Welcome to the PLTW Curriculum Planning Guide
At PLTW, we know that great teaching starts with great planning. That’s why we’ve created this Curriculum Planning Guide help you succeed every step of the way.
You’ll find everything you need to align your instruction with real-world learning experiences that prepare students for success in college, careers, and beyond. Whether you're just getting started or have decades of experience, this guide is designed to support you every step of the way.
Table of Contents
Your quick guide to navigating this page for the most important resources and updates.
- Getting Started with PLTW
- Enhanced myPLTW Experience
- PLTW Program Updates
- College and Career Readiness
- PLTW Capstone
- PLTW Training Resources
- PLTW Grant Opportunities
Getting Started with PLTW
Set your classroom up for success from day one with these four essential steps. Whether you're continuing your PLTW journey or just getting started, these resources will guide you through a smooth and confident start to the year.
Step 1: Update myPLTW
- Log into myPLTW and confirm that all your contact information and roles are correct to help us provide you with the most relevant updates and support throughout the year. View step-by-step instructions.
Step 2: PLTW Core Training
- To effectively implement PLTW programs, all teachers must have completed or be scheduled to complete PLTW Core Training. Check out our list of upcoming training opportunities and secure your spot.
Step 3: Order Equipment and Supplies
- The PLTW Store is your one-stop-shop for all your classroom needs. Visit the PLTW Store today to explore our products and place your order. You can also view additional details about our equipment and supplies on the Store Resources page.
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Pro Tip: Utilize the “Optional” filter in the PLTW Store to find a curated selection of tables, workbenches, seating options, and other classroom essentials. To use, find the filter on the left side of the page and select Optional for PLTW Programs, then click "Update Filters".
Step 4: Roster Your Students
- Students must be rostered to access curriculum. There are three ways to roster:
Need Help? Contact the PLTW Solution Center
We’re here to support you every step of the way. Our team is available 7 a.m. to midnight ET, seven days a week. Contact us at 877.335.7589 or solutioncenter@pltw.org.
Enhanced myPLTW Experience
All students and teachers have now transitioned to the enhanced myPLTW platform in the 2025-26 school year. To get started, download the Enhanced myPLTW Experience Checklist or review the instructions and resources listed below.
- Update Links: Links that were used in the previous platform will no longer work. To ensure continued access, navigate to the course Table of Contents in myPLTW, select the desired activity, project, or problem, and copy the updated link (it should begin with classroom.pltw.org). Learn more.
- Review Settings: Schools that use more heightened security for content and web filtering may need to review the myPLTW Network Allow List and ensure that all websites listed are allowed.
- myPLTW: Comprehensive Guide: This on-demand training provides a quick, effective way to get familiar with the enhanced myPLTW platform. To access:
- Log into myPLTW, go to Professional Development > Dashboard
- Select myPLTW: A Comprehensive Guide.
(Master Teachers and Launch Lead Teachers: select your username in the bottom left and choose Switch to Learner to access the course.)
- Live Teacher Connections: Join us for these upcoming virtual sessions offered through October to help make your transition as smooth as possible. Each session will include an overview of the topic for the first 15 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of live Q&A. View topics and schedule.
Rostering Made Simple
Rostering takes just a few minutes and doesn’t require creating any new accounts. It also helps us make informed planning decisions and ensures your class is included this fall. View instructions.
Expanded Math Connections in PLTW Launch
We’ve recently enhanced the Math callouts in PLTW Launch—and more updates are on the way. To support a stronger connection between math concepts and classroom application, we’re adding additional Math Connections across modules. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.
Updated State Resources Available
Need to show how your curriculum aligns with state standards? Visit our Standards Connections page for the latest resources. We’ve recently added new Module Overviews, Standards Guides, and Scope and Sequence documents for more than a dozen states to support your planning and reporting needs.
Angelina, Mylo, and Suzi Character Displays
You can now order mini stand-up versions of the PLTW Launch characters to add a visual element to your learning space. These 10.5" cutouts are available as finished items or as free downloadable files you can print locally on the material of your choice. View options and order.
Module Posters Available for Download
If you saw the module posters at PLTW Summit or Sparking Curiosity and want to use them in your own space, they’re now available for free digital download. Choose any module and print locally in the format that works best for you.
Four PLTW Gateway Units Feature Updated Content
Energy and the Environment (EE), Green Architecture (GS), Magic of Electrons (ME), and Science of Technology (ST) were refreshed with enhancements to provide a better learning experience for both students and teachers.
Lessons A and B, in EE, GA, ME, and ST, have been replaced with a new Lesson AB. The new Lesson AB consists of two activities: Activity AB.1 Instant Design Challenge and Activity AB.2 Gateway Career Center. These optional activities lay the groundwork for students to use the design process in problem-solving and to engage in career awareness and exploration.
- In Activity AB.1 Instant Design Challenge, students work in teams to design, build, and test a solution for an instant design challenge. Students present their solutions to the class and together with their teammates use a decision matrix to choose the solution that best meets the design requirements. Students are formally introduced to the design process and compare it to the process they followed. They reflect on their team collaboration to develop a set of team rules to follow throughout the unit.
- In Activity AB.2 Gateway Career Center, students engage in a reflective activity in which they identify their personal strengths, focusing on transportable skills, and identify areas for growth. They explore their individual interests and consider which work environment would best suit their preferences. After analyzing their findings, students research various careers and assess which ones align with their strengths, interests, and ideal work settings. Finally, students complete a career exploration for a career that interests them to learn more about it, then share their findings with their classmates.
- Teacher Guides for these four units have been reorganized to provide a more streamlined user experience. Each activity, project, and problem now has its own corresponding Teacher Resources, rather than having lesson-level resources for all. All instructional guidance, facilitation information, and available answer keys are located within the specific activity, project, or problem’s Teacher Resources.
- The Magic of Electrons Activity 1.6: Hand Crank Generator project is now a required activity in which students use a pre-built hand crank generator to power different devices.
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- The update includes additional information on rotary motion, generators, and power plants.
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- The materials no longer require the use of VEX® products. Student materials include a pre-built hand crank generator, alligator clips, and a Snap Circuit® motor, fan, and LED. The hand crank generator is available for purchase in the PLTW Store.
For detailed information about changes and enhancements, please refer to the Curriculum Revisions document available in the Teacher Guide for each unit.
Add Visual Inspiration to Your Classroom
Looking to bring more energy and encouragement into your learning space? Posters featuring messages like Fail Forward and Imagine Your Future Self are available, including Spanish-language versions. PLTW Gateway unit posters are also available. Browse all posters.
Lab Kit Update for Principles of Biomedical Science
Activities 3.1.5 (Isolation) and 3.1.6 (Gram Staining) have been updated to use Edvotek Kit #460. All corresponding student and teacher resources have been revised to reflect this change, ensuring a smoother and more consistent lab experience.
Computer Science A
Alignment with College Board Framework
We’ve updated our CSA course to align with the latest AP CSA Framework — now available for the 2025–26 school year.
This alignment ensures that your students will be fully prepared for the 2025-26 AP CSA exam while continuing to develop the professional skills valued by industry partners.
PLTW CSA Optional Java Certification Unit
The Java Certification unit is a supplement to the content covered in AP CSA Chapters 1-4. The activities discuss additional topics that are included in Oracle Certified Associate certification. After completing AP CSA Chapters 1- 4 and this unit, students should be qualified to take the Java SE 8 Programmer 1 Exam. Students who pass the exam will receive the Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer certification.
The unit is now live in the PLTW CSA student course and can be found just below Chapter 4. It is optional and intended for students who are interested in taking the certification exam. The unit has been specifically designed to be self-paced and student-driven; all answers are provided within the student course and do not require any teacher feedback.
View the Java Certification alignment for the CSA course and review our FAQs for additional details.
MicroChipsters: Your Engineering Adventure Starts Soon
Gear up for MicroChipsters, our latest educational game experience that transforms players into tech-savvy engineers. In this collaborative experience, players mine rare earth elements, craft semiconductors through real-world fabrication steps, and use their creations to power quirky, customizable AI bots.
The game introduces players to the science and systems behind semiconductor manufacturing, including the materials, processes, and challenges involved. Stay tuned for an official release date!
Coming Soon: Advanced Manufacturing Course
We’re excited to introduce a new opportunity for students in grades 10–12 starting in the 2026–27 school year. The PLTW Advanced Manufacturing course is designed to prepare students for high-tech, high-wage careers that drive today’s innovation economy.
This course will offer a deep dive into the world of Industry 4.0—where semiconductors, automation, AI, machine learning, cyber-physical systems, and data analytics are transforming how we design, build, and maintain the technologies around us. Learn more.
Enhanced Teacher Lookup Tool:
Now Supporting Multiple State Standards
The A1A Teacher Lookup Tool just got a major upgrade! In addition to Common Core State Standards, you can now search and align lessons with:
- Texas TEKS standards
- Florida B.E.S.T standards
- New York Next Generation standards
This expansion means you can seamlessly integrate A1A lessons with your state's specific requirements, making lesson planning more efficient and ensuring comprehensive standards coverage.
New Optional Activity: Domain Rangers Roblox Experience
Domain Rangers transforms algebra into an ecosystem-building adventure! In this immersive game, students become engineers, restoring polluted underwater habitats using algebraic problem-solving. Adjusting slopes and y-intercepts creates immediate, visible impact, making abstract math come to life.
Students collect resources, apply functions, and collaborate or compete in single or multiplayer projects, reinforcing key algebraic principles in an exciting way. Explore Domain Rangers.
Beyond the Classroom:
College Credit, Scholarships, and Career Connections
By being part of the PLTW network, your students have access to resources to help prepare them for the next steps in their career path. PLTW’s Student Opportunities page consists of college credit, scholarships, apprenticeships, internships, waived tuition, and many more opportunities.
PLTW also worked with ACE (American Council on Education) to evaluate PLTW courses and identify those that qualify for the opportunity to receive college credit. Learn more or view the qualifying courses by program listed below:
- PLTW Biomedical Science
- Human Body Systems
- Medical Interventions
- Principles of Biomedical Science
- PLTW Engineering
- Civil Engineering and Architecture
- Digital Electronics
- Principles of Engineering
- PLTW Computer Science
- Cybersecurity
- Cybersecurity
PLTW Capstone
PLTW Capstone now spans all three of our high school pathways: PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, and PLTW Computer Science, offering a truly integrated approach to project-based learning.
PLTW Capstone also helps to represent a natural progression in our curriculum, offering students a more authentic, collaborative experience. We encourage all PLTW educators to consider incorporating this course into your teaching plans.
Key Features:
- Interdisciplinary Approach: Students from any pathway can tackle real-world challenges, mirroring professional collaboration.
- Expanded Accessibility: Open to all PLTW educators, not just those from EDD or Biomedical Innovations backgrounds.
- Comprehensive Training: Core Training is available to equip all instructors with the necessary skills to implement this course.
For more details, please refer to our FAQ Document.
PLTW Core Training
Our PLTW Core Training offers year-round learning opportunities, with new classes added regularly. These trainings are designed to strengthen your teaching strategies and elevate your classroom experience. Discover a variety of professional development options tailored to support your growth and success.
PLTW Grants
Start a new PLTW program or expand your existing program with one easy application! Most applications are due November 1, 2025, with additional opportunities closing on December 5, 2025.
Visit PLTW Grant Opportunities for full details on each competition.
For nearly 30 years, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) has prepared PreK–12 students for careers, college, and life by equipping them with the STEM knowledge, credential preparation, transferable skills, and confidence to succeed. Our hands-on, real-world learning, deep industry partnerships and clear, scaffolded curriculum guide students from early career curiosity to postsecondary readiness. With strong professional development taught by a national network of more than 116,000 trained teachers in 12,200+ schools across all 50 states, PLTW enables schools to design scalable, future-focused programs that inspire students, empower educators, and connect learning to life after graduation. Learn more.
