⚽ Soccer world cup with vuvuzeGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4RoundingAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Championship Cup Caper
The Golden Championship Cup has vanished from the team locker room right before the final match! A noisy suspect was seen running past the stadium gates carrying a bag of vuvuzelas. Detective, we must find the thief and save the World Cup!
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 Skill | Lucky Gear | Player Team | Dreadlock Style | Loud Noise Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby | bicycle kick | captain armband | boy player | green dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Charlie | turbo dribble | goalie gloves | girl player | green dreadlocks | squeaky whistle |
| Isaac | curving freekick | shiny shin guards | boy player | black dreadlocks | flashing cameras |
| Leo | turbo dribble | striped jersey | girl player | green dreadlocks | squeaky whistle |
| Oscar | curving freekick | neon cleats | boy player | green dreadlocks | squeaky whistle |
| Alex | curving freekick | neon cleats | girl player | black dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Jake | bicycle kick | goalie gloves | boy player | gold dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Sam | power save | goalie gloves | boy player | black dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Mia | power save | striped jersey | girl player | green dreadlocks | squeaky whistle |
| Nora | bicycle kick | striped jersey | boy player | gold dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Will | power save | striped jersey | boy player | green dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Penny | curving freekick | captain armband | girl player | gold dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Kai | power save | neon cleats | boy player | black dreadlocks | squeaky whistle |
| Yusuf | bullet header | shiny shin guards | boy player | green dreadlocks | flashing cameras |
| Quinn | power save | neon cleats | girl player | green dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Freddie | turbo dribble | neon cleats | girl player | gold dreadlocks | flashing cameras |
| Benny | bicycle kick | striped jersey | girl player | gold dreadlocks | squeaky whistle |
| Hugo | curving freekick | striped jersey | boy player | gold dreadlocks | loud vuvuzela |
| Ethan | power save | neon cleats | girl player | green dreadlocks | squeaky whistle |
| Gaby | power save | shiny shin guards | girl player | green dreadlocks | squeaky whistle |
| Zack | turbo dribble | goalie gloves | boy player | green dreadlocks | flashing cameras |
Clue 1
Rounding
A security guard looked at the stadium ticket counter radar, but the digital display was broken and only showed the nearest hundred. Let's use this rounded number to narrow down the gear.
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
3000
4700
2800000
T
3000
4700
20000
2800000
2800
20
5000
2800000
1400000
700
5000
T
3000
200000
2800000
700000
500000
280
5000
700000
310
20000
2800000
280
310
5000
30
2800000
1400000
Round 3,260 to the nearest thousandT
Round 5,396 to the nearest thousandO
Round 4,744 to the nearest hundredH
Round 712,922 to the nearest hundred thousandA
Round 1,352,239 to the nearest hundred thousandS
Round 714 to the nearest hundredN
Round 31 to the nearest tenV
Round 24,035 to the nearest ten thousandI
Round 2,790 to the nearest hundredF
Round 2,781,640 to the nearest hundred thousandE
Round 238,418 to the nearest hundred thousandW
Round 314 to the nearest tenL
Round 284 to the nearest tenG
Round 22 to the nearest tenD
Round 528,585 to the nearest hundred thousandR
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We found two bags of dropped energy drinks by the training pitch. Adding the bottles in both bags tells us about the suspect's team.
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
9749
6601
6357
6914
9042
6413
6413
6357
6914
6601
9208
4381
9208
4267
5504
6914
6202
2852
9718
5504
T
9749
9847
6601
9718
9208
2852
2852
3276 + 6473 =T
1945 + 2322 =G
3930 + 2671 =H
3405 + 3008 =N
2839 + 3363 =L
5859 + 3988 =C
1527 + 1325 =S
2312 + 4045 =E
3518 + 5690 =A
2649 + 4265 =R
2208 + 2173 =D
6071 + 2971 =U
3392 + 2112 =I
4198 + 5520 =P
0/14 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The stadium lights had some bulbs burst during the warm-up. Subtracting the broken bulbs from the total gives us a clue to their weakness.
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
2287
5063
8058
6530
4801
6530
1802
8058
8847
T
2287
6530
5063
8824
4301
1708
1263
4856
8824
7825
4904
4301
3949
5063
2638
6530
T
2287
2653
8058
3967
2653
7825
3949
6824 - 4537 =T
4188 - 1535 =L
6737 - 1936 =U
7754 - 3805 =W
7607 - 2751 =F
9802 - 1977 =O
11250 - 4720 =S
9816 - 4912 =M
3400 - 762 =I
3375 - 2112 =K
4578 - 277 =A
6658 - 1595 =H
5650 - 3848 =P
8485 - 4518 =B
3102 - 1394 =N
12128 - 3304 =R
9403 - 556 =C
12711 - 4653 =E
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The team photographers arranged the fans into equal rows for a big picture. Multiplying the rows reveals a clue about the thief's dreadlocks.
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
25
108
8
72
81
28
3
110
40
108
108
28
2
6
40
28
72
28
44
88
108
110
40
6
7
7
5 × 5 =W
10 × 11 =G
4 × 11 =T
1 × 2 =Y
1 × 7 =S
9 × 9 =U
12 × 9 =E
1 × 3 =D
8 × 5 =R
8 × 9 =O
6 × 1 =A
2 × 4 =F
11 × 8 =H
7 × 4 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The ball boys wanted to split the training cones equally among the fields. Dividing the cones gives us the final secret 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
14 ÷ 2 = ?
24 ÷ 3 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
10 ÷ 5 = ?
21 ÷ 7 = ?
84 ÷ 7 = ?
10 ÷ 1 = ?
99 ÷ 11 = ?
1 ÷ 1 = ?
66 ÷ 11 = ?
28 ÷ 7 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain scored with a bullet header, then adjusted their shiny shin guards.
2.The villain sped past with a turbo dribble, then flashed their neon cleats.
3.The villain scored with a bullet header, then waved their striped jersey.
4.The villain bent the ball with a curving freekick, then flashed their neon cleats.
5.The villain blocked a shot with a power save, then adjusted their shiny shin guards.
6.The villain bent the ball with a curving freekick, then waved their striped jersey.
7.The villain sped past with a turbo dribble, then waved their striped jersey.
8.The villain blocked a shot with a power save, then waved their striped jersey.
9.The villain scored with a bullet header, then pulled on their goalie gloves.
10.The villain scored with a bullet header, then pointed to their captain armband.
11.The villain blocked a shot with a power save, then flashed their neon cleats.
12.The villain bent the ball with a curving freekick, then adjusted their shiny shin guards.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Championship Cup Caper
Culprit: Ethan (power save · neon cleats · girl player · green dreadlocks · squeaky whistle)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR GOALIE GLOVES"Round 3,260 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (T) · Round 5,396 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (O) · Round 4,744 to the nearest hundred = 4700 (H) · Round 712,922 to the nearest hundred thousand = 700000 (A) · Round 1,352,239 to the nearest hundred thousand = 1400000 (S) · Round 714 to the nearest hundred = 700 (N) · Round 31 to the nearest ten = 30 (V) · Round 24,035 to the nearest ten thousand = 20000 (I) · Round 2,790 to the nearest hundred = 2800 (F) · Round 2,781,640 to the nearest hundred thousand = 2800000 (E) · Round 238,418 to the nearest hundred thousand = 200000 (W) · Round 314 to the nearest ten = 310 (L) · Round 284 to the nearest ten = 280 (G) · Round 22 to the nearest ten = 20 (D) · Round 528,585 to the nearest hundred thousand = 500000 (R)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE RUNNER HAD A GIRLS PITCH PASS"3276 + 6473 = 9749 (T) · 1945 + 2322 = 4267 (G) · 3930 + 2671 = 6601 (H) · 3405 + 3008 = 6413 (N) · 2839 + 3363 = 6202 (L) · 5859 + 3988 = 9847 (C) · 1527 + 1325 = 2852 (S) · 2312 + 4045 = 6357 (E) · 3518 + 5690 = 9208 (A) · 2649 + 4265 = 6914 (R) · 2208 + 2173 = 4381 (D) · 6071 + 2971 = 9042 (U) · 3392 + 2112 = 5504 (I) · 4198 + 5520 = 9718 (P)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT SHRANK FROM A WHISTLE BLOW"6824 - 4537 = 2287 (T) · 4188 - 1535 = 2653 (L) · 6737 - 1936 = 4801 (U) · 7754 - 3805 = 3949 (W) · 7607 - 2751 = 4856 (F) · 9802 - 1977 = 7825 (O) · 11250 - 4720 = 6530 (S) · 9816 - 4912 = 4904 (M) · 3400 - 762 = 2638 (I) · 3375 - 2112 = 1263 (K) · 4578 - 277 = 4301 (A) · 6658 - 1595 = 5063 (H) · 5650 - 3848 = 1802 (P) · 8485 - 4518 = 3967 (B) · 3102 - 1394 = 1708 (N) · 12128 - 3304 = 8824 (R) · 9403 - 556 = 8847 (C) · 12711 - 4653 = 8058 (E)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "WE FOUND GREEN YARN ON THE GRASS"5 × 5 = 25 (W) · 10 × 11 = 110 (G) · 4 × 11 = 44 (T) · 1 × 2 = 2 (Y) · 1 × 7 = 7 (S) · 9 × 9 = 81 (U) · 12 × 9 = 108 (E) · 1 × 3 = 3 (D) · 8 × 5 = 40 (R) · 8 × 9 = 72 (O) · 6 × 1 = 6 (A) · 2 × 4 = 8 (F) · 11 × 8 = 88 (H) · 7 × 4 = 28 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 11) → Ethan14 ÷ 2 = 7 · 24 ÷ 3 = 8 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 21 ÷ 7 = 3 · 84 ÷ 7 = 12 · 10 ÷ 1 = 10 · 99 ÷ 11 = 9 · 1 ÷ 1 = 1 · 66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Championship Cup Caper — set in Soccer World Cup Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects