The Case of the Missing Golden Boot
Just before the championship match, someone snuck into the Greenfield Soccer Complex and swiped the Golden Boot trophy! The Team Captain is devastated. We have twenty-four suspects from the tournament guest roster. Tie your shoelaces, grab your whistle, and let's track down the thief!
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Soccer Move | Jersey Emblem | Player Category | Head Accessory | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeper | lightning dribble | lightning bolt | boy | spiky mohawk | shiny coin |
| Enzo | header smash | speedy falcon | girl | backward cap | squeaky whistle |
| Roxy | bicycle kick | lightning bolt | boy | spiky mohawk | squeaky whistle |
| Silas | lightning dribble | star shield | girl | neon headband | squeaky whistle |
| Nico | lightning dribble | flaming soccer ball | boy | neon headband | muddy puddle |
| Dash | goalie dive | flaming soccer ball | boy | neon headband | shiny coin |
| Dillon | lightning dribble | flaming soccer ball | boy | backward cap | muddy puddle |
| Striker | cannon shot | star shield | boy | backward cap | squeaky whistle |
| Gaby | cannon shot | star shield | boy | backward cap | shiny coin |
| Zoe | goalie dive | speedy falcon | boy | neon headband | shiny coin |
| Penny | goalie dive | flaming soccer ball | boy | spiky mohawk | muddy puddle |
| Chloe | goalie dive | flaming soccer ball | boy | backward cap | squeaky whistle |
| Ziggy | cannon shot | speedy falcon | boy | spiky mohawk | squeaky whistle |
| Piper | goalie dive | roaring tiger | boy | backward cap | squeaky whistle |
| Maya | header smash | lightning bolt | boy | backward cap | squeaky whistle |
| Buster | cannon shot | speedy falcon | boy | spiky mohawk | muddy puddle |
| Mia | goalie dive | lightning bolt | boy | neon headband | muddy puddle |
| Sasha | lightning dribble | star shield | boy | spiky mohawk | shiny coin |
| Boots | bicycle kick | star shield | boy | backward cap | shiny coin |
| Leo | goalie dive | lightning bolt | girl | neon headband | muddy puddle |
| Kofi | cannon shot | lightning bolt | boy | backward cap | squeaky whistle |
Rounding
The digital scoreboard got bumped during warmups and rounded the team jersey numbers to the nearest ten to give us our first hint.
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
We counted the training cones left scattered on the turf and added them up to find the suspect's track.
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 team started with twenty match balls but some are missing. We subtracted the remaining balls to find a key clue left behind.
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 gear bags were lined up in equal rows next to the bleachers. We multiplied the rows to check the total and found a hair 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.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We had to share the orange slices equally among the referee crew. Sharing them out in equal groups revealed our final piece of evidence.
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 Missing Golden Boot
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "NO FLAMING BALL EMBLEM ON JERSEY"Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (N) · Round 4,938 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (L) · Round 670 to the nearest hundred = 700 (Y) · Round 824 to the nearest hundred = 800 (R) · Round 50 to the nearest ten = 50 (A) · Round 8,178 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (M) · Round 4,432 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (O) · Round 78 to the nearest ten = 80 (E) · Round 466 to the nearest hundred = 500 (J) · Round 564 to the nearest hundred = 600 (B) · Round 289 to the nearest hundred = 300 (S) · Round 63 to the nearest ten = 60 (G) · Round 93 to the nearest ten = 90 (I) · Round 397 to the nearest hundred = 400 (F)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE SUSPECT IS A BOY"342 + 546 = 888 (T) · 620 + 323 = 943 (U) · 338 + 147 = 485 (B) · 162 + 359 = 521 (E) · 502 + 405 = 907 (S) · 328 + 484 = 812 (H) · 124 + 146 = 270 (A) · 314 + 531 = 845 (I) · 220 + 305 = 525 (C) · 491 + 281 = 772 (O) · 429 + 486 = 915 (Y) · 297 + 181 = 478 (P)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "STOPS TO HEAR SQUEAKY WHISTLE"966 - 73 = 893 (S) · 965 - 126 = 839 (W) · 661 - 360 = 301 (P) · 803 - 366 = 437 (Q) · 705 - 298 = 407 (Y) · 554 - 129 = 425 (L) · 383 - 112 = 271 (I) · 567 - 315 = 252 (H) · 403 - 174 = 229 (U) · 955 - 234 = 721 (E) · 1190 - 343 = 847 (K) · 913 - 216 = 697 (T) · 574 - 102 = 472 (R) · 647 - 167 = 480 (A) · 769 - 86 = 683 (O)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "LOST A BACKWARD CAP BY THE GOAL"7 × 4 = 28 (L) · 11 × 8 = 88 (D) · 4 × 9 = 36 (K) · 1 × 1 = 1 (E) · 10 × 8 = 80 (O) · 8 × 7 = 56 (H) · 7 × 6 = 42 (S) · 3 × 3 = 9 (P) · 9 × 10 = 90 (Y) · 1 × 8 = 8 (T) · 7 × 11 = 77 (R) · 4 × 1 = 4 (B) · 8 × 8 = 64 (W) · 7 × 12 = 84 (A) · 8 × 2 = 16 (G) · 8 × 3 = 24 (C)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 8) → Kofi27 ÷ 9 = 3 · 5 ÷ 1 = 5 · 77 ÷ 7 = 11 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 24 ÷ 4 = 6 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12 · 32 ÷ 8 = 4 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10
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 Missing Golden Boot — set in Greenfield Soccer Complex
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects