Learning Network: A Lesson Plan on President Trump and the Constitution
Trump’s first 100 days
The Learning Network

May 2, 2025

This photograph shows a group of people on a set of steep steps rolling up a larger-than-life facsimile of the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Behind the group, in the background, we can see the white marble pillars and the facade of a monument.
Volunteers rolled up a banner printed with the preamble to the U.S. Constitution at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 2010.  Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images

Dear Reader,

The first 100 days of President Trump’s second presidency have been like no other. From the moment he was sworn in on Jan. 20, he has sought to transform America and its place in the world. Intent on enacting his agenda, Mr. Trump has moved at a dizzying pace, issuing a barrage of executive actions and orders that have tested the boundaries of his power and the limits of the Constitution.

Whether your students support Mr. Trump’s policies, oppose them or aren’t sure what to think, the political situation in the United States today presents an important opportunity for young people to think critically about fundamental constitutional issues.

With this new lesson, we aim to help students explore five of those key concepts — separation of powers with checks and balances, executive authority, freedom of the press, freedom of speech and the right to due process — and Mr. Trump’s challenges to them.

We also invite students to tell us what they think about the first 100 days of the second Trump administration in our companion writing prompt.

Finally, we want to hear from you: What politics- and civics-related topics do you want us to cover so that you can explore them with students next school year? Email us at LNFeedback@nytimes.com or post a comment on the lesson.

Sincerely,
The Learning Network

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

This photograph shows a group of people on a set of steep steps rolling up a larger-than-life facsimile of the preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Behind the group, in the background, we can see the white marble pillars and the facade of a monument.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images

Civics Lesson

President Trump and the Constitution: 5 Critical Issues to Explore With Students

In this lesson, we walk students through a flurry of actions in Trump’s first 100 days that have tested the limits of executive power and the Constitution.

By Natalie Proulx and Michael Gonchar

President Trump, who is wearing a dark-colored suit and a red hat, walks toward a black car. It is a cloudy day.

Al Drago for The New York Times

Student Opinion

What Do You Think of Trump’s First 100 Days?

How do you feel about how the Trump administration is transforming America and its place in the world?

By Katherine Schulten

A close-up photo of Timothy Jay. He wears a knit green sweater and stands partially in the shadow and partially in the light.

Christopher Capozziello for The New York Times

current events conversation

What Teenagers Are Saying About Cursing

Students debate whether there is too much of it today, in what cases it’s appropriate, and when it becomes a problem.

By The Learning Network

A graph shows the percent of nutritionists saying a food is healthy plotted again the percent of all Americans saying a food is healthy.

The New York Times

What’s Going On in This Graph? | May 7, 2025

Is popcorn good for you? What about pizza, orange juice or sushi? Or frozen yogurt, pork chops or quinoa? What foods are healthy to eat?

By The Learning Network

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada celebrates with a crowd of supporters.

Cole Burston for The New York Times

Student News Quiz

Weekly Student News Quiz: Trump's First 100 Days, Kashmir, Fuzzy Dolls

Have you been paying attention to current events recently? See how many of these 10 questions you can get right.

Compiled by Jeremy Engle and Michael Gonchar

Article Image

Reuters

What’s Going On in This Picture? | May 5, 2025

Look closely at this image, stripped of its caption, and join the moderated conversation about what you and other students see.

By The Learning Network

An illustration of a simply drawn airplane with a person visible through each window, including a pilot; a person in a blue baseball hat, wearing headphones and looking at a phone; a person wearing headphones and speaking into a microphone; and a woman with red hair wearing headphones and looking at her phone. Clouds and a Wi-Fi signal symbol surround the plane.

Irene Rinaldi

Contests

Our Student Podcast Contest

We invite students to create an original podcast of five minutes or less that informs or entertains. Contest dates: April 16 to May 14, 2025.

By The Learning Network

An illustration of a melting orange Popsicle, in the shape of a book on a stick, in front of a yellow background

Ben Hickey

Contests

Our 16th Annual Summer Reading Contest

Students are invited to tell us what they’re reading in The Times and why, this year in writing OR via a 90-second video. Contest dates: June 6 to Aug. 15, 2025.

By The Learning Network

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