🏀 BasketballGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Golden Whistle Mystery
Oh no! The big championship game is tonight, but someone swiped the lucky Golden Whistle from the Head Coach's locker! The only clues left behind are colorful scuffs on the floor and some strange court footprints. We need to find which superstar player is secretly the Sneaker Bandit before the buzzer sounds!
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 | Shooting Hand | Sweatband Color | Court Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | Ankle-Breaker Crossover | Golden Wrist Coach | Right-Handed Shooter | Blue Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Devin Booker | Ankle-Breaker Crossover | Glow-in-the-Dark Basketball | Left-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Jayson Tatum | Lightning Fast Break | High-Bounce Knee Sleeves | Left-Handed Shooter | Green Hair Wrap | Squeaky Floor Distraction |
| Donovan Mitchell | Lightning Fast Break | Squeaky Neon Sneakers | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Kawhi Leonard | Lightning Fast Break | Super Grip Socks | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Zion Williamson | Ankle-Breaker Crossover | Golden Wrist Coach | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Cold Water Splash |
| Luka Doncic | Ankle-Breaker Crossover | Squeaky Neon Sneakers | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Ja Morant | Lightning Fast Break | High-Bounce Knee Sleeves | Left-Handed Shooter | Green Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Anthony Davis | Lightning Fast Break | Squeaky Neon Sneakers | Left-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Squeaky Floor Distraction |
| Nikola Jokic | Half-Court Hook Shot | High-Bounce Knee Sleeves | Left-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Damian Lillard | Half-Court Hook Shot | High-Bounce Knee Sleeves | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | No-Look Bounce Pass | Golden Wrist Coach | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Paul George | Half-Court Hook Shot | High-Bounce Knee Sleeves | Right-Handed Shooter | Blue Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Trae Young | No-Look Bounce Pass | Glow-in-the-Dark Basketball | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Klay Thompson | Ankle-Breaker Crossover | Super Grip Socks | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Kyrie Irving | Lightning Fast Break | Super Grip Socks | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Hair Wrap | Squeaky Floor Distraction |
| Joel Embiid | Double-Pump Dunk | High-Bounce Knee Sleeves | Right-Handed Shooter | Blue Hair Wrap | Squeaky Floor Distraction |
| LeBron James | Half-Court Hook Shot | Golden Wrist Coach | Right-Handed Shooter | Blue Hair Wrap | Squeaky Floor Distraction |
| Bam Adebayo | No-Look Bounce Pass | Golden Wrist Coach | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
| Jimmy Butler | Double-Pump Dunk | Squeaky Neon Sneakers | Right-Handed Shooter | Red Hair Wrap | Cold Water Splash |
| DeAaron Fox | Lightning Fast Break | Golden Wrist Coach | Right-Handed Shooter | Green Hair Wrap | Double Dribble Flaw |
Clue 1
Addition
The arena manager counted the extra basketballs on the rack. She added the orange balls and the striped balls to find the total count.
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
227
345
458
263
309
536
433
894
T
227
433
696
458
400
536
696
T
227
846
458
309
840
400
301
614
458
840
273
840
894
614
400
696
809
247
400
121 + 106 =T
111 + 198 =A
291 + 245 =N
159 + 186 =H
138 + 109 =K
328 + 368 =O
422 + 472 =I
380 + 429 =C
91 + 172 =B
172 + 261 =D
222 + 178 =S
138 + 320 =E
356 + 490 =W
302 + 312 =P
176 + 125 =U
84 + 189 =G
392 + 448 =R
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
We checked the inventory of team jerseys. We started with the full box and subtracted the ones left on the bench to see how many were stolen.
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
586
633
198
704
663
342
553
T
586
577
679
553
120
573
573
633
663
226
679
553
390
318
633
T
586
633
679
760
370
198
370
573
633
663
663
T
586
198
553
748 - 162 =T
590 - 37 =R
838 - 78 =N
708 - 338 =D
884 - 180 =C
499 - 379 =K
718 - 39 =A
962 - 329 =H
419 - 77 =U
683 - 293 =I
434 - 236 =E
741 - 78 =O
555 - 237 =G
460 - 234 =W
885 - 308 =M
618 - 45 =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The detective found a pattern of muddy footprints on the gym floor. They were arranged in equal rows, so we multiplied the rows to count them all.
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
18
99
32
70
144
70
11
32
64
T
18
99
55
70
55
3
7
144
16
77
32
3
35
110
16
16
77
32
60
77
55
33
2 × 9 =T
11 × 10 =I
9 × 11 =H
5 × 7 =R
1 × 7 =O
4 × 8 =E
5 × 11 =A
12 × 12 =U
8 × 8 =C
12 × 5 =F
11 × 7 =L
8 × 2 =B
1 × 3 =D
11 × 1 =P
11 × 3 =W
10 × 7 =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The shot-clock timer is glitching and only displays numbers rounded to the nearest ten. We have to round the final play time to read the screen.
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
30
900
500
2000
200
9000
3000
600
800
70
80
9000
3000
600
2000
500
80
70
900
3000
300
80
7000
70
W
30
70
80
400
Round 28 to the nearest tenW
Round 573 to the nearest hundredS
Round 197 to the nearest hundredU
Round 72 to the nearest tenR
Round 376 to the nearest hundredP
Round 7,029 to the nearest thousandI
Round 455 to the nearest hundredF
Round 896 to the nearest hundredE
Round 8,949 to the nearest thousandN
Round 3,105 to the nearest thousandD
Round 78 to the nearest tenA
Round 847 to the nearest hundredT
Round 265 to the nearest hundredH
Round 1,839 to the nearest thousandO
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We need to divide the practice cones equally among the training groups. Sharing them fairly will help us unlock the final locker room code.
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
66 ÷ 11 = ?
48 ÷ 6 = ?
90 ÷ 10 = ?
108 ÷ 9 = ?
49 ÷ 7 = ?
60 ÷ 12 = ?
10 ÷ 5 = ?
9 ÷ 9 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
66 ÷ 6 = ?
4 ÷ 1 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain pulls off an ankle-breaker crossover, then slips away wearing super grip socks.
2.The villain runs a lightning fast break, then slips away wearing super grip socks.
3.The villain runs a lightning fast break, then dribbles off with a glowing basketball.
4.The villain throws a no-look bounce pass, then dribbles off with a glowing basketball.
5.The villain performs a double-pump dunk, then springs over the fence with high-bounce knee sleeves.
6.The villain does a half-court hook shot, then springs over the fence with high-bounce knee sleeves.
7.The villain performs a double-pump dunk, then dribbles off with a glowing basketball.
8.The villain throws a no-look bounce pass, then checks the golden wrist coach for the time.
9.The villain pulls off an ankle-breaker crossover, then squeaks away in neon sneakers.
10.The villain runs a lightning fast break, then squeaks away in neon sneakers.
11.The villain does a half-court hook shot, then checks the golden wrist coach for the time.
12.The villain performs a double-pump dunk, then squeaks away in neon sneakers.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Golden Whistle Mystery
Culprit: Donovan Mitchell (Lightning Fast Break · Squeaky Neon Sneakers · Right-Handed Shooter · Red Hair Wrap · Double Dribble Flaw)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE BANDIT DOES NOT WEAR SUPER GRIP SOCKS"121 + 106 = 227 (T) · 111 + 198 = 309 (A) · 291 + 245 = 536 (N) · 159 + 186 = 345 (H) · 138 + 109 = 247 (K) · 328 + 368 = 696 (O) · 422 + 472 = 894 (I) · 380 + 429 = 809 (C) · 91 + 172 = 263 (B) · 172 + 261 = 433 (D) · 222 + 178 = 400 (S) · 138 + 320 = 458 (E) · 356 + 490 = 846 (W) · 302 + 312 = 614 (P) · 176 + 125 = 301 (U) · 84 + 189 = 273 (G) · 392 + 448 = 840 (R)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE COURT MARKS SHOW A RIGHT HANDED SHOOTER"748 - 162 = 586 (T) · 590 - 37 = 553 (R) · 838 - 78 = 760 (N) · 708 - 338 = 370 (D) · 884 - 180 = 704 (C) · 499 - 379 = 120 (K) · 718 - 39 = 679 (A) · 962 - 329 = 633 (H) · 419 - 77 = 342 (U) · 683 - 293 = 390 (I) · 434 - 236 = 198 (E) · 741 - 78 = 663 (O) · 555 - 237 = 318 (G) · 460 - 234 = 226 (W) · 885 - 308 = 577 (M) · 618 - 45 = 573 (S)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT HAS A DOUBLE DRIBBLE FLAW"2 × 9 = 18 (T) · 11 × 10 = 110 (I) · 9 × 11 = 99 (H) · 5 × 7 = 35 (R) · 1 × 7 = 7 (O) · 4 × 8 = 32 (E) · 5 × 11 = 55 (A) · 12 × 12 = 144 (U) · 8 × 8 = 64 (C) · 12 × 5 = 60 (F) · 11 × 7 = 77 (L) · 8 × 2 = 16 (B) · 1 × 3 = 3 (D) · 11 × 1 = 11 (P) · 11 × 3 = 33 (W) · 10 × 7 = 70 (S)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND STRANDS OF A RED HAIR WRAP"Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (W) · Round 573 to the nearest hundred = 600 (S) · Round 197 to the nearest hundred = 200 (U) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (R) · Round 376 to the nearest hundred = 400 (P) · Round 7,029 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (I) · Round 455 to the nearest hundred = 500 (F) · Round 896 to the nearest hundred = 900 (E) · Round 8,949 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (N) · Round 3,105 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (D) · Round 78 to the nearest ten = 80 (A) · Round 847 to the nearest hundred = 800 (T) · Round 265 to the nearest hundred = 300 (H) · Round 1,839 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (O)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 10) → Donovan Mitchell66 ÷ 11 = 6 · 48 ÷ 6 = 8 · 90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 108 ÷ 9 = 12 · 49 ÷ 7 = 7 · 60 ÷ 12 = 5 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 9 ÷ 9 = 1 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 66 ÷ 6 = 11 · 4 ÷ 1 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Golden Whistle Mystery — set in Hoop Town Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects