🏀 BasketballGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Great Championship Ball Caper
The championship golden basketball has vanished from the display case right before the big game! The Team Mascot is in tears. You must search the arena, solve the math mysteries, and find the culprit before tip-off!
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 Skill | Secret Gear | Shooting Hand | Left Behind Item | Court Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul George | speed dribbling | high bounce sneakers | left handed | green sweatband | loud referee whistle |
| Donovan Mitchell | stealing the ball | glowing wristbands | right handed | green sweatband | squeaky floorboards |
| Devin Booker | stealing the ball | glowing wristbands | right handed | red snapback cap | bright camera flash |
| Anthony Edwards | stealing the ball | laser vision goggles | left handed | blue headband | squeaky floorboards |
| Bam Adebayo | speed dribbling | sticky grip gloves | left handed | green sweatband | squeaky floorboards |
| Jaylen Brown | three point shooting | magnetic basketball | left handed | green sweatband | bright camera flash |
| Steph Curry | three point shooting | high bounce sneakers | right handed | blue headband | loud referee whistle |
| Anthony Davis | slam dunking | high bounce sneakers | right handed | red snapback cap | bright camera flash |
| Nikola Jokic | bounce passing | magnetic basketball | right handed | blue headband | loud referee whistle |
| Damian Lillard | stealing the ball | magnetic basketball | right handed | green sweatband | loud referee whistle |
| Tyrese Haliburton | three point shooting | high bounce sneakers | right handed | green sweatband | squeaky floorboards |
| Joel Embiid | speed dribbling | sticky grip gloves | right handed | blue headband | squeaky floorboards |
| Jayson Tatum | three point shooting | high bounce sneakers | left handed | blue headband | squeaky floorboards |
| Jimmy Butler | speed dribbling | sticky grip gloves | left handed | red snapback cap | loud referee whistle |
| Kawhi Leonard | three point shooting | magnetic basketball | right handed | green sweatband | squeaky floorboards |
| Klay Thompson | bounce passing | glowing wristbands | left handed | blue headband | bright camera flash |
| Kevin Durant | slam dunking | laser vision goggles | right handed | green sweatband | squeaky floorboards |
| Luka Doncic | speed dribbling | glowing wristbands | right handed | green sweatband | squeaky floorboards |
| LeBron James | speed dribbling | laser vision goggles | right handed | green sweatband | loud referee whistle |
| Kyrie Irving | speed dribbling | glowing wristbands | left handed | red snapback cap | loud referee whistle |
| Trae Young | speed dribbling | high bounce sneakers | right handed | blue headband | bright camera flash |
Clue 1
Addition
The referee is counting up the practice basketballs left in each bin. Add them together to uncover a secret note.
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
6704
3136
2842
T
6704
3136
3015
2842
6314
5077
5478
2842
9640
5758
5478
T
6704
8744
9640
2842
8325
4121
7686
5758
2842
T
6704
3015
5425
8735
4121
9640
5313
2842
T
6704
8735
4121
3492
3492
4305 + 2399 =T
4924 + 3820 =U
6004 + 3636 =S
1854 + 988 =E
4395 + 4340 =B
2441 + 3037 =O
2843 + 2915 =N
1433 + 2059 =L
2822 + 2603 =C
1293 + 2828 =A
1915 + 3162 =D
4536 + 3789 =M
2271 + 3042 =K
1979 + 1157 =H
1448 + 1567 =I
3577 + 4109 =G
3409 + 2905 =F
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
Some game-day jerseys are missing from the locker room shelves. Subtract the missing ones from the total 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
5883
3925
7308
4389
3754
4389
7454
7308
4278
T
5883
4389
3925
4202
T
5883
4824
2136
T
5883
3925
T
5883
3925
7308
2136
6965
6965
2136
2063
3925
T
5883
3925
1861
5601
7769
8423 - 2540 =T
9003 - 4179 =W
6429 - 2040 =S
6594 - 2669 =H
2639 - 778 =A
2823 - 687 =I
8433 - 4231 =O
8090 - 1125 =R
5513 - 3450 =G
4226 - 472 =U
9367 - 2059 =E
7892 - 3614 =C
10914 - 3460 =P
5808 - 207 =N
8989 - 1220 =D
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The basketball racks are stacked in equal rows on the court. Multiply the rows to unlock the security camera footage.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
30
80
10
3
100
96
18
66
27
6
6
44
25
6
100
44
33
S
30
16
36
27
27
S
30
144
6
11
144
56
36
S
30
144
56
36
3
66
10 × 3 =S
8 × 2 =W
1 × 3 =E
5 × 5 =B
10 × 1 =U
11 × 1 =P
12 × 12 =T
7 × 8 =H
10 × 10 =A
3 × 6 =Y
11 × 6 =F
1 × 6 =O
3 × 9 =L
9 × 4 =I
8 × 10 =Q
4 × 11 =R
3 × 11 =D
12 × 8 =K
0/18 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The giant stadium scoreboard is glitching and only displays numbers rounded to the nearest ten. Round the score to read the message.
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
20
50
70
900
300
3000
370
1700
7000
230
50
50
3000
110
W
20
50
1700
5000
1300
1700
3000
370
900
3000
5000
3700
50
4300
900
300
230
5000
Round 18 to the nearest tenW
Round 1,652 to the nearest hundredA
Round 72 to the nearest tenF
Round 4,295 to the nearest hundredC
Round 2,905 to the nearest thousandN
Round 53 to the nearest tenE
Round 373 to the nearest tenD
Round 233 to the nearest tenR
Round 5,223 to the nearest thousandT
Round 1,301 to the nearest hundredB
Round 106 to the nearest tenS
Round 3,727 to the nearest hundredH
Round 861 to the nearest hundredO
Round 268 to the nearest hundredU
Round 7,141 to the nearest thousandG
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The coach is sharing out the sports drinks equally among all the players. Divide the drinks to reveal the 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
33 ÷ 3 = ?
18 ÷ 9 = ?
20 ÷ 4 = ?
100 ÷ 10 = ?
18 ÷ 3 = ?
21 ÷ 3 = ?
9 ÷ 1 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
12 ÷ 12 = ?
28 ÷ 7 = ?
80 ÷ 10 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sinks a half court shot, then uses sticky grip gloves.
2.The villain steals the ball away, then flashes glowing wristbands.
3.The villain slams an epic dunk, then shines laser vision goggles.
4.The villain slams an epic dunk, then activates a magnetic basketball.
5.The villain dribbles past the defense, then flashes glowing wristbands.
6.The villain sinks a half court shot, then flashes glowing wristbands.
7.The villain steals the ball away, then activates a magnetic basketball.
8.The villain makes a perfect bounce pass, then activates a magnetic basketball.
9.The villain makes a perfect bounce pass, then uses sticky grip gloves.
10.The villain slams an epic dunk, then uses sticky grip gloves.
11.The villain sinks a half court shot, then escapes using high bounce sneakers.
12.The villain makes a perfect bounce pass, then escapes using high bounce sneakers.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Championship Ball Caper
Culprit: Kevin Durant (slam dunking · laser vision goggles · right handed · green sweatband · squeaky floorboards)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE MAGNETIC BASKETBALL"4305 + 2399 = 6704 (T) · 4924 + 3820 = 8744 (U) · 6004 + 3636 = 9640 (S) · 1854 + 988 = 2842 (E) · 4395 + 4340 = 8735 (B) · 2441 + 3037 = 5478 (O) · 2843 + 2915 = 5758 (N) · 1433 + 2059 = 3492 (L) · 2822 + 2603 = 5425 (C) · 1293 + 2828 = 4121 (A) · 1915 + 3162 = 5077 (D) · 4536 + 3789 = 8325 (M) · 2271 + 3042 = 5313 (K) · 1979 + 1157 = 3136 (H) · 1448 + 1567 = 3015 (I) · 3577 + 4109 = 7686 (G) · 3409 + 2905 = 6314 (F)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE SUSPECT SHOT WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND"8423 - 2540 = 5883 (T) · 9003 - 4179 = 4824 (W) · 6429 - 2040 = 4389 (S) · 6594 - 2669 = 3925 (H) · 2639 - 778 = 1861 (A) · 2823 - 687 = 2136 (I) · 8433 - 4231 = 4202 (O) · 8090 - 1125 = 6965 (R) · 5513 - 3450 = 2063 (G) · 4226 - 472 = 3754 (U) · 9367 - 2059 = 7308 (E) · 7892 - 3614 = 4278 (C) · 10914 - 3460 = 7454 (P) · 5808 - 207 = 5601 (N) · 8989 - 1220 = 7769 (D)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "SQUEAKY FLOORBOARDS WILL STOP THIS THIEF"10 × 3 = 30 (S) · 8 × 2 = 16 (W) · 1 × 3 = 3 (E) · 5 × 5 = 25 (B) · 10 × 1 = 10 (U) · 11 × 1 = 11 (P) · 12 × 12 = 144 (T) · 7 × 8 = 56 (H) · 10 × 10 = 100 (A) · 3 × 6 = 18 (Y) · 11 × 6 = 66 (F) · 1 × 6 = 6 (O) · 3 × 9 = 27 (L) · 9 × 4 = 36 (I) · 8 × 10 = 80 (Q) · 4 × 11 = 44 (R) · 3 × 11 = 33 (D) · 12 × 8 = 96 (K)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "WE FOUND A GREEN SWEATBAND ON THE COURT"Round 18 to the nearest ten = 20 (W) · Round 1,652 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (A) · Round 72 to the nearest ten = 70 (F) · Round 4,295 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (C) · Round 2,905 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (N) · Round 53 to the nearest ten = 50 (E) · Round 373 to the nearest ten = 370 (D) · Round 233 to the nearest ten = 230 (R) · Round 5,223 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (T) · Round 1,301 to the nearest hundred = 1300 (B) · Round 106 to the nearest ten = 110 (S) · Round 3,727 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (H) · Round 861 to the nearest hundred = 900 (O) · Round 268 to the nearest hundred = 300 (U) · Round 7,141 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (G)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Kevin Durant33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 18 ÷ 9 = 2 · 20 ÷ 4 = 5 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10 · 18 ÷ 3 = 6 · 21 ÷ 3 = 7 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 28 ÷ 7 = 4 · 80 ÷ 10 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Championship Ball Caper — set in The Slam Dunk Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects