Texas STEM & Cross-Disciplinary Lesson/Unit Plan Generator

A Texas-tuned version of the CRAFT lesson template. The standards picker leads with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) — TEKS ELA & Reading, TEKS Mathematics, TEKS Science, TEKS Social Studies, and TEKS Technology Applications (computer science) — with national frameworks (CSTA, NGSS, ISTE, CCSS, C3, National Core Arts) available alongside them so you can show a state-to-national crosswalk on the same plan. Codes and descriptions are sourced from the Texas Education Agency. Fill in each section, use an LLM to help draft content, then verify and customize. When you're done, use the export tools at the bottom to copy, download, or submit your lesson. Looking for the national (non-state-specific) version? Use the general CRAFT lesson template →

How this template works
  1. Fill out the lesson
    Add context for your lesson — the more detail you provide, the more specific and custom your lesson plan will be.
  2. Iterate with AI Optional
    Use an LLM to complete, expand, or refine your lesson — then load the revised Markdown back in.
  3. Download
    Export your finished lesson in multiple formats — Word, Google Docs, Markdown, or print.
  4. Submit Advanced
    Share your plan with the CRAFT community by submitting it to the lesson plan repository on GitHub.
Step 1 Fill Out Your Lesson

Heads up: Every field below is optional except Grade Level. Fill in as much or as little as you like — you can always come back and iterate with an LLM (Step 2) or load a saved draft.

Lesson Overview

Noyce Scholars can come from any STEM field — flag yours here.
Used for filtering in the lesson repository. "CRAFT" is added automatically.

Standards Alignment

Pick standards from any combination of frameworks — you don't have to memorize identifiers. Search by keyword (e.g. "fractions", "password", "ecosystems") or by code (e.g. "MS-PS2-2"). Selected standards appear as chips you can remove. If the national standards below don't apply to your context, use the Custom / Other row at the bottom to type in your own state standards.

Filtered to standards for 6-8. Frameworks without grade info (ISTE, National Core Arts) always show every entry.

NGSS three-dimensional detail (optional — only if you're aligning to NGSS)

CRAFT Cycle Structure

C Contextualize

Why This Matters (5-10 min)

R Reframe

Address the Misconception (5-10 min)

A Assemble

I Do → We Do → You Do

F Fortify

Verify Understanding (5-10 min)

T Transfer

Connect Forward (3-5 min)

Assessment

Notes & Reflections

Step 2 Iterate with AI Optional

Iterate with an LLM

Hand your draft to an LLM for feedback, then paste the revised Markdown back in to refresh every field above.

  1. Copy the AI prompt
    We build a detailed prompt from every field above, plus this template's citation.
  2. Open an LLM and paste
    Pick your provider — we'll re-copy the prompt and open it in a new tab so you can paste right in.
  3. Paste the reply back
    Open the loader below and paste the revised Markdown to refresh every field above.
Provider list is for convenience — we do not endorse any specific AI platform.
Load an existing lesson from Markdown

Paste Markdown from a previously exported lesson (or choose a .md file), then click Load. Fields above will be populated — review and edit as needed. Accepts files exported by this template; front matter is optional.

Step 3 Download Your Lesson

Export Your Lesson

Choose a format. Your answers stay in the browser — nothing leaves your computer unless you choose to submit it in Step 4.

Google Docs · Word · Pages
Rich-text paste keeps headings and formatting. The .doc file opens natively in Word and in Google Docs (File → Open).
Markdown
Includes Hugo front matter (title, description, grade level, NGSS PEs, tags) so it's ready to drop into the lesson plan repository.
Other
Step 4 Submit to the Lesson Repository Optional

Share with the CRAFT Community

Contribute your lesson so other educators can discover and build on it. Pick whichever path is easier for you.

Email submission · Easiest (no account needed)
Downloads your lesson as a Markdown file and opens a pre-filled email to the editors. Just attach the downloaded .md file and hit send — we'll review and add it to the repository for you.
GitHub pull request · Advanced
Opens GitHub with your lesson pre-filled in a new file. You'll need a free GitHub account; GitHub will automatically fork the repo and walk you through creating a pull request for review.

CRAFT PD Series · UCF DRACO Lab & School of Teacher Education