⚽ Soccer, UnicornsGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Case of the Missing Star Ball
The biggest match of the year is tonight under the rainbows of the Sparkle Cup Arena! But someone has stolen the magical Star Ball from the locker room. Without it, Unicorn United cannot play! Follow the clues, solve the sports math, and help find the thief before the stadium lights turn on!
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 | Soccer Power | Lucky Gear | Kicking Style | Mane Style | Game Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Morgan | Glitter Tackle | Glow Headband | Right-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Bukayo Saka | Cloud Slide | Star Cape | Left-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Kylian Mbappe | Cloud Slide | Magic Whistle | Left-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Rainbow Dash | Sparkle Dribble | Glow Headband | Left-footed kick | Pink Glitter Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Harry Kane | Rainbow Kick | Neon Shin Guards | Left-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Loud Whistles |
| Star Striker | Sparkle Dribble | Star Cape | Right-footed kick | Purple Wave Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Pegasus Pell | Sparkle Dribble | Glow Headband | Left-footed kick | Purple Wave Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Erling Haaland | Glitter Tackle | Magic Whistle | Left-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Sparkle Hoof | Glitter Tackle | Glow Headband | Left-footed kick | Purple Wave Mane | Loud Whistles |
| Glitter Boots | Horn Header | Neon Shin Guards | Right-footed kick | Purple Wave Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Sunny Swift | Sparkle Dribble | Golden Cleats | Left-footed kick | Pink Glitter Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Son Heung Min | Rainbow Kick | Star Cape | Left-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Lucy Bronze | Sparkle Dribble | Magic Whistle | Left-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Megan Rapinoe | Cloud Slide | Magic Whistle | Right-footed kick | Purple Wave Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Prancer Kick | Glitter Tackle | Glow Headband | Left-footed kick | Pink Glitter Mane | Loud Whistles |
| Luna Horn | Cloud Slide | Glow Headband | Left-footed kick | Purple Wave Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Sparkle Dribble | Golden Cleats | Left-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Wendy Renard | Sparkle Dribble | Neon Shin Guards | Left-footed kick | Purple Wave Mane | Slippery Grass |
| Sam Kerr | Sparkle Dribble | Glow Headband | Right-footed kick | Purple Wave Mane | Popcorn Smell |
| Mohamed Salah | Glitter Tackle | Magic Whistle | Left-footed kick | Blue Star Mane | Loud Whistles |
| Lionel Messi | Rainbow Kick | Magic Whistle | Right-footed kick | Pink Glitter Mane | Loud Whistles |
Clue 1
Place value
The stadium lock needs a secret number code. Let us check the place value of the digits on the locker room door!
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
6000
500
90
T
6000
500
50
90
8000
3000
100
90
300
2000
100
T
6000
70
90
900
7000
900
300
T
6000
900
7000
400
900
1000
90
What is the value of the 6 in 96,497?T
What is the value of the 7 in 6,376?W
What is the value of the 9 in 926?A
What is the value of the 4 in 9,420?C
What is the value of the 3 in 2,397?S
What is the value of the 8 in 78,127?F
What is the value of the 1 in 1,657?P
What is the value of the 1 in 2,107?O
What is the value of the 7 in 27,620?R
What is the value of the 3 in 63,756?D
What is the value of the 5 in 4,520?H
What is the value of the 5 in 7,856?I
What is the value of the 9 in 498?E
What is the value of the 2 in 2,616?N
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
The team counts the training cones on the field. Adding the red and blue piles reveals a hidden footprint!
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
3807
7213
3445
7934
4663
3445
2033
8899
9302
4260
2409
4873
4873
9102
2409
4873
T
3807
4260
2409
4425
8200
2033
3445
8899
9452
7099
T
3807
7213
3445
2033
3445
7934
T
3807
2056 + 1751 =T
2947 + 6355 =G
3519 + 5583 =W
3705 + 3394 =N
3393 + 1480 =S
1743 + 2920 =I
1600 + 2825 =M
6142 + 3310 =O
1715 + 1730 =E
5616 + 2584 =P
900 + 1509 =A
4874 + 3060 =F
4481 + 2732 =H
5984 + 2915 =D
810 + 1223 =L
2340 + 1920 =R
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
We have a bucket of shiny soccer balls but some are missing. Subtracting the lost balls shows us where the thief ran.
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
3595
8611
3605
T
3595
8611
3795
3605
3021
1111
2184
3795
7478
7478
3605
4081
8049
5389
T
3595
8611
3605
3120
3605
T
3595
7478
3795
T
3595
2396
8611
4682 - 1087 =T
4456 - 851 =E
6429 - 3309 =W
5251 - 1170 =D
3457 - 1061 =C
8937 - 888 =O
4754 - 1733 =F
5744 - 4633 =S
7093 - 3298 =I
5985 - 596 =N
9265 - 1787 =P
3213 - 1029 =L
12356 - 3745 =H
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The fans are sitting in neat rows of stadium seats. Multiplying the rows by the seats helps us find a dropped 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.
B
70
18
80
35
14
10
100
30
36
108
30
10
8
44
36
22
35
30
35
81
8
108
14
35
99
81
10
18
10 × 7 =B
1 × 10 =A
11 × 9 =G
10 × 10 =I
2 × 7 =H
4 × 2 =N
8 × 10 =U
5 × 6 =R
9 × 9 =O
12 × 3 =S
9 × 12 =T
11 × 4 =D
9 × 2 =L
2 × 11 =W
7 × 5 =E
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We must divide the magical sports drinks equally among the players. Sharing them out reveals the final secret!
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
20 ÷ 10 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
144 ÷ 12 = ?
36 ÷ 9 = ?
48 ÷ 8 = ?
50 ÷ 5 = ?
28 ÷ 4 = ?
60 ÷ 12 = ?
56 ÷ 7 = ?
6 ÷ 6 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain slides across the field with a glitter tackle, then flashes neon shin guards in the dark.
2.The villain weaves around opponents using sparkle dribble, then stops the game with a magic whistle.
3.The villain slides across the field with a glitter tackle, then stops the game with a magic whistle.
4.The villain zooms past the defenders with a cloud slide, then lights up the field with a glow headband.
5.The villain weaves around opponents using sparkle dribble, then lights up the field with a glow headband.
6.The villain slides across the field with a glitter tackle, then flies into the sky wearing a star cape.
7.The villain leaps high to perform a horn header, then stops the game with a magic whistle.
8.The villain blasts a rainbow kick into the goal, then lights up the field with a glow headband.
9.The villain weaves around opponents using sparkle dribble, then speeds away in golden cleats.
10.The villain weaves around opponents using sparkle dribble, then flashes neon shin guards in the dark.
11.The villain zooms past the defenders with a cloud slide, then stops the game with a magic whistle.
12.The villain leaps high to perform a horn header, then flashes neon shin guards in the dark.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Star Ball
Culprit: Kylian Mbappe (Cloud Slide · Magic Whistle · Left-footed kick · Blue Star Mane · Slippery Grass)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR A STAR CAPE"What is the value of the 6 in 96,497? = 6000 (T) · What is the value of the 7 in 6,376? = 70 (W) · What is the value of the 9 in 926? = 900 (A) · What is the value of the 4 in 9,420? = 400 (C) · What is the value of the 3 in 2,397? = 300 (S) · What is the value of the 8 in 78,127? = 8000 (F) · What is the value of the 1 in 1,657? = 1000 (P) · What is the value of the 1 in 2,107? = 100 (O) · What is the value of the 7 in 27,620? = 7000 (R) · What is the value of the 3 in 63,756? = 3000 (D) · What is the value of the 5 in 4,520? = 500 (H) · What is the value of the 5 in 7,856? = 50 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 498? = 90 (E) · What is the value of the 2 in 2,616? = 2000 (N)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE FIELD GRASS WAS TRAMPLED ON THE LEFT"2056 + 1751 = 3807 (T) · 2947 + 6355 = 9302 (G) · 3519 + 5583 = 9102 (W) · 3705 + 3394 = 7099 (N) · 3393 + 1480 = 4873 (S) · 1743 + 2920 = 4663 (I) · 1600 + 2825 = 4425 (M) · 6142 + 3310 = 9452 (O) · 1715 + 1730 = 3445 (E) · 5616 + 2584 = 8200 (P) · 900 + 1509 = 2409 (A) · 4874 + 3060 = 7934 (F) · 4481 + 2732 = 7213 (H) · 5984 + 2915 = 8899 (D) · 810 + 1223 = 2033 (L) · 2340 + 1920 = 4260 (R)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE THIEF SLIPPED ON THE WET PITCH"4682 - 1087 = 3595 (T) · 4456 - 851 = 3605 (E) · 6429 - 3309 = 3120 (W) · 5251 - 1170 = 4081 (D) · 3457 - 1061 = 2396 (C) · 8937 - 888 = 8049 (O) · 4754 - 1733 = 3021 (F) · 5744 - 4633 = 1111 (S) · 7093 - 3298 = 3795 (I) · 5985 - 596 = 5389 (N) · 9265 - 1787 = 7478 (P) · 3213 - 1029 = 2184 (L) · 12356 - 3745 = 8611 (H)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "BLUE HAIR STRANDS WERE ON THE GOAL"10 × 7 = 70 (B) · 1 × 10 = 10 (A) · 11 × 9 = 99 (G) · 10 × 10 = 100 (I) · 2 × 7 = 14 (H) · 4 × 2 = 8 (N) · 8 × 10 = 80 (U) · 5 × 6 = 30 (R) · 9 × 9 = 81 (O) · 12 × 3 = 36 (S) · 9 × 12 = 108 (T) · 11 × 4 = 44 (D) · 9 × 2 = 18 (L) · 2 × 11 = 22 (W) · 7 × 5 = 35 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Kylian Mbappe20 ÷ 10 = 2 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 144 ÷ 12 = 12 · 36 ÷ 9 = 4 · 48 ÷ 8 = 6 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10 · 28 ÷ 4 = 7 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 56 ÷ 7 = 8 · 6 ÷ 6 = 1
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Star Ball — set in The Sparkle Cup Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects