🏀 Unicorns, BasketballGrade 4Reading: grades 1-2RoundingBar modelsAdditionSubtractionDivision
The Great Hoop Robbery
The big game is tonight! But someone stole the Sparkle Trophy from the arena lockbox. Help Coach Horn find the Sneaky Dunker 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 move | special gear | shooting hoof | mane color | game fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steph Curryhorn | spark speed | glow headband | right hooved | blue mane | cold water |
| Prancer Pippen | teleport dunk | wing sneakers | right hooved | blue mane | loud whistles |
| Alley Oopcorn | teleport dunk | glow headband | left hooved | silver mane | cold water |
| Dirk Glowitzki | glitter block | wing sneakers | left hooved | blue mane | cold water |
| Giannis Glow | glitter block | glow headband | left hooved | silver mane | cold water |
| Larry Birdwing | teleport dunk | pink socks | right hooved | blue mane | loud whistles |
| Starry Durant | rainbow pass | pink socks | right hooved | blue mane | cold water |
| LeBron Mane | spark speed | gold shoes | left hooved | blue mane | cold water |
| Pegasus Pierce | horn shot | glow headband | right hooved | purple mane | loud whistles |
| Glitter Bird | glitter block | gold shoes | right hooved | blue mane | cold water |
| Bari Barkley | glitter block | wing sneakers | left hooved | blue mane | popping balloons |
| Kobe Hoof | teleport dunk | gold shoes | left hooved | silver mane | loud whistles |
| Magic Johnsoncorn | teleport dunk | glow headband | right hooved | silver mane | popping balloons |
| Kevin Duracorn | glitter block | star jersey | left hooved | purple mane | loud whistles |
| Shaq Sparkles | horn shot | pink socks | right hooved | blue mane | cold water |
| Jewel Embiid | teleport dunk | wing sneakers | right hooved | purple mane | cold water |
| Kyrie Irvinghorn | glitter block | glow headband | left hooved | blue mane | popping balloons |
| Spud Webbhorn | teleport dunk | wing sneakers | left hooved | blue mane | loud whistles |
| Dunkin Horn | rainbow pass | star jersey | left hooved | silver mane | popping balloons |
| Luka Magic | spark speed | pink socks | right hooved | blue mane | cold water |
| Hoop Sparkle | horn shot | wing sneakers | right hooved | silver mane | cold water |
Clue 1
Rounding
We use a box bar map to track the basketball paths. The lines show where the bad player jumped.
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
9000
370
500
230
110
2000
2000
200
110
3000
30
4300
500
900
3000
4300
T
9000
170
500
200
3700
200
7000
2000
4300
170
370
500
200
30
300
200
3000
30
Round 8,839 to the nearest thousandT
Round 6,930 to the nearest thousandG
Round 374 to the nearest tenH
Round 2,310 to the nearest thousandL
Round 112 to the nearest tenI
Round 170 to the nearest tenW
Round 271 to the nearest hundredB
Round 177 to the nearest hundredA
Round 3,029 to the nearest thousandN
Round 893 to the nearest hundredS
Round 228 to the nearest tenV
Round 4,251 to the nearest hundredO
Round 531 to the nearest hundredE
Round 26 to the nearest tenD
Round 3,656 to the nearest hundredR
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Bar model word problems
The scoreboard screen is broken. It only shows rounded score numbers. Read the score to spot the runner.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
R
130
137
45
32
101
32
89
89
47
E
D
Coach Horn used 1/2 of the rainbow whistles on the first day. The other 65 rainbow whistles were used the next day. How many rainbow whistles were there in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→R
There were 172 star headbands in all. 35 star headbands were used. How many star headbands are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→I
There were 85 rainbow whistles in all. 38 rainbow whistles were used. How many rainbow whistles are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→V
Coach Horn has 4 times as many glitter balls as a teammate. The teammate has 8 glitter balls. How many glitter balls does Coach Horn have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→H
The red team has 122 glitter balls and the blue team has 21 glitter balls. How many more glitter balls does the red team have?
draw a bar model
Answer:→T
One group collected 8 glitter balls and another group collected 37 glitter balls. How many glitter balls in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→G
Coach Horn shares 178 rainbow whistles equally among 2 teams. How many rainbow whistles does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→O
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Addition
We need to count all the extra basketballs. We add the piles together to find the secret path.
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
4398
3491
6163
8037
9357
3931
2470
3931
6520
3931
8037
3755
9357
2908
5115
8787
2908
9713
8705
6520
3931
T
4398
6163
9357
1588 + 2810 =T
1451 + 1457 =O
3823 + 4964 =C
2820 + 5217 =Y
820 + 1650 =N
4281 + 2239 =W
3187 + 2976 =E
2858 + 2257 =M
3787 + 5570 =R
4814 + 4899 =L
4228 + 4477 =D
1404 + 2527 =A
2125 + 1630 =F
1114 + 2377 =H
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Subtraction
Some sparkly sneakers went missing from the rack. Subtract the old shoes to find who took them.
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
4188
2984
1601
8921
1893
1601
8010
1601
8921
T
4188
3430
4271
8010
7124
1601
6931
3430
4975
1601
2984
3430
2142
1823
7098 - 2910 =T
11483 - 2562 =F
2438 - 615 =R
6590 - 4697 =O
11153 - 4029 =U
7975 - 4991 =H
10348 - 3417 =M
4730 - 2588 =I
5827 - 2397 =A
8020 - 3749 =B
9301 - 4326 =N
2058 - 457 =E
10505 - 2495 =L
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We split the magical sports drinks into even groups. See how they share to find 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
55 ÷ 11 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
121 ÷ 11 = ?
6 ÷ 1 = ?
12 ÷ 1 = ?
4 ÷ 4 = ?
12 ÷ 4 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
8 ÷ 4 = ?
40 ÷ 10 = ?
50 ÷ 5 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain throws a swift rainbow pass, then squeaks their shiny gold shoes.
2.The villain leaps for a giant glitter block, then lights up their glow headband.
3.The villain teleport dunks over the net, then flies high in wing sneakers.
4.The villain teleport dunks over the net, then squeaks their shiny gold shoes.
5.The villain throws a swift rainbow pass, then pulls up their fuzzy pink socks.
6.The villain shoots a magical horn shot, then lights up their glow headband.
7.The villain shoots a magical horn shot, then flashes their bright star jersey.
8.The villain leaps for a giant glitter block, then squeaks their shiny gold shoes.
9.The villain runs with amazing spark speed, then pulls up their fuzzy pink socks.
10.The villain teleport dunks over the net, then pulls up their fuzzy pink socks.
11.The villain shoots a magical horn shot, then pulls up their fuzzy pink socks.
12.The villain shoots a magical horn shot, then flies high in wing sneakers.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Hoop Robbery
Culprit: Luka Magic (spark speed · pink socks · right hooved · blue mane · cold water)
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR A GLOW HEADBAND"Round 8,839 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (T) · Round 6,930 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (G) · Round 374 to the nearest ten = 370 (H) · Round 2,310 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (L) · Round 112 to the nearest ten = 110 (I) · Round 170 to the nearest ten = 170 (W) · Round 271 to the nearest hundred = 300 (B) · Round 177 to the nearest hundred = 200 (A) · Round 3,029 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (N) · Round 893 to the nearest hundred = 900 (S) · Round 228 to the nearest ten = 230 (V) · Round 4,251 to the nearest hundred = 4300 (O) · Round 531 to the nearest hundred = 500 (E) · Round 26 to the nearest ten = 30 (D) · Round 3,656 to the nearest hundred = 3700 (R)
- Clue 2 (Bar model word problems): "RIGHT HOOVED"Coach Horn used 1/2 of the rainbow whistles on the first day. The other 65 rainbow whistles were used the next day. How many rainbow whistles were there in all? = 130 (R) · There were 172 star headbands in all. 35 star headbands were used. How many star headbands are left? = 137 (I) · There were 85 rainbow whistles in all. 38 rainbow whistles were used. How many rainbow whistles are left? = 47 (V) · Coach Horn has 4 times as many glitter balls as a teammate. The teammate has 8 glitter balls. How many glitter balls does Coach Horn have? = 32 (H) · The red team has 122 glitter balls and the blue team has 21 glitter balls. How many more glitter balls does the red team have? = 101 (T) · One group collected 8 glitter balls and another group collected 37 glitter balls. How many glitter balls in all? = 45 (G) · Coach Horn shares 178 rainbow whistles equally among 2 teams. How many rainbow whistles does each team get? = 89 (O)
- Clue 3 (Addition): "THEY RAN AWAY FROM COLD WATER"1588 + 2810 = 4398 (T) · 1451 + 1457 = 2908 (O) · 3823 + 4964 = 8787 (C) · 2820 + 5217 = 8037 (Y) · 820 + 1650 = 2470 (N) · 4281 + 2239 = 6520 (W) · 3187 + 2976 = 6163 (E) · 2858 + 2257 = 5115 (M) · 3787 + 5570 = 9357 (R) · 4814 + 4899 = 9713 (L) · 4228 + 4477 = 8705 (D) · 1404 + 2527 = 3931 (A) · 2125 + 1630 = 3755 (F) · 1114 + 2377 = 3491 (H)
- Clue 4 (Subtraction): "THE FOE LEFT A BLUE MANE HAIR"7098 - 2910 = 4188 (T) · 11483 - 2562 = 8921 (F) · 2438 - 615 = 1823 (R) · 6590 - 4697 = 1893 (O) · 11153 - 4029 = 7124 (U) · 7975 - 4991 = 2984 (H) · 10348 - 3417 = 6931 (M) · 4730 - 2588 = 2142 (I) · 5827 - 2397 = 3430 (A) · 8020 - 3749 = 4271 (B) · 9301 - 4326 = 4975 (N) · 2058 - 457 = 1601 (E) · 10505 - 2495 = 8010 (L)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Luka Magic55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8 · 121 ÷ 11 = 11 · 6 ÷ 1 = 6 · 12 ÷ 1 = 12 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 12 ÷ 4 = 3 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 8 ÷ 4 = 2 · 40 ÷ 10 = 4 · 50 ÷ 5 = 10
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Bar models, Addition, Subtraction, Division
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Great Hoop Robbery — set in Glitter Dome Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects