🏀 BasketballGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationRoundingAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Big Court Caper

The golden championship trophy has vanished right before the final buzzer! A mysterious player snuck onto the court and snatched it. We need to find the culprit among the players before the game starts!

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	Court Hairstyle	Court Weakness
Derrick Rose	sky hook	wrist bands	left handed	wild afro	slippery floors
Giannis	three pointer	wrist bands	left handed	wild afro	squeaky shoes
Chris Paul	spin move	neon socks	right handed	wild afro	squeaky shoes
Kevin Durant	sky hook	shiny sneakers	left handed	wild afro	loud whistles
Kyrie Irving	sky hook	neon socks	right handed	cool buzzcut	squeaky shoes
Kobe Bryant	spin move	red headband	left handed	wild afro	loud whistles
Allen Iverson	three pointer	gold chain	left handed	cool buzzcut	slippery floors
Stephen Curry	alley oop	gold chain	left handed	wild afro	loud whistles
Damian Lillard	three pointer	wrist bands	right handed	wild afro	squeaky shoes
Magic Johnson	monster dunk	gold chain	right handed	high ponytail	squeaky shoes
Jimmy Butler	spin move	neon socks	left handed	wild afro	squeaky shoes
James Harden	alley oop	gold chain	right handed	wild afro	squeaky shoes
Kawhi Leonard	sky hook	red headband	left handed	cool buzzcut	loud whistles
Yao Ming	three pointer	red headband	right handed	high ponytail	squeaky shoes
Anthony Davis	sky hook	wrist bands	right handed	cool buzzcut	slippery floors
Larry Bird	sky hook	red headband	right handed	wild afro	loud whistles
Reggie Miller	three pointer	shiny sneakers	right handed	cool buzzcut	slippery floors
Steve Nash	sky hook	gold chain	right handed	wild afro	squeaky shoes
Shaquille	three pointer	red headband	right handed	wild afro	squeaky shoes
LeBron James	alley oop	red headband	right handed	high ponytail	squeaky shoes
Michael Jordan	spin move	red headband	left handed	wild afro	squeaky shoes

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We find a crate of sports drinks arranged in perfect rows on the court. Let us multiply the rows to count them and get our first 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.

121

8 × 8 =T

12 × 3 =D

2 × 1 =O

7 × 9 =R

5 × 11 =W

4 × 10 =B

6 × 5 =Y

9 × 5 =E

7 × 6 =H

8 × 12 =I

3 × 5 =K

9 × 1 =S

7 × 1 =A

11 × 11 =N

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Rounding

The electronic scoreboard took a hit and now only displays estimated scores. Rounding the numbers will reveal 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.

6000

800

600

8000

300

800

6000

800

5000

3000

200

600

3000

6000

800

2000

200

Round 6,169 to the nearest thousandT

Round 29 to the nearest tenO

Round 819 to the nearest hundredH

Round 3,330 to the nearest thousandP

Round 93 to the nearest tenA

Round 41 to the nearest tenY

Round 54 to the nearest tenD

Round 609 to the nearest hundredR

Round 339 to the nearest hundredG

Round 218 to the nearest hundredL

Round 5,346 to the nearest thousandN

Round 68 to the nearest tenE

Round 1,888 to the nearest thousandB

Round 7,871 to the nearest thousandI

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

A stack of basketballs is piled up near the bench. Adding them all together gives us the perfect total for our third 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.

984

375

311

899

616

300

606

984

699

808

899

984

648

961

700

282

616

300

899

479

699

899

229

311

700

965

743

961

479

743

961

965

605 + 379 =S

310 + 169 =T

355 + 251 =Y

541 + 267 =O

269 + 630 =E

119 + 192 =U

319 + 642 =I

355 + 293 =W

235 + 381 =A

243 + 456 =H

246 + 497 =R

531 + 434 =P

118 + 111 =C

200 + 100 =K

174 + 201 =Q

189 + 93 =M

232 + 468 =L

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

The equipment manager notices some high top sneakers are missing from the rack. Subtracting the left behind shoes yields our fourth 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.

411

168

644

361

346

411

853

223

274

166

411

644

223

168

411

718

452

500

876

611

274

885

452

166

141

166

274

547

513 - 102 =A

755 - 255 =U

648 - 302 =D

1019 - 134 =N

555 - 389 =H

551 - 4 =P

380 - 239 =E

415 - 141 =O

1003 - 127 =C

1025 - 307 =S

1176 - 323 =F

588 - 136 =T

981 - 370 =K

225 - 57 =W

947 - 303 =I

526 - 303 =R

488 - 127 =L

0/17 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The coach needs to split the remaining training cones equally among the active drills. Dividing them up gives us our 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

30 ÷ 5 = ?

80 ÷ 8 = ?

8 ÷ 4 = ?

33 ÷ 3 = ?

6 ÷ 6 = ?

9 ÷ 1 = ?

7 ÷ 1 = ?

50 ÷ 10 = ?

36 ÷ 3 = ?

72 ÷ 9 = ?

27 ÷ 9 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain dribbled past the guards, then took the team playbook.

2.The villain faked out the security, then stole the game balls.

3.The villain jumped over the turnstile, then grabbed the golden whistle.

4.The villain sneaked into the locker room, then swiped the championship trophy.

5.The villain faked out the security, then swiped the championship trophy.

6.The villain dashed across the court, then grabbed the golden whistle.

7.The villain dashed across the court, then hid the mascot outfit.

8.The villain sneaked into the locker room, then hid the mascot outfit.

9.The villain jumped over the turnstile, then hid the mascot outfit.

10.The villain jumped over the turnstile, then swiped the championship trophy.

11.The villain dribbled past the guards, then grabbed the golden whistle.

12.The villain dashed across the court, then swiped the championship trophy.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Big Court Caper

Culprit: Steve Nash (sky hook · gold chain · right handed · wild afro · squeaky shoes)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SNEAKY SHOOTER DOES NOT WEAR WRIST BANDS"
8 × 8 = 64 (T) · 12 × 3 = 36 (D) · 2 × 1 = 2 (O) · 7 × 9 = 63 (R) · 5 × 11 = 55 (W) · 4 × 10 = 40 (B) · 6 × 5 = 30 (Y) · 9 × 5 = 45 (E) · 7 × 6 = 42 (H) · 8 × 12 = 96 (I) · 3 × 5 = 15 (K) · 9 × 1 = 9 (S) · 7 × 1 = 7 (A) · 11 × 11 = 121 (N)
Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE RIGHT HANDED PLAYER DROPPED THE BALL"
Round 6,169 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (T) · Round 29 to the nearest ten = 30 (O) · Round 819 to the nearest hundred = 800 (H) · Round 3,330 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (P) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (A) · Round 41 to the nearest ten = 40 (Y) · Round 54 to the nearest ten = 50 (D) · Round 609 to the nearest hundred = 600 (R) · Round 339 to the nearest hundred = 300 (G) · Round 218 to the nearest hundred = 200 (L) · Round 5,346 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (N) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (E) · Round 1,888 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (B) · Round 7,871 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (I)
Clue 3 (Addition): "SQUEAKY SHOES WILL MAKE THE CULPRIT TRIP"
605 + 379 = 984 (S) · 310 + 169 = 479 (T) · 355 + 251 = 606 (Y) · 541 + 267 = 808 (O) · 269 + 630 = 899 (E) · 119 + 192 = 311 (U) · 319 + 642 = 961 (I) · 355 + 293 = 648 (W) · 235 + 381 = 616 (A) · 243 + 456 = 699 (H) · 246 + 497 = 743 (R) · 531 + 434 = 965 (P) · 118 + 111 = 229 (C) · 200 + 100 = 300 (K) · 174 + 201 = 375 (Q) · 189 + 93 = 282 (M) · 232 + 468 = 700 (L)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "A WILD AFRO HAIR WAS STUCK ON THE HOOP"
513 - 102 = 411 (A) · 755 - 255 = 500 (U) · 648 - 302 = 346 (D) · 1019 - 134 = 885 (N) · 555 - 389 = 166 (H) · 551 - 4 = 547 (P) · 380 - 239 = 141 (E) · 415 - 141 = 274 (O) · 1003 - 127 = 876 (C) · 1025 - 307 = 718 (S) · 1176 - 323 = 853 (F) · 588 - 136 = 452 (T) · 981 - 370 = 611 (K) · 225 - 57 = 168 (W) · 947 - 303 = 644 (I) · 526 - 303 = 223 (R) · 488 - 127 = 361 (L)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Steve Nash
30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 80 ÷ 8 = 10 · 8 ÷ 4 = 2 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 50 ÷ 10 = 5 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 72 ÷ 9 = 8 · 27 ÷ 9 = 3

About this mystery

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

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