jump | Retro Leather Shoes | Right Handed | Black Sweatband | Orange Slices |
| Trae Young | Sky Hook | Striped Mid Tops | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Orange Slices |
| Steph Curry | Eurostep Drive | Glitter Sneakers | Right Handed | Red Headband | Salty Pretzels |
| Maya Moore | Fadeaway Jump | Retro Leather Shoes | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Salty Pretzels |
| Ja Morant | Three Pointer | Neon High Tops | Right Handed | Red Headband | Orange Slices |
| Sue Bird | Sky Hook | Striped Mid Tops | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Cheesy Popcorn |
| Donovan Mitchell | Slam Dunk | Golden Low Tops | Right Handed | Black Sweatband | Orange Slices |
| Kobe Bryant | Fadeaway Jump | Neon High Tops | Right Handed | Blue Cap | Cheesy Popcorn |
| Damian Lillard | Sky Hook | Golden Low Tops | Left Handed | Blue Cap | Orange Slices |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The arena equipment manager counted the practice basketballs stacked in equal rows on the ball racks.
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
2
44
24
12
132
12
144
24
42
T
2
40
90
24
12
15
90
T
2
55
24
28
54
12
T
2
54
49
144
24
40
6
49
40
T
2
90
144
12
1 × 2 =T
6 × 9 =R
10 × 4 =D
5 × 11 =W
10 × 9 =O
12 × 12 =P
3 × 5 =N
4 × 11 =H
4 × 3 =S
7 × 6 =C
7 × 7 =I
12 × 11 =U
7 × 4 =A
6 × 4 =E
6 × 1 =M
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The scoreboard digital display only showed the arena attendance rounded to the nearest hundred.
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
20
370
5000
1100
900
1100
9000
5000
500
T
20
2300
7000
1100
1100
5000
5000
110
1100
370
700
700
T
20
70
110
170
430
70
170
370
T
20
370
7000
110
290
5000
290
Round 20 to the nearest tenT
Round 68 to the nearest tenI
Round 367 to the nearest tenH
Round 656 to the nearest hundredO
Round 6,625 to the nearest thousandA
Round 109 to the nearest tenN
Round 5,336 to the nearest thousandE
Round 853 to the nearest hundredU
Round 2,254 to the nearest hundredW
Round 170 to the nearest tenG
Round 430 to the nearest tenR
Round 487 to the nearest hundredC
Round 1,115 to the nearest hundredS
Round 294 to the nearest tenD
Round 8,965 to the nearest thousandP
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
The head referee tallied up all the points scored during both practice quarters combined.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
P
5901
9353
9353
9746
5561
4200
9642
9704
9567
9704
9642
5370
4946
9666
9353
5561
9746
6778
5307
9353
5561
7018
9353
9642
9353
9746
9353
4200
9215
5454
9353
2077
6778
4946
2127
2307 + 3594 =P
1113 + 964 =H
3329 + 3689 =W
2924 + 6822 =L
3667 + 1703 =A
5450 + 4192 =R
2460 + 4318 =I
2974 + 2587 =S
2662 + 2284 =N
3132 + 6572 =O
6364 + 3302 =G
2710 + 1490 =F
5277 + 4290 =M
2839 + 6514 =E
3519 + 1935 =B
3180 + 6035 =T
2154 + 3153 =C
1032 + 1095 =D
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The stat keeper calculated how many bench points remained after subtracting technical fouls.
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
1416
3490
3245
A
1416
8163
2462
7652
2812
3309
A
1416
3889
3490
A
1416
2384
6250
2812
A
1416
7652
7025
6396
4699
2384
6250
3490
8337
3889
7987
3309
3490
A
1416
3245
3245
4728 - 3312 =A
7540 - 4231 =E
9661 - 1324 =Y
9851 - 3455 =O
2916 - 532 =N
6853 - 2964 =T
6370 - 3125 =L
8593 - 941 =S
8526 - 1501 =F
11136 - 2973 =C
11343 - 3356 =H
5293 - 2831 =K
8224 - 3525 =U
3098 - 286 =W
8432 - 2182 =D
7474 - 3984 =B
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Coach Marcus looked at the team total to figure out how many more points were needed.
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
23 + ___ = 29
40 + ___ = 41
19 + ___ = 31
14 + ___ = 25
29 + ___ = 38
1 + ___ = 9
36 + ___ = 41
33 + ___ = 43
36 + ___ = 43
30 + ___ = 34
16 + ___ = 19
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain drained a fadeaway jump, then laced up neon high tops.
2.The villain stuffed a slam dunk, then laced up golden low tops.
3.The villain hit a three pointer, then laced up striped mid tops.
4.The villain hit a three pointer, then laced up neon high tops.
5.The villain hit a three pointer, then laced up golden low tops.
6.The villain hit a three pointer, then laced up glitter sneakers.
7.The villain stuffed a slam dunk, then laced up retro leather shoes.
8.The villain sank a sky hook, then laced up golden low tops.
9.The villain drove with a eurostep drive, then laced up retro leather shoes.
10.The villain sank a sky hook, then laced up striped mid tops.
11.The villain drove with a eurostep drive, then laced up striped mid tops.
12.The villain drained a fadeaway jump, then laced up retro leather shoes.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy
Culprit: Donovan Mitchell (Slam Dunk · Golden Low Tops · Right Handed · Black Sweatband · Orange Slices)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT DOES NOT WEAR STRIPED MID TOPS"1 × 2 = 2 (T) · 6 × 9 = 54 (R) · 10 × 4 = 40 (D) · 5 × 11 = 55 (W) · 10 × 9 = 90 (O) · 12 × 12 = 144 (P) · 3 × 5 = 15 (N) · 4 × 11 = 44 (H) · 4 × 3 = 12 (S) · 7 × 6 = 42 (C) · 7 × 7 = 49 (I) · 12 × 11 = 132 (U) · 7 × 4 = 28 (A) · 6 × 4 = 24 (E) · 6 × 1 = 6 (M)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT WAS SEEN SHOOTING RIGHT HANDED"Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (T) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (I) · Round 367 to the nearest ten = 370 (H) · Round 656 to the nearest hundred = 700 (O) · Round 6,625 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (A) · Round 109 to the nearest ten = 110 (N) · Round 5,336 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (E) · Round 853 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 2,254 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (W) · Round 170 to the nearest ten = 170 (G) · Round 430 to the nearest ten = 430 (R) · Round 487 to the nearest hundred = 500 (C) · Round 1,115 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (S) · Round 294 to the nearest ten = 290 (D) · Round 8,965 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (P)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "PEELS FROM ORANGE SLICES WERE LEFT BEHIND"2307 + 3594 = 5901 (P) · 1113 + 964 = 2077 (H) · 3329 + 3689 = 7018 (W) · 2924 + 6822 = 9746 (L) · 3667 + 1703 = 5370 (A) · 5450 + 4192 = 9642 (R) · 2460 + 4318 = 6778 (I) · 2974 + 2587 = 5561 (S) · 2662 + 2284 = 4946 (N) · 3132 + 6572 = 9704 (O) · 6364 + 3302 = 9666 (G) · 2710 + 1490 = 4200 (F) · 5277 + 4290 = 9567 (M) · 2839 + 6514 = 9353 (E) · 3519 + 1935 = 5454 (B) · 3180 + 6035 = 9215 (T) · 2154 + 3153 = 5307 (C) · 1032 + 1095 = 2127 (D)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A BLACK SWEATBAND WAS FOUND BY THE BALL"4728 - 3312 = 1416 (A) · 7540 - 4231 = 3309 (E) · 9661 - 1324 = 8337 (Y) · 9851 - 3455 = 6396 (O) · 2916 - 532 = 2384 (N) · 6853 - 2964 = 3889 (T) · 6370 - 3125 = 3245 (L) · 8593 - 941 = 7652 (S) · 8526 - 1501 = 7025 (F) · 11136 - 2973 = 8163 (C) · 11343 - 3356 = 7987 (H) · 5293 - 2831 = 2462 (K) · 8224 - 3525 = 4699 (U) · 3098 - 286 = 2812 (W) · 8432 - 2182 = 6250 (D) · 7474 - 3984 = 3490 (B)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 2) → Donovan Mitchell23 + ___ = 29 = 6 · 40 + ___ = 41 = 1 · 19 + ___ = 31 = 12 · 14 + ___ = 25 = 11 · 29 + ___ = 38 = 9 · 1 + ___ = 9 = 8 · 36 + ___ = 41 = 5 · 33 + ___ = 43 = 10 · 36 + ___ = 43 = 7 · 30 + ___ = 34 = 4 · 16 + ___ = 19 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Championship Trophy — set in Metro Arena Basketball Court
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects