🏀 BasketballGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueMultiplicationSubtractionAdditionDivision
The Golden Whistle Mystery
The golden whistle has vanished right before the final buzzer! The Championship Arena is in lockdown, and Coach needs your help to crack the case. Find out who stole the whistle so the big game can finish!
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 | Lucky Gear | Shooting Hand | Headband Color | Court Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron | Three-Point Swish | Glow-in-the-Dark Socks | Right-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Smell of Fresh Popcorn |
| Kobe | Ankle-Breaker Crossover | Gold High-Tops | Left-Handed Shooter | Electric Blue Headband | Shiny Camera Flashes |
| Hoops Hannah | Half-Court Hook Shot | Squeaky Sneakers | Right-Handed Shooter | Electric Blue Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Crossover Chris | Half-Court Hook Shot | Sparkly Elbow Pad | Right-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Smell of Fresh Popcorn |
| Bouncing Billy | Sky-High Dunk | Gold High-Tops | Right-Handed Shooter | Electric Blue Headband | Smell of Fresh Popcorn |
| Fastbreak Fred | Half-Court Hook Shot | Sparkly Elbow Pad | Left-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Smell of Fresh Popcorn |
| Swish Sarah | Half-Court Hook Shot | Silver Wristband | Right-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Net-Ripper Niki | Ankle-Breaker Crossover | Sparkly Elbow Pad | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Magic | Ankle-Breaker Crossover | Glow-in-the-Dark Socks | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Shiny Camera Flashes |
| Pivot Pete | No-Look Pass | Sparkly Elbow Pad | Left-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Spud | Three-Point Swish | Squeaky Sneakers | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Steph | Sky-High Dunk | Sparkly Elbow Pad | Right-Handed Shooter | Electric Blue Headband | Shiny Camera Flashes |
| Giannis | Half-Court Hook Shot | Squeaky Sneakers | Left-Handed Shooter | Electric Blue Headband | Shiny Camera Flashes |
| Rim-Rocker Rex | Half-Court Hook Shot | Squeaky Sneakers | Left-Handed Shooter | Electric Blue Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Bird | No-Look Pass | Sparkly Elbow Pad | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Dribbling Danny | Sky-High Dunk | Silver Wristband | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Dunkin Dave | Sky-High Dunk | Glow-in-the-Dark Socks | Left-Handed Shooter | Electric Blue Headband | Smell of Fresh Popcorn |
| Luka | Sky-High Dunk | Sparkly Elbow Pad | Right-Handed Shooter | Neon Green Headband | Smell of Fresh Popcorn |
| Defense Daisy | Half-Court Hook Shot | Silver Wristband | Right-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
| Backboard Bob | Half-Court Hook Shot | Sparkly Elbow Pad | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Smell of Fresh Popcorn |
| Jordan | Three-Point Swish | Gold High-Tops | Left-Handed Shooter | Bright Orange Headband | Loud Squeaky Toys |
Clue 1
Place value
We checked the giant digital scoreboard for clues. The score was broken, but looking at the value of the hundreds digit showed us who went past the gates.
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
800
80
1000
500
2000
10
10
9000
2000
300
7000
8000
1000
5000
300
8000
T
800
90
1000
9000
600
4000
8000
10
7000
80
2000
4000
80
T
800
8000
100
5000
What is the value of the 8 in 5,896?T
What is the value of the 5 in 9,578?V
What is the value of the 9 in 1,496?W
What is the value of the 1 in 103?P
What is the value of the 8 in 6,683?H
What is the value of the 3 in 7,391?N
What is the value of the 4 in 4,232?G
What is the value of the 5 in 5,366?S
What is the value of the 1 in 51,543?E
What is the value of the 8 in 98,430?O
What is the value of the 7 in 67,234?D
What is the value of the 1 in 4,210?L
What is the value of the 6 in 4,600?R
What is the value of the 2 in 2,618?I
What is the value of the 9 in 89,218?A
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Multiplication facts (1-12)
Coach counted the basketballs on the racks. There were five rows with seven balls in each row, revealing a secret shoe size.
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
30
1
70
16
66
T
30
55
1
8
66
120
120
27
66
54
T
30
1
36
15
27
12
8
56
66
120
70
90
T
30
1
66
12
108
70
36
6 × 5 =T
5 × 11 =C
11 × 6 =A
9 × 12 =D
3 × 4 =N
4 × 9 =R
9 × 6 =S
4 × 2 =B
7 × 8 =Y
8 × 2 =M
10 × 9 =F
3 × 5 =O
10 × 12 =L
3 × 9 =W
10 × 7 =E
1 × 1 =H
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The mascot had a bag of sixty whistles but lost eighteen of them on the court. Finding the difference pointed us to the right locker room.
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
6748
4287
1969
8492
6352
5440
1969
8445
7819
1676
T
6748
4966
1676
8492
4966
5440
7119
4241
6739
3212
4966
3039
7819
1969
4241
T
6748
4287
1969
5783
8951
8492
4287
4966
T
6748
8819 - 2071 =T
8810 - 365 =A
10092 - 2973 =N
3493 - 281 =L
5776 - 336 =U
7079 - 1296 =I
5566 - 1325 =D
8569 - 4282 =H
2409 - 733 =Y
12643 - 4151 =S
10566 - 4214 =Q
3618 - 579 =C
9723 - 4757 =O
4774 - 2805 =E
8487 - 1748 =B
8962 - 1143 =K
11918 - 2967 =R
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Addition
The concession stand tally showed twenty-four hot dogs and thirty-six sodas sold during the game. Adding these up gave us a clue 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.
A
2291
8712
3217
4846
A
2291
8712
8870
2870
9443
6584
4846
2870
A
2291
7769
7334
A
2291
2578
2648
A
2291
6886
8870
6584
9443
3217
8712
9443
6584
2870
6584
3217
3217
8828
1061 + 1230 =A
1605 + 1043 =C
3074 + 1772 =R
3680 + 4089 =D
2745 + 4141 =U
1165 + 1705 =E
4718 + 4110 =P
1058 + 2159 =O
1149 + 1429 =S
2903 + 3681 =H
3234 + 4100 =W
3701 + 5169 =G
3225 + 5487 =N
4499 + 4944 =T
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We had twenty-eight practice cones to share equally among four drill stations. Finding how many cones went to each station gave us the final hint.
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
25 ÷ 5 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
8 ÷ 1 = ?
2 ÷ 2 = ?
100 ÷ 10 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
77 ÷ 11 = ?
14 ÷ 7 = ?
22 ÷ 2 = ?
3 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain locked the gymnasium doors, then escaped in a team bus.
2.The villain stole the lucky game ball, then dashed past the concession stand.
3.The villain swiped the championship trophy, then ran out to the parking lot.
4.The villain took the team mascot costume, then zoomed off on a scooter.
5.The villain hid the team playbook, then ran out to the parking lot.
6.The villain locked the gymnasium doors, then bounced away down the street.
7.The villain stole the lucky game ball, then escaped in a team bus.
8.The villain stole the lucky game ball, then bounced away down the street.
9.The villain swiped the championship trophy, then dashed past the concession stand.
10.The villain swiped the championship trophy, then bounced away down the street.
11.The villain stole the lucky game ball, then ran out to the parking lot.
12.The villain locked the gymnasium doors, then ran out to the parking lot.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Whistle Mystery
Culprit: Dribbling Danny (Sky-High Dunk · Silver Wristband · Left-Handed Shooter · Bright Orange Headband · Loud Squeaky Toys)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR GOLD HIGH TOPS"What is the value of the 8 in 5,896? = 800 (T) · What is the value of the 5 in 9,578? = 500 (V) · What is the value of the 9 in 1,496? = 90 (W) · What is the value of the 1 in 103? = 100 (P) · What is the value of the 8 in 6,683? = 80 (H) · What is the value of the 3 in 7,391? = 300 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 4,232? = 4000 (G) · What is the value of the 5 in 5,366? = 5000 (S) · What is the value of the 1 in 51,543? = 1000 (E) · What is the value of the 8 in 98,430? = 8000 (O) · What is the value of the 7 in 67,234? = 7000 (D) · What is the value of the 1 in 4,210? = 10 (L) · What is the value of the 6 in 4,600? = 600 (R) · What is the value of the 2 in 2,618? = 2000 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 89,218? = 9000 (A)
- Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE MATCH BALL WAS THROWN BY A LEFT HANDER"6 × 5 = 30 (T) · 5 × 11 = 55 (C) · 11 × 6 = 66 (A) · 9 × 12 = 108 (D) · 3 × 4 = 12 (N) · 4 × 9 = 36 (R) · 9 × 6 = 54 (S) · 4 × 2 = 8 (B) · 7 × 8 = 56 (Y) · 8 × 2 = 16 (M) · 10 × 9 = 90 (F) · 3 × 5 = 15 (O) · 10 × 12 = 120 (L) · 3 × 9 = 27 (W) · 10 × 7 = 70 (E) · 1 × 1 = 1 (H)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SQUEAKY TOY SOUND BLOCKED THEIR SHOT"8819 - 2071 = 6748 (T) · 8810 - 365 = 8445 (A) · 10092 - 2973 = 7119 (N) · 3493 - 281 = 3212 (L) · 5776 - 336 = 5440 (U) · 7079 - 1296 = 5783 (I) · 5566 - 1325 = 4241 (D) · 8569 - 4282 = 4287 (H) · 2409 - 733 = 1676 (Y) · 12643 - 4151 = 8492 (S) · 10566 - 4214 = 6352 (Q) · 3618 - 579 = 3039 (C) · 9723 - 4757 = 4966 (O) · 4774 - 2805 = 1969 (E) · 8487 - 1748 = 6739 (B) · 8962 - 1143 = 7819 (K) · 11918 - 2967 = 8951 (R)
- Clue 4 (Addition): "AN ORANGE THREAD WAS CAUGHT ON THE HOOP"1061 + 1230 = 2291 (A) · 1605 + 1043 = 2648 (C) · 3074 + 1772 = 4846 (R) · 3680 + 4089 = 7769 (D) · 2745 + 4141 = 6886 (U) · 1165 + 1705 = 2870 (E) · 4718 + 4110 = 8828 (P) · 1058 + 2159 = 3217 (O) · 1149 + 1429 = 2578 (S) · 2903 + 3681 = 6584 (H) · 3234 + 4100 = 7334 (W) · 3701 + 5169 = 8870 (G) · 3225 + 5487 = 8712 (N) · 4499 + 4944 = 9443 (T)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Dribbling Danny25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 2 ÷ 2 = 1 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 77 ÷ 11 = 7 · 14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 22 ÷ 2 = 11 · 3 ÷ 1 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Multiplication, Subtraction, Addition, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Whistle Mystery — set in The Championship Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects