The Case of the Crumbling Goalposts
Oh no! The Sunny Meadow Soccer League's championship game is ruined! Someone has sabotaged the goalposts, making them wobble and fall. Coach Connie needs the best young detectives to figure out which prankster is responsible before the big match.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Speed | Dribbling Skill | Player Type | Jersey Color | Fumble Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maya | Comet | Sticky Feet | Defender | Blue Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Finn | Rocket | Bounce Pass | Forward | Red Jersey | Lost Ball |
| Hugo | Blur | Ball Magnet | Forward | Blue Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Will | Comet | Toe Tap | Forward | Blue Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Sam | Comet | Toe Tap | Forward | Blue Jersey | Lost Ball |
| Jake | Blur | Ball Magnet | Forward | Blue Jersey | Lost Ball |
| Tessa | Rocket | Sticky Feet | Forward | Red Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Xena | Whirlwind | Toe Tap | Forward | Red Jersey | Winded |
| Cathy | Whirlwind | Bounce Pass | Forward | Blue Jersey | Lost Ball |
| Benji | Whirlwind | Heel Kick | Defender | Blue Jersey | Lost Ball |
| Paul | Rocket | Ball Magnet | Forward | Blue Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Alexia | Flash | Bounce Pass | Defender | Blue Jersey | Lost Ball |
| Eliza | Comet | Sticky Feet | Forward | Green Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Quinn | Rocket | Bounce Pass | Forward | Green Jersey | Winded |
| Ivy | Whirlwind | Ball Magnet | Forward | Blue Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Kira | Rocket | Toe Tap | Forward | Red Jersey | Winded |
| Ulysses | Rocket | Bounce Pass | Forward | Green Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| David | Flash | Sticky Feet | Defender | Green Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Riley | Whirlwind | Heel Kick | Forward | Blue Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
| Olivia | Whirlwind | Heel Kick | Forward | Blue Jersey | Lost Ball |
| Violet | Flash | Toe Tap | Defender | Red Jersey | Slippery Cleats |
Rounding
Coach Connie checked the game clock readings after the goalposts were damaged. The display only showed rounded numbers, making it hard to tell the exact time the prank happened.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Addition
To get the goalposts back up, the groundskeeper counted all the spare parts needed. He tallied them up to see if he had enough.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Subtraction
The prankster had to quickly hide the tools they used. They had to figure out how many fewer tools they had after stuffing them into their bag.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The team manager was organizing the extra soccer balls. She arranged them in neat rows to see how many there were in total.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
After the prank, the prankster tried to split the remaining snacks with their friends. They wanted to make sure everyone got an equal share.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Crumbling Goalposts
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE PRANKSTER WAS NOT USING THE BALL MAGNET SKILL DURING THE SABOTAGE"Round 8,577 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (T) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (L) · Round 7,856 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (E) · Round 6,498 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (U) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (G) · Round 79 to the nearest ten = 80 (A) · Round 880 to the nearest hundred = 900 (D) · Round 530 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 1,985 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (I) · Round 2,782 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (S) · Round 7,218 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (N) · Round 5,368 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (P) · Round 764 to the nearest hundred = 800 (K) · Round 357 to the nearest hundred = 400 (M) · Round 36 to the nearest ten = 40 (H) · Round 734 to the nearest hundred = 700 (O) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (B) · Round 559 to the nearest hundred = 600 (R)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE PRANKSTER WAS A FORWARD"332 + 183 = 515 (T) · 215 + 171 = 386 (S) · 235 + 387 = 622 (N) · 126 + 267 = 393 (H) · 301 + 640 = 941 (R) · 579 + 263 = 842 (K) · 369 + 414 = 783 (D) · 85 + 199 = 284 (P) · 154 + 198 = 352 (A) · 405 + 477 = 882 (E) · 668 + 320 = 988 (W) · 607 + 368 = 975 (O) · 302 + 215 = 517 (F)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE PRANKSTER DROPPED THE SLIPPERY CLEATS"878 - 128 = 750 (T) · 881 - 206 = 675 (L) · 660 - 212 = 448 (N) · 870 - 84 = 786 (O) · 327 - 173 = 154 (I) · 524 - 329 = 195 (A) · 324 - 222 = 102 (S) · 1004 - 390 = 614 (D) · 256 - 106 = 150 (P) · 448 - 79 = 369 (H) · 750 - 129 = 621 (R) · 508 - 31 = 477 (E) · 427 - 311 = 116 (C) · 300 - 149 = 151 (K) · 911 - 389 = 522 (Y)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE PRANKSTER WAS WEARING THE BLUE JERSEY"1 × 5 = 5 (T) · 10 × 10 = 100 (B) · 3 × 6 = 18 (K) · 2 × 1 = 2 (S) · 11 × 4 = 44 (L) · 12 × 8 = 96 (P) · 7 × 7 = 49 (I) · 11 × 1 = 11 (U) · 12 × 3 = 36 (H) · 4 × 8 = 32 (N) · 1 × 10 = 10 (E) · 7 × 4 = 28 (G) · 3 × 5 = 15 (A) · 7 × 1 = 7 (W) · 2 × 10 = 20 (R) · 7 × 10 = 70 (Y) · 1 × 4 = 4 (J)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Paul28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 2 ÷ 1 = 2 · 132 ÷ 11 = 12 · 132 ÷ 12 = 11 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 25 ÷ 5 = 5 · 9 ÷ 3 = 3 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 42 ÷ 7 = 6
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Crumbling Goalposts — set in The Sunny Meadow Soccer League
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects