⚽ SoccerGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4RoundingWord problemsBar modelsAdditionDivision
The Case of the Golden Soccer Ball
The Golden Soccer Ball has vanished right before the big tournament! The Head Coach needs your help. One of the star players has taken it, and we must find out who before the opening whistle blows.
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 | Preferred Foot | Hair Style | Big Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Bronze | diving save | laser headband | left footed | orange headband hair | squeaky toy |
| Robert Lewandowski | rocket shot | silver whistle | left footed | orange headband hair | shiny trophy |
| Antoine Griezmann | rocket shot | silver whistle | right footed | orange headband hair | shiny trophy |
| Jamal Musiala | power header | laser headband | left footed | orange headband hair | shiny trophy |
| Luka Modric | speed dribble | neon cleats | left footed | spiky green hair | muddy grass |
| Virgil van Dijk | diving save | laser headband | left footed | spiky green hair | squeaky toy |
| Harry Kane | diving save | laser headband | left footed | braided blue hair | squeaky toy |
| Jude Bellingham | bicycle kick | neon cleats | left footed | spiky green hair | shiny trophy |
| Bukayo Saka | rocket shot | silver whistle | right footed | braided blue hair | squeaky toy |
| Sam Kerr | rocket shot | golden shin guards | left footed | orange headband hair | shiny trophy |
| Alphonso Davies | power header | golden shin guards | left footed | orange headband hair | shiny trophy |
| Lionel Messi | rocket shot | golden shin guards | left footed | orange headband hair | muddy grass |
| Mo Salah | rocket shot | neon cleats | left footed | orange headband hair | squeaky toy |
| Kevin De Bruyne | diving save | golden shin guards | left footed | orange headband hair | shiny trophy |
| Kylian Mbappe | bicycle kick | neon cleats | right footed | braided blue hair | squeaky toy |
| Alex Morgan | power header | silver whistle | left footed | braided blue hair | shiny trophy |
| Christian Pulisic | power header | laser headband | right footed | braided blue hair | squeaky toy |
| Marcus Rashford | speed dribble | grip gloves | right footed | spiky green hair | shiny trophy |
| Erling Haaland | diving save | golden shin guards | right footed | braided blue hair | shiny trophy |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | speed dribble | silver whistle | right footed | orange headband hair | shiny trophy |
| Son Heungmin | bicycle kick | laser headband | left footed | braided blue hair | squeaky toy |
Clue 1
Rounding
The coach draws a bar model on the tactics board. It compares the teams training hours to help us find the 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.
T
80
600
5000
4000
200
5000
8000
50
9000
300
5000
4000
200
300
T
80
500
5000
8000
40
8000
70
8000
4000
5000
40
600
5000
8000
9000
6000
8000
200
9000
Round 82 to the nearest tenT
Round 320 to the nearest hundredO
Round 66 to the nearest tenL
Round 6,489 to the nearest thousandB
Round 51 to the nearest tenK
Round 173 to the nearest hundredN
Round 4,081 to the nearest thousandS
Round 7,910 to the nearest thousandA
Round 535 to the nearest hundredW
Round 4,989 to the nearest thousandE
Round 41 to the nearest tenR
Round 9,200 to the nearest thousandD
Round 551 to the nearest hundredH
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
A strange word problem is taped to the goalpost. Solve the puzzle about jersey numbers to get a lead on the thief.
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
14
12
30
80
65
30
8
29
29
47
17
29
80
69
47
T
14
12
T
14
12
30
47
52
26
30
56
T
14
56
57
57
T
14
There were 42 tickets. 28 were used. How many are left?T
There were 55 tickets. 3 were used. How many are left?R
A detective found 22 clues on Monday and 4 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all?L
A detective found 32 clues on Monday and 25 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all?O
A detective found 26 clues on Monday and 4 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all?E
There were 30 tickets. 13 were used. How many are left?C
There were 61 tickets. 5 were used. How many are left?F
A detective found 26 clues on Monday and 39 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all?N
There were 62 tickets. 33 were used. How many are left?K
A detective found 7 clues on Monday and 40 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all?I
There were 18 tickets. 10 were used. How many are left?A
There were 79 tickets. 10 were used. How many are left?W
A detective found 48 clues on Monday and 32 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all?S
There are 2 boxes with 6 clues in each box. How many clues in all?H
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Bar models
The big stadium scoreboard is glitching. It only shows rounded numbers for the ticket sales, but it holds a secret.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Thestopsthecleatburglar
S
5
12
22
24
20
21
26
7
18
12
20
1
4
?
27
7
?
9
17
?
19
1
?
17
5
?
26
4
?
36
15
?
15
9
?
3
4
?
0/9 letters found
Clue 4
Addition
We need to add up all the soccer balls in the equipment bin. The total sum will unlock the next locker room 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.
O
267
351
761
323
529
461
457
461
761
488
389
761
323
488
457
761
536
351
426
357
536
323
529
602
O
267
602
457
461
323
461
602
106 + 161 =O
291 + 197 =D
219 + 132 =R
234 + 155 =B
412 + 349 =A
152 + 274 =C
117 + 240 =L
202 + 255 =H
166 + 295 =E
337 + 192 =G
283 + 253 =I
167 + 156 =N
197 + 405 =T
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The referee needs to divide thirty training cones equally among five practice drills to reveal 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
16 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 4 = ?
5 ÷ 5 = ?
16 ÷ 2 = ?
5 ÷ 1 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
36 ÷ 3 = ?
60 ÷ 6 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
14 ÷ 2 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blasts a rocket shot into the sky, then flashes their golden shin guards.
2.The villain makes a spectacular diving save, then flashes their golden shin guards.
3.The villain performs a super speed dribble, then flashes their golden shin guards.
4.The villain flips into a wild bicycle kick, then runs away wearing neon cleats.
5.The villain performs a super speed dribble, then runs away wearing neon cleats.
6.The villain blasts a rocket shot into the sky, then blows a loud silver whistle.
7.The villain blasts a rocket shot into the sky, then turns on a glowing laser headband.
8.The villain leaps for a massive power header, then runs away wearing neon cleats.
9.The villain makes a spectacular diving save, then blows a loud silver whistle.
10.The villain performs a super speed dribble, then blows a loud silver whistle.
11.The villain leaps for a massive power header, then flashes their golden shin guards.
12.The villain leaps for a massive power header, then blows a loud silver whistle.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Golden Soccer Ball
Culprit: Alphonso Davies (power header · golden shin guards · left footed · orange headband hair · shiny trophy)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE SNEAK DOES NOT WEAR A LASER HEADBAND"Round 82 to the nearest ten = 80 (T) · Round 320 to the nearest hundred = 300 (O) · Round 66 to the nearest ten = 70 (L) · Round 6,489 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (B) · Round 51 to the nearest ten = 50 (K) · Round 173 to the nearest hundred = 200 (N) · Round 4,081 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (S) · Round 7,910 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (A) · Round 535 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 4,989 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (E) · Round 41 to the nearest ten = 40 (R) · Round 9,200 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (D) · Round 551 to the nearest hundred = 600 (H)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "THE SNEAK KICKS WITH THEIR LEFT FOOT"There were 42 tickets. 28 were used. How many are left? = 14 (T) · There were 55 tickets. 3 were used. How many are left? = 52 (R) · A detective found 22 clues on Monday and 4 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all? = 26 (L) · A detective found 32 clues on Monday and 25 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all? = 57 (O) · A detective found 26 clues on Monday and 4 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all? = 30 (E) · There were 30 tickets. 13 were used. How many are left? = 17 (C) · There were 61 tickets. 5 were used. How many are left? = 56 (F) · A detective found 26 clues on Monday and 39 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all? = 65 (N) · There were 62 tickets. 33 were used. How many are left? = 29 (K) · A detective found 7 clues on Monday and 40 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all? = 47 (I) · There were 18 tickets. 10 were used. How many are left? = 8 (A) · There were 79 tickets. 10 were used. How many are left? = 69 (W) · A detective found 48 clues on Monday and 32 more on Tuesday. How many clues in all? = 80 (S) · There are 2 boxes with 6 clues in each box. How many clues in all? = 12 (H)
- Clue 3 (Bar models): "SHINY TROPHY"One part is 1 and the other part is 4. What is the whole? = 5 (S) · The whole is 27. One part is 7. What is the other part? = 20 (Y) · One part is 9 and the other part is 17. What is the whole? = 26 (R) · One bar shows 19 and the other shows 1. How much longer is the first bar? = 18 (P) · One bar shows 17 and the other shows 5. How much longer is the first bar? = 12 (H) · One bar shows 26 and the other shows 4. How much longer is the first bar? = 22 (I) · One bar shows 36 and the other shows 15. How much longer is the first bar? = 21 (T) · One part is 15 and the other part is 9. What is the whole? = 24 (N) · One part is 3 and the other part is 4. What is the whole? = 7 (O)
- Clue 4 (Addition): "ORANGE HEADBAND HAIR CLING TO THE NET"106 + 161 = 267 (O) · 291 + 197 = 488 (D) · 219 + 132 = 351 (R) · 234 + 155 = 389 (B) · 412 + 349 = 761 (A) · 152 + 274 = 426 (C) · 117 + 240 = 357 (L) · 202 + 255 = 457 (H) · 166 + 295 = 461 (E) · 337 + 192 = 529 (G) · 283 + 253 = 536 (I) · 167 + 156 = 323 (N) · 197 + 405 = 602 (T)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Alphonso Davies16 ÷ 8 = 2 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 5 ÷ 5 = 1 · 16 ÷ 2 = 8 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 36 ÷ 3 = 12 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 14 ÷ 2 = 7
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Word problems, Bar models, Addition, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Golden Soccer Ball — set in The Championship Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects