🔎 VolleyballGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationWord problemsMulti-step word problemsSubtractionMissing addends
The Golden Whistle Mystery
Just before the final championship match of the summer tournament, someone snuck onto the sand court and stole the coveted Golden Whistle! Coach Sandy needs your math skills to narrow down the suspects and catch the court bandit.
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 Play | Lucky Gear | Serving Hand | Hairstyle | Equipment Flaw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathryn Plummer | Jump Serve | Neon Visor | Right Handed Server | High Ponytail | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Logan Tom | Power Block | Neon Visor | Right Handed Server | Braided Bun | Torn Finger Tape |
| Misty May | Float Serve | Neon Visor | Left Handed Server | High Ponytail | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Lauren Carlini | Power Block | Gold Kneepads | Right Handed Server | High Ponytail | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Maxwell Holt | Sky Ball Serve | Bright Laces | Left Handed Server | Braided Bun | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Taylor Sander | Sky Ball Serve | Bright Laces | Right Handed Server | High Ponytail | Loose Elbow Guard |
| Jordan Larson | Float Serve | Neon Visor | Left Handed Server | Braided Bun | Loose Elbow Guard |
| Kerri Walsh | Underhand Spike | Bright Laces | Left Handed Server | High Ponytail | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Erik Shoji | Float Serve | Gold Kneepads | Left Handed Server | Braided Bun | Loose Elbow Guard |
| Alisha Glass | Jump Serve | Bright Laces | Left Handed Server | Braided Bun | Squeaky Sneakers |
| April Ross | Power Block | Bright Laces | Left Handed Server | High Ponytail | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Aaron Russell | Underhand Spike | Gold Kneepads | Left Handed Server | Spiky Hair | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Justine Wong | Float Serve | Gold Kneepads | Right Handed Server | High Ponytail | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Tori Dixon | Underhand Spike | Gold Kneepads | Left Handed Server | High Ponytail | Squeaky Sneakers |
| TJ DeFalco | Power Block | Striped Arm Sleeve | Left Handed Server | High Ponytail | Squeaky Sneakers |
| Jenna Gray | Underhand Spike | Neon Visor | Left Handed Server | High Ponytail | Torn Finger Tape |
| Micah Christenson | Underhand Spike | Gold Kneepads | Left Handed Server | High Ponytail | Torn Finger Tape |
| Matt Anderson | Underhand Spike | Striped Arm Sleeve | Left Handed Server | Braided Bun | Torn Finger Tape |
| Kelsey Robinson | Jump Serve | Sparkle Wristband | Left Handed Server | Spiky Hair | Torn Finger Tape |
| Chiaka Ogbogu | Power Block | Bright Laces | Right Handed Server | Spiky Hair | Torn Finger Tape |
| Foluke Akinradewo | Power Block | Neon Visor | Right Handed Server | Spiky Hair | Torn Finger Tape |
Clue 1
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Coach Sandy arranged the volleyball racks in equal rows to count the balls.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
V
21
18
24
24
42
18
2
25
64
30
28
2
64
100
7
30
42
8
42
28
100
8
18
5
30
25
42
8
56
28
24
30
30
V
21
30
3 × 7 =V
5 × 5 =D
1 × 8 =R
8 × 8 =O
3 × 8 =L
10 × 10 =T
3 × 10 =E
7 × 1 =W
7 × 4 =S
2 × 1 =N
7 × 8 =M
6 × 7 =A
9 × 2 =I
1 × 5 =P
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
The team checked the score sheets from practice drills to track down clues.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
40
65
53
31
16
10
9
D
65
D
S
65
R
V
65
R
Coach Sandy lined up 4 rows of 10 court towels. How many court towels in all?L
There were 85 court towels. 32 were used up. How many court towels are left?F
Coach Sandy lined up 4 rows of 4 water bottles. How many water bottles in all?H
There were 55 kneepads. 24 were used up. How many kneepads are left?T
Coach Sandy lined up 2 rows of 5 whistles. How many whistles in all?A
Coach Sandy found 2 volleyballs yesterday and 7 more today. How many volleyballs in all?N
Coach Sandy found 29 kneepads yesterday and 36 more today. How many kneepads in all?E
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
The tournament director calculated the points won across three different sets.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
S
23
7
21
11
40
13
16
S
23
N
11
40
13
11
R
S
23
There were 81 volleyballs in all. 1 Spike City Stars used 35 volleyballs each. The other 2 Spike City Stars shared the rest equally. How many volleyballs did each of the other Spike City Stars get?S
Coach Sandy earned 3 kneepads in each of 6 rounds, plus 1 bonus kneepads. Then 6 kneepads were lost. How many kneepads are left?K
There were 58 volleyballs in all. 37 volleyballs were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 Spike City Stars. How many volleyballs did each get?Q
Coach Sandy earned 6 volleyballs in each of 2 rounds, plus 1 bonus volleyballs. Then 2 volleyballs were lost. How many volleyballs are left?E
Coach Sandy collected 67 volleyballs in the morning and 29 volleyballs in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Spike City Stars. How many volleyballs did each get?Y
Coach Sandy collected 16 whistles in the morning and 47 whistles in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 Spike City Stars. How many whistles did each get?U
There were 427 court towels in all. 27 court towels were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 Spike City Stars. How many court towels did each get?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
The ball boy subtracted missing equipment from the total inventory list.
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
396
306
A
396
446
137
470
464
137
A
396
708
809
588
137
634
222
A
396
306
446
661
306
311
634
708
890
464
A
396
446
300
457
A
396
470
588
634
837
708
809
514 - 118 =A
330 - 19 =P
968 - 307 =G
674 - 204 =S
373 - 67 =H
658 - 212 =I
955 - 367 =F
816 - 182 =O
1135 - 326 =D
524 - 302 =M
1007 - 170 =U
558 - 94 =T
477 - 177 =L
538 - 81 =W
1233 - 343 =Y
1095 - 387 =N
241 - 104 =R
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
The captain figured out how many more points were needed to hit the target score.
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
1 + ___ = 11
4 + ___ = 7
1 + ___ = 10
9 + ___ = 13
1 + ___ = 8
10 + ___ = 12
9 + ___ = 14
9 + ___ = 10
4 + ___ = 16
6 + ___ = 17
7 + ___ = 15
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blocked the final shot, then snatched the winning medal.
2.The villain served across the net, then snatched the winning medal.
3.The villain set the high pass, then snatched the winning medal.
4.The villain blocked the final shot, then snagged the golden whistle.
5.The villain set the high pass, then grabbed the shiny trophy.
6.The villain served across the net, then grabbed the shiny trophy.
7.The villain blocked the final shot, then swiped the team clipboard.
8.The villain spiked the game ball, then took the championship banner.
9.The villain dived onto the sand, then snatched the winning medal.
10.The villain dived onto the sand, then snagged the golden whistle.
11.The villain blocked the final shot, then grabbed the shiny trophy.
12.The villain set the high pass, then took the championship banner.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Whistle Mystery
Culprit: Misty May (Float Serve · Neon Visor · Left Handed Server · High Ponytail · Squeaky Sneakers)
- Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR A STRIPED ARM SLEEVE"3 × 7 = 21 (V) · 5 × 5 = 25 (D) · 1 × 8 = 8 (R) · 8 × 8 = 64 (O) · 3 × 8 = 24 (L) · 10 × 10 = 100 (T) · 3 × 10 = 30 (E) · 7 × 1 = 7 (W) · 7 × 4 = 28 (S) · 2 × 1 = 2 (N) · 7 × 8 = 56 (M) · 6 × 7 = 42 (A) · 9 × 2 = 18 (I) · 1 × 5 = 5 (P)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED SERVER"Coach Sandy lined up 4 rows of 10 court towels. How many court towels in all? = 40 (L) · There were 85 court towels. 32 were used up. How many court towels are left? = 53 (F) · Coach Sandy lined up 4 rows of 4 water bottles. How many water bottles in all? = 16 (H) · There were 55 kneepads. 24 were used up. How many kneepads are left? = 31 (T) · Coach Sandy lined up 2 rows of 5 whistles. How many whistles in all? = 10 (A) · Coach Sandy found 2 volleyballs yesterday and 7 more today. How many volleyballs in all? = 9 (N) · Coach Sandy found 29 kneepads yesterday and 36 more today. How many kneepads in all? = 65 (E)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "SQUEAKY SNEAKERS"There were 81 volleyballs in all. 1 Spike City Stars used 35 volleyballs each. The other 2 Spike City Stars shared the rest equally. How many volleyballs did each of the other Spike City Stars get? = 23 (S) · Coach Sandy earned 3 kneepads in each of 6 rounds, plus 1 bonus kneepads. Then 6 kneepads were lost. How many kneepads are left? = 13 (K) · There were 58 volleyballs in all. 37 volleyballs were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 3 Spike City Stars. How many volleyballs did each get? = 7 (Q) · Coach Sandy earned 6 volleyballs in each of 2 rounds, plus 1 bonus volleyballs. Then 2 volleyballs were lost. How many volleyballs are left? = 11 (E) · Coach Sandy collected 67 volleyballs in the morning and 29 volleyballs in the afternoon, then split them equally among 6 Spike City Stars. How many volleyballs did each get? = 16 (Y) · Coach Sandy collected 16 whistles in the morning and 47 whistles in the afternoon, then split them equally among 3 Spike City Stars. How many whistles did each get? = 21 (U) · There were 427 court towels in all. 27 court towels were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 10 Spike City Stars. How many court towels did each get? = 40 (A)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A HAIR STRAND FROM A HIGH PONYTAIL WAS FOUND"514 - 118 = 396 (A) · 330 - 19 = 311 (P) · 968 - 307 = 661 (G) · 674 - 204 = 470 (S) · 373 - 67 = 306 (H) · 658 - 212 = 446 (I) · 955 - 367 = 588 (F) · 816 - 182 = 634 (O) · 1135 - 326 = 809 (D) · 524 - 302 = 222 (M) · 1007 - 170 = 837 (U) · 558 - 94 = 464 (T) · 477 - 177 = 300 (L) · 538 - 81 = 457 (W) · 1233 - 343 = 890 (Y) · 1095 - 387 = 708 (N) · 241 - 104 = 137 (R)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 6) → Misty May1 + ___ = 11 = 10 · 4 + ___ = 7 = 3 · 1 + ___ = 10 = 9 · 9 + ___ = 13 = 4 · 1 + ___ = 8 = 7 · 10 + ___ = 12 = 2 · 9 + ___ = 14 = 5 · 9 + ___ = 10 = 1 · 4 + ___ = 16 = 12 · 6 + ___ = 17 = 11 · 7 + ___ = 15 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Multiplication, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Subtraction, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Whistle Mystery — set in Sunburst Beach Volleyball Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects