Project Lead the Way

Inspiring. Engaging. Empowering.​

SFA is one of several Catholic schools in Missouri that teach and use PLTW-Launch, and we are excited about this program.  When we started we were one of two schools in Missouri, the other was in KC. SFA uses PLTW - Gateway in the Middle School (6-8).   The PLTW Launch program at SFA is PreK through 5th grade.

SFA is honored as a 2021-22 PLTW Distinguished School in both the Launch and Gateway Program.

According to the PLTW website, K-5 students already have the qualities of great designers and innovators. What PLTW Launch does is tap into their exploratory nature, engage them in learning that feels like play, and encourage them to keep discovering—now and for years to come.

PLTW Launch’s interdisciplinary modules bring learning to life. The program empowers students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through compelling activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the world around them. As students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge. 

Follow this link to the PLTW website to learn more -   PLTW - Launch

PLTW - Gateway 

• Design and Modeling explores engineering design projects. And project-based learning  

• App Creators Explore computer science and use the MIT App Inventor to build student Apps.

• Computer Science for Innovators and Makers explores Physical Computing using Micro: Bits

• Medical Detectives brings the world of bacteria, viruses, and fungi for student exploration.

SFA 6th-grade students gain basic design and engineering skills, work in teams, understand design briefs, build leadership, develop budgets, design and build prototypes in PLTW Design and Modeling

This PLTW Gateway module is taught at SFA, beginning with the AFO Instant Design Challenge. Middle school students shot, edited, and narrated the video as they worked through this module.