⚽ All of the footballs are misGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4MultiplicationSkip countingSubtractionPlace valueDivision

The Cal Blue Football Caper

Welcome to Cal Blue Summer Camp! Disaster has struck. Just before the big championship game, someone stole all the footballs! Coach Blue needs your help. Use your math skills to crack the codes, track down the clues, and find the sneaky camp thief before kick-off!

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	Camp Gear	Sneaky Skill	Throwing Hand	Hair Chalk	Weakness
Jared Goff	Turbo Cleats	Silent Sneak	Right Handed	Gold Chalk	Loud Whistle
Aaron Rodgers	Megaphone	Shadow Crawl	Right Handed	Blue Chalk	Loud Whistle
Saquon Barkley	Laser Visor	Silent Sneak	Right Handed	Gold Chalk	Loud Whistle
Derrick Henry	Golden Whistle	Super Sprint	Right Handed	White Chalk	Loud Whistle
Patrick Mahomes	Sticky Gloves	Silent Sneak	Left Handed	White Chalk	Loud Whistle
Jalen Hurts	Sticky Gloves	High Jump	Left Handed	Blue Chalk	Squeaky Shoes
Dak Prescott	Laser Visor	High Jump	Left Handed	Blue Chalk	Wet Grass
Kirk Cousins	Sticky Gloves	Silent Sneak	Left Handed	Gold Chalk	Loud Whistle
T J Watt	Laser Visor	Shadow Crawl	Left Handed	Blue Chalk	Loud Whistle
Tom Brady	Laser Visor	Super Sprint	Left Handed	Gold Chalk	Squeaky Shoes
George Kittle	Laser Visor	Grass Disguise	Right Handed	Blue Chalk	Loud Whistle
Stefon Diggs	Turbo Cleats	Grass Disguise	Right Handed	Blue Chalk	Loud Whistle
Josh Allen	Megaphone	High Jump	Right Handed	Blue Chalk	Loud Whistle
Travis Kelce	Golden Whistle	High Jump	Right Handed	Gold Chalk	Wet Grass
Tyreek Hill	Megaphone	Grass Disguise	Right Handed	White Chalk	Squeaky Shoes
Christian McCaffrey	Megaphone	Shadow Crawl	Left Handed	Gold Chalk	Squeaky Shoes
Joe Burrow	Sticky Gloves	High Jump	Left Handed	White Chalk	Squeaky Shoes
Justin Jefferson	Megaphone	Silent Sneak	Right Handed	Blue Chalk	Wet Grass
Lamar Jackson	Sticky Gloves	Grass Disguise	Left Handed	Blue Chalk	Wet Grass
Deebo Samuel	Sticky Gloves	Grass Disguise	Right Handed	Blue Chalk	Wet Grass
Russell Wilson	Turbo Cleats	Silent Sneak	Right Handed	Blue Chalk	Loud Whistle

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

We found empty equipment boxes stacked in four neat rows of five. Multiply the rows to unlock the secret message.

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

132

121

132

144

110

11 × 12 =T

5 × 4 =M

1 × 7 =I

11 × 11 =C

2 × 6 =H

12 × 12 =J

9 × 5 =U

7 × 7 =A

1 × 1 =E

11 × 10 =P

6 × 3 =D

9 × 4 =G

12 × 7 =N

7 × 11 =F

11 × 3 =O

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Skip counting

We follow a trail of mud drops on the grass. We must skip count by tens along the yard lines to find the note.

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

Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10T

Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70A

Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65G

Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55F

Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15E

Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26N

Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32D

Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75R

Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, ___, 45, 50W

Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42H

Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35I

Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12S

0/12 letters found

Clue 3

Subtraction

The equipment room started with eighty cones but now only forty remains. Subtract the difference to reveal the 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.

133

397

503

285

840

273

854

724

804

503

750

273

123

866

348

133

397

804

840

342 - 209 =S

966 - 216 =U

1188 - 322 =H

919 - 79 =E

621 - 336 =P

447 - 99 =I

464 - 67 =T

944 - 90 =B

835 - 111 =Y

295 - 172 =W

929 - 125 =L

580 - 77 =O

586 - 313 =D

0/13 letters found

Clue 4

Place value (tens & ones)

The digital camp scoreboard was tampered with. Look at the number in the hundreds place to crack the safe combination.

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

What number has 2 tens and 1 one?F

What number has 6 tens and 0 ones?C

What number has 4 tens and 2 ones?K

What number has 8 tens and 3 ones?T

What number has 4 tens and 3 ones?S

What number has 2 tens and 9 ones?D

What number has 5 tens and 4 ones?H

What number has 4 tens and 9 ones?A

What number has 7 tens and 5 ones?O

What number has 1 ten and 9 ones?B

What number has 6 tens and 2 ones?N

What number has 9 tens and 0 ones?E

What number has 3 tens and 8 ones?U

What number has 3 tens and 9 ones?L

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

We have twelve energy bars to share equally among three camp counselors. Division will tell us who to question next.

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

24 ÷ 8 = ?

42 ÷ 6 = ?

63 ÷ 7 = ?

30 ÷ 5 = ?

72 ÷ 6 = ?

132 ÷ 12 = ?

4 ÷ 2 = ?

48 ÷ 12 = ?

16 ÷ 2 = ?

60 ÷ 6 = ?

5 ÷ 5 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain scoops up the practice balls, then stuffs them in a giant backpack.

2.The villain sprints past the field, then stuffs them in a giant backpack.

3.The villain scoops up the practice balls, then buries them in the sandbox.

4.The villain scoops up the practice balls, then hides them in the woods.

5.The villain sprints past the field, then hides them in the woods.

6.The villain sneaks into the locker room, then buries them in the sandbox.

7.The villain sprints past the field, then tucks them under the bleachers.

8.The villain sneaks into the locker room, then rolls them down the hill.

9.The villain sneaks into the locker room, then hides them in the woods.

10.The villain snatches the ball bag, then stuffs them in a giant backpack.

11.The villain sneaks into the locker room, then stuffs them in a giant backpack.

12.The villain scoops up the practice balls, then rolls them down the hill.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Cal Blue Football Caper

Culprit: Stefon Diggs (Turbo Cleats · Grass Disguise · Right Handed · Blue Chalk · Loud Whistle)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE THIEF CANNOT DO A HIGH JUMP"
11 × 12 = 132 (T) · 5 × 4 = 20 (M) · 1 × 7 = 7 (I) · 11 × 11 = 121 (C) · 2 × 6 = 12 (H) · 12 × 12 = 144 (J) · 9 × 5 = 45 (U) · 7 × 7 = 49 (A) · 1 × 1 = 1 (E) · 11 × 10 = 110 (P) · 6 × 3 = 18 (D) · 9 × 4 = 36 (G) · 12 × 7 = 84 (N) · 7 × 11 = 77 (F) · 11 × 3 = 33 (O)
Clue 2 (Skip counting): "THE THIEF WAS RIGHT HANDED"
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (T) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70 = 50 (A) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65 = 55 (G) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (F) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, ___, 12, 15 = 9 (E) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26 = 22 (N) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (D) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, ___, 70, 75 = 65 (R) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, ___, 45, 50 = 40 (W) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (H) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (I) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12 = 8 (S)
Clue 3 (Subtraction): "STOPPED BY LOUD WHISTLE"
342 - 209 = 133 (S) · 966 - 216 = 750 (U) · 1188 - 322 = 866 (H) · 919 - 79 = 840 (E) · 621 - 336 = 285 (P) · 447 - 99 = 348 (I) · 464 - 67 = 397 (T) · 944 - 90 = 854 (B) · 835 - 111 = 724 (Y) · 295 - 172 = 123 (W) · 929 - 125 = 804 (L) · 580 - 77 = 503 (O) · 586 - 313 = 273 (D)
Clue 4 (Place value (tens & ones)): "FOUND BLUE CHALK DUST"
What number has 2 tens and 1 one? = 21 (F) · What number has 6 tens and 0 ones? = 60 (C) · What number has 4 tens and 2 ones? = 42 (K) · What number has 8 tens and 3 ones? = 83 (T) · What number has 4 tens and 3 ones? = 43 (S) · What number has 2 tens and 9 ones? = 29 (D) · What number has 5 tens and 4 ones? = 54 (H) · What number has 4 tens and 9 ones? = 49 (A) · What number has 7 tens and 5 ones? = 75 (O) · What number has 1 ten and 9 ones? = 19 (B) · What number has 6 tens and 2 ones? = 62 (N) · What number has 9 tens and 0 ones? = 90 (E) · What number has 3 tens and 8 ones? = 38 (U) · What number has 3 tens and 9 ones? = 39 (L)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 5) → Stefon Diggs
24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 16 ÷ 2 = 8 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 5 ÷ 5 = 1

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 3 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Skip counting, Subtraction, Place value, Division
Reading level: grades 3-4
Theme: The Cal Blue Football Caper — set in Cal Blue Summer Camp fields and locker rooms
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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