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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For detailed information about changes and enhancements, please refer to the Curriculum Revisions document available in the Teacher Guide for each unit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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:
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.
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.
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 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:
For more details, please refer to our FAQ Document.
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.
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.