🏀 BasketballGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingMultiplicationAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Big Championship Heist

The golden championship basketball has disappeared from the display case right before the playoff game! We need to follow the clues, track down the sneaky thief, and save the tournament before the final buzzer!

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	Defense Weakness
Giannis	Half-court hook shot	Stripey tall socks	Right-handed shooter	Red stripe headband	Loud crowd cheers
Kevin	No-look bounce pass	Glowing wristband	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Double team defense
Kyrie	No-look bounce pass	Stripey tall socks	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Double team defense
Nikola	Behind-the-back dribble	Squeaky neon sneakers	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Double team defense
Trae	No-look bounce pass	Stripey tall socks	Left-handed shooter	Red stripe headband	Loud crowd cheers
Jimmy	No-look bounce pass	Slick silver elbow pad	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Double team defense
Zion	Backboard-shaking slam dunk	Slick silver elbow pad	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Double team defense
Chris	No-look bounce pass	Stripey tall socks	Left-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Double team defense
Draymond	Backboard-shaking slam dunk	Slick silver elbow pad	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Slippery court wax
Anthony	Behind-the-back dribble	Stripey tall socks	Left-handed shooter	Blue star headband	Double team defense
Russell	Half-court hook shot	Glowing wristband	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Double team defense
James	Backboard-shaking slam dunk	Stripey tall socks	Left-handed shooter	Blue star headband	Double team defense
Shaq	Half-court hook shot	Stripey tall socks	Right-handed shooter	Red stripe headband	Double team defense
Ja	Behind-the-back dribble	Glowing wristband	Left-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Slippery court wax
Luka	Behind-the-back dribble	Squeaky neon sneakers	Left-handed shooter	Red stripe headband	Slippery court wax
LeBron	No-look bounce pass	Stripey tall socks	Right-handed shooter	Blue star headband	Double team defense
Joel	No-look bounce pass	Squeaky neon sneakers	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Loud crowd cheers
Kobe	Half-court hook shot	Slick silver elbow pad	Right-handed shooter	Green lightning headband	Double team defense
Jayson	Half-court hook shot	Gold whistle	Right-handed shooter	Blue star headband	Double team defense
Kawhi	Half-court hook shot	Gold whistle	Left-handed shooter	Blue star headband	Slippery court wax
Steph	No-look bounce pass	Stripey tall socks	Right-handed shooter	Blue star headband	Loud crowd cheers

Clue 1

Rounding

We checked the speed radar on the thief's fast break. The radar screen only shows rounded numbers, but calculating the nearest ten gives us our first major lead!

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

900

370

1300

900

370

2000

1300

1700

3700

1300

7000

2900

900

300

1300

170

5000

900

370

1300

9000

300

1100

170

3700

Round 909 to the nearest hundredT

Round 292 to the nearest hundredW

Round 1,718 to the nearest thousandI

Round 1,347 to the nearest hundredE

Round 1,670 to the nearest hundredF

Round 28 to the nearest tenL

Round 1,124 to the nearest hundredP

Round 171 to the nearest tenA

Round 6,860 to the nearest thousandS

Round 5,007 to the nearest thousandR

Round 2,905 to the nearest hundredN

Round 9,173 to the nearest thousandB

Round 3,651 to the nearest hundredD

Round 371 to the nearest tenH

Round 68 to the nearest tenO

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We found several crates of practice balls left behind in the gym. Multiplying the rows of balls in each crate will help us unlock the next clue!

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

110

11 × 2 =T

3 × 11 =B

6 × 8 =L

2 × 6 =A

11 × 9 =W

7 × 1 =H

10 × 7 =R

3 × 1 =D

3 × 6 =O

11 × 10 =N

8 × 5 =S

1 × 1 =E

10 × 8 =G

7 × 9 =I

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

Let's tally up all the jersey numbers of the players who saw the runner. Adding these numbers together reveals the third secret!

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

3369

4002

3699

3369

4002

3674

3699

6508

2722

7703

9127

3356

3699

6142

9250

4002

3699

4420

3369

9250

6935

6142

3699

6508

3699

4420

6142

3699

2742

5904

2742

9146

4420

2722

2872

1786 + 1583 =T

1577 + 1165 =R

3392 + 3543 =O

1760 + 1914 =I

3016 + 1404 =N

2030 + 1669 =E

2310 + 3594 =S

1984 + 888 =P

2000 + 4508 =F

1207 + 2795 =H

2917 + 3225 =D

5084 + 4166 =W

5661 + 3466 =B

3838 + 5308 =A

1408 + 1314 =U

1883 + 1473 =L

4217 + 3486 =M

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The thief let air out of some official basketballs to slow down our pursuit. Subtracting the flat balls from the pumped ones gives us a brand new hint!

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

4126

5930

7349

3999

2886

7890

3466

5930

5916

7939

2886

3466

2886

5930

1361

4126

2886

2468

7765

4126

1567

7890

3999

7287

7939

1530

2886

7939

5916

3999

5916

1530

8559

8620 - 4494 =A

6537 - 621 =H

4030 - 1144 =N

6079 - 149 =G

2786 - 1219 =S

7759 - 4293 =I

9426 - 1536 =L

4308 - 2947 =B

10676 - 3389 =F

8284 - 935 =R

12760 - 4201 =P

4652 - 2184 =D

11509 - 3570 =T

6361 - 4831 =O

12035 - 4270 =W

5417 - 1418 =E

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

We need to divide our rookie scouts into equal teams to search the upper decks. Solving this division problem reveals 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

3 ÷ 1 = ?

5 ÷ 5 = ?

36 ÷ 6 = ?

36 ÷ 3 = ?

64 ÷ 8 = ?

20 ÷ 10 = ?

11 ÷ 1 = ?

35 ÷ 7 = ?

45 ÷ 5 = ?

36 ÷ 9 = ?

30 ÷ 3 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain faked everyone out with a no-look bounce pass, then dashed off in stripey tall socks.

2.The villain crossed up the guard with an ankle-breaker crossover, then flashed a glowing wristband in the dark.

3.The villain faked everyone out with a no-look bounce pass, then flashed a glowing wristband in the dark.

4.The villain faked everyone out with a no-look bounce pass, then adjusted a slick silver elbow pad.

5.The villain dribbled behind their back to escape, then flashed a glowing wristband in the dark.

6.The villain dribbled behind their back to escape, then squeaked away in neon sneakers.

7.The villain pulled off a half-court hook shot, then flashed a glowing wristband in the dark.

8.The villain crossed up the guard with an ankle-breaker crossover, then adjusted a slick silver elbow pad.

9.The villain faked everyone out with a no-look bounce pass, then squeaked away in neon sneakers.

10.The villain shook the hoop with a slam dunk, then flashed a glowing wristband in the dark.

11.The villain shook the hoop with a slam dunk, then blew a gold whistle to distract the referee.

12.The villain pulled off a half-court hook shot, then adjusted a slick silver elbow pad.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Big Championship Heist

Culprit: Russell (Half-court hook shot · Glowing wristband · Right-handed shooter · Green lightning headband · Double team defense)

Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR THE ELBOW PAD"
Round 909 to the nearest hundred = 900 (T) · Round 292 to the nearest hundred = 300 (W) · Round 1,718 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (I) · Round 1,347 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (E) · Round 1,670 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (F) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (L) · Round 1,124 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (P) · Round 171 to the nearest ten = 170 (A) · Round 6,860 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (S) · Round 5,007 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (R) · Round 2,905 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (N) · Round 9,173 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (B) · Round 3,651 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (D) · Round 371 to the nearest ten = 370 (H) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (O)
Clue 2 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE BALL WAS THROWN WITH THE RIGHT HAND"
11 × 2 = 22 (T) · 3 × 11 = 33 (B) · 6 × 8 = 48 (L) · 2 × 6 = 12 (A) · 11 × 9 = 99 (W) · 7 × 1 = 7 (H) · 10 × 7 = 70 (R) · 3 × 1 = 3 (D) · 3 × 6 = 18 (O) · 11 × 10 = 110 (N) · 8 × 5 = 40 (S) · 1 × 1 = 1 (E) · 10 × 8 = 80 (G) · 7 × 9 = 63 (I)
Clue 3 (Addition): "THE THIEF FUMBLED WHEN TWO DEFENDERS RAN UP"
1786 + 1583 = 3369 (T) · 1577 + 1165 = 2742 (R) · 3392 + 3543 = 6935 (O) · 1760 + 1914 = 3674 (I) · 3016 + 1404 = 4420 (N) · 2030 + 1669 = 3699 (E) · 2310 + 3594 = 5904 (S) · 1984 + 888 = 2872 (P) · 2000 + 4508 = 6508 (F) · 1207 + 2795 = 4002 (H) · 2917 + 3225 = 6142 (D) · 5084 + 4166 = 9250 (W) · 5661 + 3466 = 9127 (B) · 3838 + 5308 = 9146 (A) · 1408 + 1314 = 2722 (U) · 1883 + 1473 = 3356 (L) · 4217 + 3486 = 7703 (M)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A GREEN LIGHTNING BAND WAS LEFT ON THE HOOP"
8620 - 4494 = 4126 (A) · 6537 - 621 = 5916 (H) · 4030 - 1144 = 2886 (N) · 6079 - 149 = 5930 (G) · 2786 - 1219 = 1567 (S) · 7759 - 4293 = 3466 (I) · 9426 - 1536 = 7890 (L) · 4308 - 2947 = 1361 (B) · 10676 - 3389 = 7287 (F) · 8284 - 935 = 7349 (R) · 12760 - 4201 = 8559 (P) · 4652 - 2184 = 2468 (D) · 11509 - 3570 = 7939 (T) · 6361 - 4831 = 1530 (O) · 12035 - 4270 = 7765 (W) · 5417 - 1418 = 3999 (E)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 7) → Russell
3 ÷ 1 = 3 · 5 ÷ 5 = 1 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 64 ÷ 8 = 8 · 20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 35 ÷ 7 = 5 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 4 math
Math topics: Rounding, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Big Championship Heist — set in Hoop Town Arena
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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