# Election Detectives: All-States Edition > For every state: how America picks its leaders, and the clues left behind on Election Night. Election Detectives: All-States Edition is a free, printable 7-page civics packet for kids ages 8 to 10 in any US state, 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 their own state's results with a grown-up. It's nonpartisan, and kids fill in their own state throughout. ## At a glance - **Ages:** 8 to 10 - **Grades:** 3 to 5 - **Subjects:** Civics, Math - **Type:** The Newsroom (Civics and World Desk) - **Built on:** the midterm election - **Format:** printable PDF, US Letter, instant download, 7 pages in all - **Supplies:** none to gather. No prep: print it, grab pencils, crayons and scissors - **Lesson page:** https://everywhere.school/lessons/election-detectives-all-states ## What kids learn - 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 ## The big ideas 1. **Two teams.** Federal and state governments have the same three jobs. Activity: federal or state?. 2. **Two rooms.** Why every state gets 2 senators but not the same number of representatives. Activity: count the seats. 3. **The midterm.** Why only some seats were on the ballot. Activity: shade the Senate. 4. **The magic number.** What it takes to win a majority and pass a law. Activity: color the governor map. ## The 30-second breakdown - **What happened:** Voters picked all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governors. - **What's inside:** Two teams of government, two rooms of Congress and the magic number for a majority. - **Try it tonight:** Shade the Senate, then look up who won with a grown-up. ## Free packet - **Free packet** (Ages 8 to 10): free. 7-page packet for any state. Free with your email at https://everywhere.school/lessons/election-detectives-all-states#free. It covers one family or one classroom. ## What's inside - **Election Detectives: All-States Edition** (Ages 8 to 10, any state, 7 pages): 5 clues to solve; Shade the Senate and color the governor map; A certificate to cut out ## Supplies The printed packet, A pencil, Red and blue crayons, Scissors, A news site, with a grown-up. ## Concepts covered Federal and state government; The Senate and the House; Midterm elections; Majorities; How an idea becomes a law; Checking results in the news. ## 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. **Will it work in our state?** Yes. It's made for all 50 states: kids write in their own state's capital, governor, senators and House district. Families in Florida can also pick the Florida Edition, which has Florida's races already built in. **Is there an answer key?** Not with this packet. Most answers are on the pages themselves, and the results come from the news. --- An independent, nonpartisan lesson, not affiliated with any party, candidate or government office. Published by The Everywhere School (https://everywhere.school). Questions: hello@everywhere.school.