🏀 Unicorns, BasketballGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Missing Golden Basketball
The big Sparkle Championship game is tonight! But right before warmup, someone snuck into the locker room and stole the Golden Basketball. Sparkle Coach needs your help to crack the clues, find the thief, and save the championship game!
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 | Basketball Skill | Magic Gear | Shooting Style | Mane Color | Favorite Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comet Court | Prism Shoot | Glow Shoes | Shoots Right Hoof | Neon Pink Mane | Apple Slices |
| Sky Skyhook | Horn Block | Pegasus Wings | Shoots Right Hoof | Neon Pink Mane | Sugar Cubes |
| Shimmer Shaq | Sparkle Dribble | Star Jersey | Shoots Right Hoof | Neon Pink Mane | Apple Slices |
| Benny Bounce | Sparkle Dribble | Pegasus Wings | Shoots Right Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Carrot Crunchies |
| Clover Clyde | Horn Block | Golden Hooves | Shoots Left Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Carrot Crunchies |
| Bella Bounce | Sparkle Dribble | Glow Shoes | Shoots Right Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Sugar Cubes |
| Nova Net | Glitter Pass | Glow Shoes | Shoots Left Hoof | Neon Pink Mane | Carrot Crunchies |
| Luna Layup | Horn Block | Magic Headband | Shoots Right Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Carrot Crunchies |
| Velvet Violet | Rainbow Dunk | Pegasus Wings | Shoots Right Hoof | Bright Blue Mane | Carrot Crunchies |
| Dash Dribble | Prism Shoot | Glow Shoes | Shoots Left Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Sugar Cubes |
| Penny Point | Sparkle Dribble | Star Jersey | Shoots Right Hoof | Bright Blue Mane | Carrot Crunchies |
| Sunny Swish | Horn Block | Magic Headband | Shoots Left Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Apple Slices |
| Daisy Dunk | Horn Block | Magic Headband | Shoots Right Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Sugar Cubes |
| Mane Magic | Rainbow Dunk | Star Jersey | Shoots Right Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Sugar Cubes |
| Pippa Pivot | Horn Block | Glow Shoes | Shoots Right Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Sugar Cubes |
| Rainbow Rodman | Prism Shoot | Golden Hooves | Shoots Left Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Apple Slices |
| Stella Swish | Prism Shoot | Magic Headband | Shoots Right Hoof | Bright Blue Mane | Sugar Cubes |
| Goldie Glide | Sparkle Dribble | Golden Hooves | Shoots Right Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Sugar Cubes |
| Hoops McSparkle | Sparkle Dribble | Magic Headband | Shoots Right Hoof | Neon Pink Mane | Carrot Crunchies |
| Glitter Curry | Glitter Pass | Star Jersey | Shoots Left Hoof | Bright Blue Mane | Carrot Crunchies |
| Misty Meadow | Horn Block | Pegasus Wings | Shoots Right Hoof | Pastel Purple Mane | Apple Slices |
Clue 1
Place value
The scoreboard has a digital glitch that shows the suspect's jersey number using place value blocks. Let us find the correct number to unlock the clue drawer.
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
5000
6000
40
800
10
40
200
600
9000
T
5000
6000
30
40
500
1000
50
40
800
10
50
T
5000
2000
40
200
3000
200
800
T
5000
200
3000
60
40
3000
800
40
9000
What is the value of the 5 in 15,690?T
What is the value of the 5 in 2,151?O
What is the value of the 8 in 7,871?S
What is the value of the 6 in 6,049?H
What is the value of the 4 in 149?E
What is the value of the 9 in 9,524?Y
What is the value of the 6 in 9,678?K
What is the value of the 3 in 3,484?R
What is the value of the 2 in 32,947?W
What is the value of the 1 in 7,310?N
What is the value of the 6 in 368?J
What is the value of the 1 in 61,234?D
What is the value of the 2 in 8,284?A
What is the value of the 3 in 4,730?I
What is the value of the 5 in 512?F
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
Coach Pippa is counting all the spare basketballs left in the gym bin to see how many the team has in total. Help her add them up to find 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.
T
336
416
505
858
407
747
747
913
407
931
511
416
631
T
336
221
407
T
336
416
913
322
407
920
416
T
336
416
631
631
905
173 + 163 =T
579 + 352 =N
618 + 302 =G
188 + 134 =R
415 + 216 =O
147 + 74 =W
477 + 428 =F
328 + 183 =S
216 + 200 =H
294 + 619 =A
386 + 361 =L
172 + 235 =I
320 + 185 =E
566 + 292 =V
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
A few glowing sneaker gems were dropped during the quick escape. Subtract the broken ones from the total count to see what is left.
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
366
730
214
447
858
402
881
137
792
858
529
T
366
137
846
846
214
329
475
137
792
529
447
710
139
792
881
447
671
214
529
611 - 245 =T
498 - 96 =I
904 - 58 =P
605 - 276 =D
882 - 211 =B
771 - 41 =H
863 - 5 =N
930 - 138 =R
680 - 151 =S
601 - 387 =E
962 - 252 =G
580 - 133 =U
185 - 46 =A
1030 - 149 =C
340 - 203 =O
875 - 400 =F
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The colorful team cups are arranged in neat rows on the bench. Multiply the rows and columns to count them quickly and find a 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.
W
48
14
96
90
70
25
6
63
30
4
72
14
44
63
70
5
63
44
14
8
30
25
14
84
30
80
5
8 × 6 =W
7 × 2 =E
12 × 7 =H
5 × 1 =R
1 × 8 =M
6 × 1 =D
2 × 2 =S
3 × 10 =A
9 × 7 =P
8 × 12 =F
4 × 11 =L
10 × 9 =O
10 × 7 =U
5 × 5 =N
8 × 10 =I
6 × 12 =T
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to share the magic snacks equally among the players. Divide the snacks to unlock 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 ÷ 6 = ?
63 ÷ 9 = ?
11 ÷ 1 = ?
54 ÷ 6 = ?
7 ÷ 7 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
90 ÷ 9 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
24 ÷ 8 = ?
48 ÷ 4 = ?
16 ÷ 8 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain does a sparkle dribble, then flaps their pegasus wings.
2.The villain makes a glitter pass, then shines their glow shoes.
3.The villain takes a prism shoot, then flaps their pegasus wings.
4.The villain executes a horn block, then shines their glow shoes.
5.The villain does a sparkle dribble, then shines their glow shoes.
6.The villain performs a rainbow dunk, then flaps their pegasus wings.
7.The villain executes a horn block, then adjusts their magic headband.
8.The villain makes a glitter pass, then polishes their golden hooves.
9.The villain executes a horn block, then polishes their golden hooves.
10.The villain takes a prism shoot, then shows off their star jersey.
11.The villain does a sparkle dribble, then polishes their golden hooves.
12.The villain does a sparkle dribble, then adjusts their magic headband.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Basketball
Culprit: Pippa Pivot (Horn Block · Glow Shoes · Shoots Right Hoof · Pastel Purple Mane · Sugar Cubes)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SNEAKY THIEF DOES NOT WEAR A STAR JERSEY"What is the value of the 5 in 15,690? = 5000 (T) · What is the value of the 5 in 2,151? = 50 (O) · What is the value of the 8 in 7,871? = 800 (S) · What is the value of the 6 in 6,049? = 6000 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 149? = 40 (E) · What is the value of the 9 in 9,524? = 9000 (Y) · What is the value of the 6 in 9,678? = 600 (K) · What is the value of the 3 in 3,484? = 3000 (R) · What is the value of the 2 in 32,947? = 2000 (W) · What is the value of the 1 in 7,310? = 10 (N) · What is the value of the 6 in 368? = 60 (J) · What is the value of the 1 in 61,234? = 1000 (D) · What is the value of the 2 in 8,284? = 200 (A) · What is the value of the 3 in 4,730? = 30 (I) · What is the value of the 5 in 512? = 500 (F)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN SHOT WITH A RIGHT HOOF"173 + 163 = 336 (T) · 579 + 352 = 931 (N) · 618 + 302 = 920 (G) · 188 + 134 = 322 (R) · 415 + 216 = 631 (O) · 147 + 74 = 221 (W) · 477 + 428 = 905 (F) · 328 + 183 = 511 (S) · 216 + 200 = 416 (H) · 294 + 619 = 913 (A) · 386 + 361 = 747 (L) · 172 + 235 = 407 (I) · 320 + 185 = 505 (E) · 566 + 292 = 858 (V)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE UNICORN STOPPED FOR SUGAR CUBES"611 - 245 = 366 (T) · 498 - 96 = 402 (I) · 904 - 58 = 846 (P) · 605 - 276 = 329 (D) · 882 - 211 = 671 (B) · 771 - 41 = 730 (H) · 863 - 5 = 858 (N) · 930 - 138 = 792 (R) · 680 - 151 = 529 (S) · 601 - 387 = 214 (E) · 962 - 252 = 710 (G) · 580 - 133 = 447 (U) · 185 - 46 = 139 (A) · 1030 - 149 = 881 (C) · 340 - 203 = 137 (O) · 875 - 400 = 475 (F)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND PASTEL PURPLE MANE HAIR"8 × 6 = 48 (W) · 7 × 2 = 14 (E) · 12 × 7 = 84 (H) · 5 × 1 = 5 (R) · 1 × 8 = 8 (M) · 6 × 1 = 6 (D) · 2 × 2 = 4 (S) · 3 × 10 = 30 (A) · 9 × 7 = 63 (P) · 8 × 12 = 96 (F) · 4 × 11 = 44 (L) · 10 × 9 = 90 (O) · 10 × 7 = 70 (U) · 5 × 5 = 25 (N) · 8 × 10 = 80 (I) · 6 × 12 = 72 (T)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Pippa Pivot30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 63 ÷ 9 = 7 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 54 ÷ 6 = 9 · 7 ÷ 7 = 1 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8 · 90 ÷ 9 = 10 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 24 ÷ 8 = 3 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12 · 16 ÷ 8 = 2
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Basketball — set in The Glitter Dome Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects