🦕 Dinosaurs, BasketballGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Dinosaur Basketball Championship Caper
The big game was about to start when the Golden Dino Trophy vanished! The Raptor Ridge Rockets cannot play without their prized trophy. Help us find which dinosaur player 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 | Dino Move | Special Gear | Shooting Hand | Dino Coat | Secret Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron Rex | ankylosaurus screen | golden whistle | right-handed shooter | green scales | needs snack breaks |
| Barney Barkley | stegosaurus block | golden whistle | right-handed shooter | blue spikes | afraid of whistles |
| Rex Westbrook | triceratops drive | super-spring socks | right-handed shooter | orange feathers | needs snack breaks |
| Spino-Spida Mitchell | triceratops drive | spike-tipped kneepads | left-handed shooter | orange feathers | needs snack breaks |
| Tricera-Trae Young | stegosaurus block | golden whistle | left-handed shooter | blue spikes | slips on sweat |
| Kawhi Claw-ard | triceratops drive | lava-proof sneakers | right-handed shooter | green scales | needs snack breaks |
| Tricera-Paul | raptor crossover | golden whistle | left-handed shooter | orange feathers | slips on sweat |
| Raptor Rose | triceratops drive | glow-in-the-dark ball | right-handed shooter | green scales | needs snack breaks |
| Luka Dino-cic | stegosaurus block | golden whistle | right-handed shooter | orange feathers | afraid of whistles |
| Rex Miller | stegosaurus block | glow-in-the-dark ball | right-handed shooter | blue spikes | slips on sweat |
| Shaq-o-saurus | raptor crossover | lava-proof sneakers | right-handed shooter | blue spikes | needs snack breaks |
| Nikola Jokic-saurus | triceratops drive | glow-in-the-dark ball | right-handed shooter | green scales | slips on sweat |
| Dirk Dino-witzki | triceratops drive | lava-proof sneakers | left-handed shooter | blue spikes | afraid of whistles |
| Giannis Anteto-raptor | stegosaurus block | super-spring socks | left-handed shooter | green scales | needs snack breaks |
| Claw Thompson | pterodactyl dunk | super-spring socks | right-handed shooter | green scales | needs snack breaks |
| Yao Raptor | pterodactyl dunk | lava-proof sneakers | right-handed shooter | orange feathers | slips on sweat |
| Steg Curry | raptor crossover | lava-proof sneakers | right-handed shooter | green scales | needs snack breaks |
| Larry Bird-feathers | pterodactyl dunk | super-spring socks | right-handed shooter | blue spikes | needs snack breaks |
| Dino Curry | triceratops drive | super-spring socks | right-handed shooter | blue spikes | slips on sweat |
| Dino Rodman | pterodactyl dunk | golden whistle | left-handed shooter | green scales | afraid of whistles |
| Kobe Bryant-saurus | stegosaurus block | super-spring socks | right-handed shooter | blue spikes | needs snack breaks |
Clue 1
Place value
We looked at the giant arena scoreboard. The digit in the tens place on the home team score was flashing. This clue tells us about the thief's 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
60
80
400
300
7000
900
600
900
T
60
80
20
100
400
20
30
900
3000
7000
400
600
90
80
2000
500
T
60
3000
400
What is the value of the 6 in 163?T
What is the value of the 9 in 973?O
What is the value of the 7 in 7,506?D
What is the value of the 9 in 6,691?W
What is the value of the 6 in 690?N
What is the value of the 4 in 1,488?E
What is the value of the 3 in 839?G
What is the value of the 3 in 3,465?L
What is the value of the 2 in 42,186?I
What is the value of the 8 in 7,186?H
What is the value of the 5 in 7,544?S
What is the value of the 2 in 520?A
What is the value of the 1 in 4,162?V
What is the value of the 3 in 366?Y
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The referee counted all the extra basketballs rolled onto the court. We added up the balls from each rack to find the next clue about how the thief shoots.
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
621
835
542
481
843
886
836
653
299
T
621
401
835
420
420
T
621
401
619
299
T
621
835
T
621
835
542
299
653
653
299
326
835
T
621
835
345
568
919
358 + 263 =T
146 + 180 =G
203 + 278 =C
124 + 221 =A
227 + 193 =O
579 + 307 =L
356 + 297 =R
419 + 416 =H
228 + 391 =W
465 + 454 =D
354 + 489 =U
243 + 158 =S
184 + 384 =N
245 + 297 =E
321 + 515 =P
136 + 163 =I
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The team compared their total championship rings to the dino-league record. We subtracted the smaller number to find the difference and unlock a clue about their scales or feathers.
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
727
342
497
617
104
617
516
497
694
T
727
617
T
727
474
516
617
T
727
474
497
541
T
727
541
140
104
783
694
810
617
150
541
694
810
773 - 46 =T
776 - 279 =E
368 - 218 =N
771 - 230 =A
871 - 254 =S
830 - 136 =C
855 - 381 =O
347 - 243 =U
205 - 65 =Q
483 - 141 =H
1117 - 307 =K
873 - 357 =P
1017 - 234 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We saw rows of dino-sneakers lined up in the locker room. By multiplying the rows of shoes, we calculated the total amount and found a clue about what scares the thief.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
32
4
99
24
132
5
99
99
25
S
32
27
72
40
99
S
32
77
99
5
99
11
10
8
25
24
25
99
72
5
55
4
99
4
10
10
110
8 × 4 =S
2 × 2 =H
2 × 4 =U
9 × 3 =C
11 × 12 =G
10 × 1 =O
6 × 4 =D
5 × 5 =N
9 × 11 =E
7 × 11 =W
1 × 5 =R
11 × 10 =P
8 × 5 =L
1 × 11 =F
6 × 12 =A
11 × 5 =T
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The coaches shared a big box of sports drinks equally among the players. We divided the bottles to see how many each dino got and revealed the final clue.
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
20 ÷ 5 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
33 ÷ 11 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
25 ÷ 5 = ?
144 ÷ 12 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
72 ÷ 9 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain barrels through with a triceratops drive, then runs fast in lava-proof sneakers.
2.The villain sets a solid ankylosaurus screen, then runs fast in lava-proof sneakers.
3.The villain flies up for a pterodactyl dunk, then lights the court with a glow ball.
4.The villain barrels through with a triceratops drive, then lights the court with a glow ball.
5.The villain swats the ball with a stegosaurus block, then lights the court with a glow ball.
6.The villain flies up for a pterodactyl dunk, then runs fast in lava-proof sneakers.
7.The villain flies up for a pterodactyl dunk, then leaps high with super-spring socks.
8.The villain flies up for a pterodactyl dunk, then calls a fake foul with a golden whistle.
9.The villain does a swift raptor crossover, then calls a fake foul with a golden whistle.
10.The villain swats the ball with a stegosaurus block, then leaps high with super-spring socks.
11.The villain does a swift raptor crossover, then runs fast in lava-proof sneakers.
12.The villain swats the ball with a stegosaurus block, then runs fast in lava-proof sneakers.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Dinosaur Basketball Championship Caper
Culprit: Steg Curry (raptor crossover · lava-proof sneakers · right-handed shooter · green scales · needs snack breaks)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THEY DO NOT HAVE A GOLDEN WHISTLE"What is the value of the 6 in 163? = 60 (T) · What is the value of the 9 in 973? = 900 (O) · What is the value of the 7 in 7,506? = 7000 (D) · What is the value of the 9 in 6,691? = 90 (W) · What is the value of the 6 in 690? = 600 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 1,488? = 400 (E) · What is the value of the 3 in 839? = 30 (G) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,465? = 3000 (L) · What is the value of the 2 in 42,186? = 2000 (I) · What is the value of the 8 in 7,186? = 80 (H) · What is the value of the 5 in 7,544? = 500 (S) · What is the value of the 2 in 520? = 20 (A) · What is the value of the 1 in 4,162? = 100 (V) · What is the value of the 3 in 366? = 300 (Y)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE CULPRIT SHOOTS WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"358 + 263 = 621 (T) · 146 + 180 = 326 (G) · 203 + 278 = 481 (C) · 124 + 221 = 345 (A) · 227 + 193 = 420 (O) · 579 + 307 = 886 (L) · 356 + 297 = 653 (R) · 419 + 416 = 835 (H) · 228 + 391 = 619 (W) · 465 + 454 = 919 (D) · 354 + 489 = 843 (U) · 243 + 158 = 401 (S) · 184 + 384 = 568 (N) · 245 + 297 = 542 (E) · 321 + 515 = 836 (P) · 136 + 163 = 299 (I)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT STOPS TO EAT A QUICK SNACK"773 - 46 = 727 (T) · 776 - 279 = 497 (E) · 368 - 218 = 150 (N) · 771 - 230 = 541 (A) · 871 - 254 = 617 (S) · 830 - 136 = 694 (C) · 855 - 381 = 474 (O) · 347 - 243 = 104 (U) · 205 - 65 = 140 (Q) · 483 - 141 = 342 (H) · 1117 - 307 = 810 (K) · 873 - 357 = 516 (P) · 1017 - 234 = 783 (I)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SHED GREEN SCALES WERE FOUND NEAR THE HOOP"8 × 4 = 32 (S) · 2 × 2 = 4 (H) · 2 × 4 = 8 (U) · 9 × 3 = 27 (C) · 11 × 12 = 132 (G) · 10 × 1 = 10 (O) · 6 × 4 = 24 (D) · 5 × 5 = 25 (N) · 9 × 11 = 99 (E) · 7 × 11 = 77 (W) · 1 × 5 = 5 (R) · 11 × 10 = 110 (P) · 8 × 5 = 40 (L) · 1 × 11 = 11 (F) · 6 × 12 = 72 (A) · 11 × 5 = 55 (T)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Steg Curry20 ÷ 5 = 4 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 33 ÷ 11 = 3 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 144 ÷ 12 = 12 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Dinosaur Basketball Championship Caper — set in the bustling Raptor Ridge Basketball Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects