🏀 BasketballGrade 1Reading: grades 1-2Place valueAdditionSubtractionSkip countingMissing addends
The Missing Golden Basketball
The big championship game is about to start! But someone took the lucky golden basketball. Can you help the coach find the Sneaky Shooter before the final 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 | court hairstyle | court distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | No-Look Pass | Star Badge | Right-Handed | Tall Mohawk | Thirsty |
| Zion Williamson | Slam Dunk | Silver Whistle | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Thirsty |
| Donovan Mitchell | Three-Pointer | Gold Medal | Left-Handed | Tall Mohawk | Mascot Fear |
| Anthony Davis | Sky Hook | Gold Medal | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Mascot Fear |
| Devin Booker | No-Look Pass | Neon Socks | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Mascot Fear |
| Jayson Tatum | Spin Move | Star Badge | Right-Handed | Spiky Hair | Mascot Fear |
| Kyrie Irving | Slam Dunk | Neon Socks | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Squeaky Sneaker |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Three-Pointer | Star Badge | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Mascot Fear |
| James Harden | Spin Move | Red Wristband | Left-Handed | Tall Mohawk | Mascot Fear |
| Dearron Fox | Spin Move | Gold Medal | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Squeaky Sneaker |
| LeBron James | No-Look Pass | Neon Socks | Left-Handed | Tall Mohawk | Squeaky Sneaker |
| Kawhi Leonard | Sky Hook | Silver Whistle | Right-Handed | Blue Headband | Mascot Fear |
| Jimmy Butler | Three-Pointer | Neon Socks | Right-Handed | Tall Mohawk | Thirsty |
| Trae Young | Spin Move | Silver Whistle | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Squeaky Sneaker |
| Chris Paul | Sky Hook | Gold Medal | Right-Handed | Blue Headband | Squeaky Sneaker |
| Stephen Curry | Spin Move | Red Wristband | Left-Handed | Spiky Hair | Mascot Fear |
| Ja Morant | Slam Dunk | Star Badge | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Mascot Fear |
| Damian Lillard | Spin Move | Red Wristband | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Mascot Fear |
| Joel Embiid | Slam Dunk | Star Badge | Right-Handed | Spiky Hair | Squeaky Sneaker |
| Luka Doncic | Sky Hook | Red Wristband | Right-Handed | Blue Headband | Squeaky Sneaker |
| Bam Adebayo | Three-Pointer | Gold Medal | Left-Handed | Blue Headband | Squeaky Sneaker |
Clue 1
Place value
The gym scoreboard has a glitch. It only shows tens and ones to name the clue locker.
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
71
23
78
79
59
97
97
98
59
80
92
37
78
56
80
37
T
71
26
78
98
52
80
78
37
80
56
37
17
48
56
What number has 7 tens and 1 one?T
What number has 2 tens and 6 ones?W
What number has 9 tens and 2 ones?D
What number has 5 tens and 2 ones?R
What number has 9 tens and 7 ones?L
What number has 2 tens and 3 ones?H
What number has 3 tens and 7 ones?O
What number has 4 tens and 8 ones?K
What number has 7 tens and 9 ones?V
What number has 8 tens and 0 ones?N
What number has 5 tens and 9 ones?I
What number has 1 ten and 7 ones?C
What number has 5 tens and 6 ones?S
What number has 7 tens and 8 ones?E
What number has 9 tens and 8 ones?A
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We must count all the basketballs in the big bins to open the gym 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
15
10
20
3
12
9
9
8
12
7
7
10
5
T
15
8
16
T
15
10
12
9
20
13
T
15
10
12
2
6
6 + 9 =T
1 + 5 =D
4 + 3 =S
7 + 13 =E
4 + 8 =A
1 + 1 =N
2 + 1 =B
7 + 2 =L
7 + 6 =F
5 + 3 =W
3 + 2 =O
7 + 3 =H
4 + 12 =I
0/13 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The team lost some practice cones during warmups. Subtract to find the missing ones.
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
15
5
3
T
15
13
7
14
3
T
15
7
13
18
13
17
13
8
12
7
4
10
T
15
5
3
11
3
13
7
10
13
2
19
4
T
15
18 - 3 =T
8 - 6 =S
20 - 3 =W
8 - 3 =H
5 - 1 =O
19 - 8 =B
15 - 8 =R
11 - 8 =E
20 - 6 =G
18 - 5 =A
12 - 2 =M
20 - 1 =C
19 - 1 =N
15 - 7 =Y
15 - 3 =F
0/15 letters found
Clue 4
Skip counting
Look at the sneakers lined up by the bench. Let us count them by twos.
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
18
45
50
42
55
39
26
6
30
22
55
45
100
45
6
26
30
6
39
26
30
25
130
100
45
39
45
130
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ___, 21, 24W
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55E
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120H
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70F
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65U
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10A
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45N
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26L
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30D
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48O
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35Y
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150T
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50B
0/13 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
We need ten water bottles for the team. We only have six. How many more do we need?
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
10 + ___ = 22
4 + ___ = 12
3 + ___ = 14
1 + ___ = 11
2 + ___ = 7
2 + ___ = 3
8 + ___ = 11
6 + ___ = 10
9 + ___ = 11
10 + ___ = 16
8 + ___ = 17
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain sinks a clean three-pointer, then polishes their gold medal.
2.The villain throws a no-look pass, then polishes their gold medal.
3.The villain does a quick spin move, then polishes their gold medal.
4.The villain shoots a high sky hook, then blows a silver whistle.
5.The villain throws a no-look pass, then pulls up their neon socks.
6.The villain leaps for a slam dunk, then polishes their gold medal.
7.The villain shoots a high sky hook, then polishes their gold medal.
8.The villain does a quick spin move, then adjusts their red wristband.
9.The villain leaps for a slam dunk, then adjusts their red wristband.
10.The villain throws a no-look pass, then adjusts their red wristband.
11.The villain leaps for a slam dunk, then taps their star badge.
12.The villain sinks a clean three-pointer, then taps their star badge.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Missing Golden Basketball
Culprit: Anthony Davis (Sky Hook · Gold Medal · Left-Handed · Blue Headband · Mascot Fear)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR NEON SOCKS"What number has 7 tens and 1 one? = 71 (T) · What number has 2 tens and 6 ones? = 26 (W) · What number has 9 tens and 2 ones? = 92 (D) · What number has 5 tens and 2 ones? = 52 (R) · What number has 9 tens and 7 ones? = 97 (L) · What number has 2 tens and 3 ones? = 23 (H) · What number has 3 tens and 7 ones? = 37 (O) · What number has 4 tens and 8 ones? = 48 (K) · What number has 7 tens and 9 ones? = 79 (V) · What number has 8 tens and 0 ones? = 80 (N) · What number has 5 tens and 9 ones? = 59 (I) · What number has 1 ten and 7 ones? = 17 (C) · What number has 5 tens and 6 ones? = 56 (S) · What number has 7 tens and 8 ones? = 78 (E) · What number has 9 tens and 8 ones? = 98 (A)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE BALL WAS SHOT WITH A LEFT HAND"6 + 9 = 15 (T) · 1 + 5 = 6 (D) · 4 + 3 = 7 (S) · 7 + 13 = 20 (E) · 4 + 8 = 12 (A) · 1 + 1 = 2 (N) · 2 + 1 = 3 (B) · 7 + 2 = 9 (L) · 7 + 6 = 13 (F) · 5 + 3 = 8 (W) · 3 + 2 = 5 (O) · 7 + 3 = 10 (H) · 4 + 12 = 16 (I)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THE TARGET RAN AWAY FROM THE BEAR MASCOT"18 - 3 = 15 (T) · 8 - 6 = 2 (S) · 20 - 3 = 17 (W) · 8 - 3 = 5 (H) · 5 - 1 = 4 (O) · 19 - 8 = 11 (B) · 15 - 8 = 7 (R) · 11 - 8 = 3 (E) · 20 - 6 = 14 (G) · 18 - 5 = 13 (A) · 12 - 2 = 10 (M) · 20 - 1 = 19 (C) · 19 - 1 = 18 (N) · 15 - 7 = 8 (Y) · 15 - 3 = 12 (F)
- Clue 4 (Skip counting): "WE FOUND A BLUE HEADBAND BY THE NET"Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ___, 21, 24 = 18 (W) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (E) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120 = 100 (H) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, ___, 60, 70 = 50 (F) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ___, 60, 65 = 55 (U) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, ___, 8, 10 = 6 (A) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, ___, 42, 45 = 39 (N) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, ___, 24, 26 = 22 (L) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30 = 26 (D) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48 = 42 (O) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (Y) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, ___, 140, 150 = 130 (T) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, ___, 40, 50 = 30 (B)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 7) → Anthony Davis10 + ___ = 22 = 12 · 4 + ___ = 12 = 8 · 3 + ___ = 14 = 11 · 1 + ___ = 11 = 10 · 2 + ___ = 7 = 5 · 2 + ___ = 3 = 1 · 8 + ___ = 11 = 3 · 6 + ___ = 10 = 4 · 9 + ___ = 11 = 2 · 10 + ___ = 16 = 6 · 8 + ___ = 17 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Skip counting, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Missing Golden Basketball — set in Championship Court
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects