⚽ Roblox, Cats, Soccer, MermaiGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4Place valueSkip countingWord problemsBar modelsMissing addends
The Rainbow Reef Soccer Mystery
Someone popped the championship soccer ball right before the kickoff at Meow Mermaid Stadium! Detective Whiskers needs your math skills to figure out which star player turned into a stadium prankster.
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 | Soccer Move | Magic Gear | Kicking Foot | Fur Style | Distraction Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Kerr | Rainbow Dash | Tail Spin | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Leah Williamson | Whiskered Zoom | Star Burst | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Lionel Messi | Pixel Kick | Star Burst | Right Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Alyssa Naeher | Rainbow Dash | Star Burst | Left Footed | Golden Sparkle Fur | Shiny Shells |
| Lucy Bronze | Rainbow Dash | Horn Blast | Right Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Shiny Shells |
| Wendie Renard | Pixel Kick | Horn Blast | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Shiny Shells |
| Mary Earps | Bubble Shield | Star Burst | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Bukayo Saka | Rainbow Dash | Laser Paws | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Kylian Mbappe | Whiskered Zoom | Horn Blast | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Marta Vieira | Whiskered Zoom | Laser Paws | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Soccer Whistles |
| Debinha | Whiskered Zoom | Tail Spin | Right Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Shiny Shells |
| Chloe Kelly | Rainbow Dash | Horn Blast | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Soccer Whistles |
| Christine Sinclair | Whiskered Zoom | Horn Blast | Left Footed | Neon Pink Mane | Soccer Whistles |
| Christian Pulisic | Pixel Kick | Star Burst | Left Footed | Golden Sparkle Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Pixel Kick | Tail Spin | Right Footed | Neon Pink Mane | Catnip Toys |
| Alex Morgan | Sparkle Pass | Star Burst | Right Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Jude Bellingham | Bubble Shield | Horn Blast | Right Footed | Golden Sparkle Fur | Shiny Shells |
| Megan Rapinoe | Bubble Shield | Jelly Float | Right Footed | Neon Pink Mane | Soccer Whistles |
| Son Heungmin | Pixel Kick | Jelly Float | Right Footed | Neon Pink Mane | Soccer Whistles |
| Sophia Smith | Rainbow Dash | Horn Blast | Left Footed | Golden Sparkle Fur | Catnip Toys |
| Pernille Harder | Bubble Shield | Jelly Float | Left Footed | Ocean Blue Fur | Shiny Shells |
Clue 1
Place value
The digital scoreboard at the underwater arena flickered with mysterious place value digit codes.
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
70
3000
700
9000
1000
20
20
900
1000
80
50
500
700
60
80
500
T
70
10
60
700
20
900
60
700
30
90
900
2000
60
What is the value of the 7 in 176?T
What is the value of the 5 in 508?O
What is the value of the 1 in 21,229?I
What is the value of the 8 in 1,080?N
What is the value of the 2 in 32,447?W
What is the value of the 9 in 5,196?P
What is the value of the 2 in 7,327?L
What is the value of the 6 in 460?S
What is the value of the 3 in 73,429?H
What is the value of the 5 in 7,050?D
What is the value of the 3 in 936?R
What is the value of the 9 in 7,984?A
What is the value of the 1 in 210?U
What is the value of the 9 in 39,623?V
What is the value of the 7 in 799?E
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Skip counting
Glowing paw prints skipped across the pitch in repeating counting jump patterns.
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
36
16
10
26
20
26
110
10
42
T
36
80
8
42
80
10
120
33
8
T
36
16
T
36
16
10
8
30
18
10
39
T
36
39
22
22
T
36
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42T
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30S
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ___, 35, 40R
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20H
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26O
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14E
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, ___, 20, 22L
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, ___, 130, 140D
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48C
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, ___, 22, 24U
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45F
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39W
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130P
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100K
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12I
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
Coach Cleo needed to sort out the equipment problems before solving the next clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
C
75
33
66
43
68
47
66
24
Y
S
Captain Purr found 25 unicorn horns yesterday and 50 more today. How many unicorn horns in all?C
Captain Purr found 27 mermaid flags yesterday and 6 more today. How many mermaid flags in all?A
There were 60 mermaid flags. 17 were used up. How many mermaid flags are left?N
Captain Purr lined up 4 rows of 6 glitter soccer balls. How many glitter soccer balls in all?O
Captain Purr found 51 pixel cleats yesterday and 15 more today. How many pixel cleats in all?T
There were 91 unicorn horns. 23 were used up. How many unicorn horns are left?I
Captain Purr found 14 catnip treats yesterday and 33 more today. How many catnip treats in all?P
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Bar model word problems
The referee checked the bar models to compare how much energy was used on the field.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Astrandof hairturnedupatthescene.
O
20
11
40
45
16
31
7
U
40
F
U
R
There were 57 glitter soccer balls in all. 37 glitter soccer balls were used. How many glitter soccer balls are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→O
There were 44 mermaid flags in all. 4 mermaid flags were used. How many mermaid flags are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→E
Captain Purr shares 124 pixel cleats equally among 4 teams. How many pixel cleats does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→B
Captain Purr shares 49 glitter soccer balls equally among 7 teams. How many glitter soccer balls does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→L
Captain Purr has 110 glitter soccer balls, packed 10 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→C
Captain Purr has 2 times as many catnip treats as a teammate. The teammate has 8 catnip treats. How many catnip treats does Captain Purr have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→N
Captain Purr has 5 times as many pixel cleats as a teammate. The teammate has 9 pixel cleats. How many pixel cleats does Captain Purr have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
0/7 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
Some magical catnip balls were missing from the supply box and needed to be added back.
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
7 + ___ = 13
3 + ___ = 7
6 + ___ = 18
10 + ___ = 19
8 + ___ = 9
9 + ___ = 16
6 + ___ = 9
2 + ___ = 12
1 + ___ = 3
8 + ___ = 13
6 + ___ = 14
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain did a pixel kick, then shot a star burst.
2.The villain used rainbow dash, then floated on jelly.
3.The villain threw a sparkle pass, then floated on jelly.
4.The villain used whiskered zoom, then blasted a unicorn horn.
5.The villain did a pixel kick, then floated on jelly.
6.The villain used rainbow dash, then spun a mermaid tail.
7.The villain activated a bubble shield, then spun a mermaid tail.
8.The villain activated a bubble shield, then fired laser paws.
9.The villain activated a bubble shield, then blasted a unicorn horn.
10.The villain threw a sparkle pass, then shot a star burst.
11.The villain activated a bubble shield, then shot a star burst.
12.The villain used whiskered zoom, then shot a star burst.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Rainbow Reef Soccer Mystery
Culprit: Mary Earps (Bubble Shield · Star Burst · Left Footed · Ocean Blue Fur · Catnip Toys)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE LASER PAWS"What is the value of the 7 in 176? = 70 (T) · What is the value of the 5 in 508? = 500 (O) · What is the value of the 1 in 21,229? = 1000 (I) · What is the value of the 8 in 1,080? = 80 (N) · What is the value of the 2 in 32,447? = 2000 (W) · What is the value of the 9 in 5,196? = 90 (P) · What is the value of the 2 in 7,327? = 20 (L) · What is the value of the 6 in 460? = 60 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 73,429? = 3000 (H) · What is the value of the 5 in 7,050? = 50 (D) · What is the value of the 3 in 936? = 30 (R) · What is the value of the 9 in 7,984? = 900 (A) · What is the value of the 1 in 210? = 10 (U) · What is the value of the 9 in 39,623? = 9000 (V) · What is the value of the 7 in 799? = 700 (E)
- Clue 2 (Skip counting): "THE SUSPECT KICKED WITH THEIR LEFT FOOT"Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (T) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30 = 26 (S) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ___, 35, 40 = 30 (R) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ___, 18, 20 = 16 (H) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26 = 22 (O) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___, 12, 14 = 10 (E) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, ___, 20, 22 = 18 (L) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, ___, 130, 140 = 120 (D) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48 = 42 (C) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, ___, 22, 24 = 20 (U) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (F) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, ___, 36, 39 = 33 (W) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, ___, 120, 130 = 110 (P) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100 = 80 (K) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12 = 8 (I)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "CATNIP TOYS"Captain Purr found 25 unicorn horns yesterday and 50 more today. How many unicorn horns in all? = 75 (C) · Captain Purr found 27 mermaid flags yesterday and 6 more today. How many mermaid flags in all? = 33 (A) · There were 60 mermaid flags. 17 were used up. How many mermaid flags are left? = 43 (N) · Captain Purr lined up 4 rows of 6 glitter soccer balls. How many glitter soccer balls in all? = 24 (O) · Captain Purr found 51 pixel cleats yesterday and 15 more today. How many pixel cleats in all? = 66 (T) · There were 91 unicorn horns. 23 were used up. How many unicorn horns are left? = 68 (I) · Captain Purr found 14 catnip treats yesterday and 33 more today. How many catnip treats in all? = 47 (P)
- Clue 4 (Bar model word problems): "OCEAN BLUE FUR"There were 57 glitter soccer balls in all. 37 glitter soccer balls were used. How many glitter soccer balls are left? = 20 (O) · There were 44 mermaid flags in all. 4 mermaid flags were used. How many mermaid flags are left? = 40 (E) · Captain Purr shares 124 pixel cleats equally among 4 teams. How many pixel cleats does each team get? = 31 (B) · Captain Purr shares 49 glitter soccer balls equally among 7 teams. How many glitter soccer balls does each team get? = 7 (L) · Captain Purr has 110 glitter soccer balls, packed 10 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 11 (C) · Captain Purr has 2 times as many catnip treats as a teammate. The teammate has 8 catnip treats. How many catnip treats does Captain Purr have? = 16 (N) · Captain Purr has 5 times as many pixel cleats as a teammate. The teammate has 9 pixel cleats. How many pixel cleats does Captain Purr have? = 45 (A)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 11) → Mary Earps7 + ___ = 13 = 6 · 3 + ___ = 7 = 4 · 6 + ___ = 18 = 12 · 10 + ___ = 19 = 9 · 8 + ___ = 9 = 1 · 9 + ___ = 16 = 7 · 6 + ___ = 9 = 3 · 2 + ___ = 12 = 10 · 1 + ___ = 3 = 2 · 8 + ___ = 13 = 5 · 6 + ___ = 14 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Skip counting, Word problems, Bar models, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Rainbow Reef Soccer Mystery — set in Meow Mermaid Stadium on Block Island
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects