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Election Detectives: cover
Election Detectives: cover
7 pages in all. The cover is shown; the whole packet is free with your email. Open full-screen preview
THE NEWSROOM FREE · FLORIDA-SPECIFIC FLORIDA

Election Detectives

A Florida packet: how America picks its leaders, and the clues left behind on Election Night.

Ages8 to 10
Grades3 to 5
SubjectsCivics, math

Made for Florida. This packet uses Florida's governor, senator and House races throughout, so it's specific to Florida families.

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An independent, nonpartisan lesson, not affiliated with any party, candidate or government office. This packet is specific to Florida.

In short

Election Detectives is a free, printable 7-page civics packet for Florida kids ages 8 to 10, built on the midterm election. Kids follow five clues to learn how federal and state government work, why Congress has two rooms, what a midterm is and what a majority means, then look up the real results with a grown-up. It's nonpartisan, and it's specific to Florida, using Florida's government and races throughout.

By the end, your kids can

  • Tell federal jobs apart from state jobs
  • Explain why the Senate and House are built differently
  • Say what a midterm election is
  • Work out what counts as a majority
  • Describe how an idea becomes a law
  • Look up real election results with a grown-up
Lesson snapshot

What your kids walk away with

2 subjects, 4 real-world skills
Skills they practice
ObserveCount the seats
Measure and recordFill in the real results
Explain with evidenceTeach it back to a grown-up
Check the claimsWhat a red or blue map really shows
REAL NEWS Real news Built on the midterm election Living lesson: free updates when the story changes.
Ready in
0minutes of prep: print it and go
7printable pages
Teacher details: standards, concepts and skills
Age range
Ages 8 to 10
Grade levels
3rd to 5th
Subjects
Civics, math
Format
Printable PDF, US Letter, 7 pages, black and white. Specific to Florida.
Concepts
Federal and state government · The Senate and the House · Midterm elections · Majorities · How an idea becomes a law · Checking results in the news

No prep. Nothing to gather.

  • The printed packet
  • A pencil
  • Red and blue crayons
  • Scissors
  • A news site, with a grown-up

What kids figure out

BIG IDEA 1Two teamsFederal and state governments have the same three jobs.Activity: federal or state?
BIG IDEA 2Two roomsWhy every state gets 2 senators but not the same number of representatives.Activity: count the seats
BIG IDEA 3The midtermWhy only some seats were on the ballot.Activity: shade the Senate
BIG IDEA 4The magic numberWhat it takes to win a majority and pass a law.Activity: color the governor map

What's inside

Election Detectives Packet7 pages
Ages 8 to 10, Florida
  • 5 clues to solve
  • Shade the Senate and color the governor map
  • A certificate to cut out
Your license, in plain words
You canPrint copies for the kids in your home or your one classroomUse it again every yearShare a link to our shop
Please don'tSend the files to friends or a co-opPost them online or in shared drivesResell, re-brand, or upload them to AI tools
Read the full license
How this lesson stays freshLIVING LESSON
  1. THE STORYAmerica votes in the midterm election
  2. THE LESSONElection Detectives, free to print
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Questions parents ask

Is it really free?

Yes. Enter your email and we'll send you the download link. You'll also get The Dispatch, our free new-lesson emails, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Does it take sides?

No. It teaches how elections work. Kids look up the results themselves, and nothing in the packet says who should win.

We don't live in Florida. Will it still work?

This packet is specific to Florida. The Congress pages work anywhere, but the state government pages and the case file use Florida's races, so families elsewhere would need to swap in their own state's.

Is there an answer key?

Not with this packet. Most answers are on the pages themselves, and the results come from the news.

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