Standards-Aligned Language Adventures That Build Real-World Skills

Sixteen thematic units cover PK–5th grade topics and are designed to develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Each unit integrates multiple domains, including language and literacy, math, science, social studies, and physical and health education.

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Spanish

French

English flag

English

German

Russian

Chinese

Japanese

Arabic

Flexible for Many Program Models

Little Sponges offers developmentally appropriate world language instruction for elementary grades (PreK-5) with a strong PreK-2 focus, featuring engaging videos, songs, and ACTFL-aligned activities.

Little Sponges includes engaging video segments that provide comprehensible input in meaningful contexts, songs, vocabulary games, and interactive activities that support listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Lessons align with ACTFL proficiency guidelines and incorporate performance-based tasks that help students build functional language skills over time.

Little Sponges has been used by districts to enhance elementary programs, extend instruction into lower grades, or support rotation models across multiple campuses. It also works as a bridge for students who otherwise may not have access to language instruction until middle school or high school.

Little Sponges fits naturally into transitional bilingual, pull-out ESL, and push-in co-teaching models, providing grade-level content in both languages.

Teachers can select adventures based on students’ proficiency levels or academic needs. The platform provides exposure to grade-level content while reinforcing vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills in both English and the home language.

Some schools also use the program to support students who need extra help with early literacy, providing additional practice with vocabulary, comprehension, and oral language skills.

Little Sponges provides authentic curriculum tracks in multiple languages for 50/50 and 90/10 models, with no translation from English to support language separation principles.

Each language track is designed to stand on its own, with no translation from English, supporting language separation and authentic instruction. The curriculum integrates academic vocabulary and concepts from core subjects, allowing students to develop language and content knowledge at the same time.

Activities are designed to encourage oral language production, comprehension, and literacy development in both program languages. Schools use Little Sponges to introduce academic vocabulary in the partner language, reinforce program structures, and provide consistent, engaging instruction across classrooms and grade levels. It supports both one-way and two-way immersion models with materials that are age-appropriate, standards-aligned, and ready to implement.

Little Sponges offers a low-stress entry point for new language learners with visual, multimodal design that builds comprehension and confidence.

The visuals, repetition, and multimodal design support comprehension and confidence for students in programs that serve English language learners in the early phases of their learning process.

The play-based, multi-sensory design enables self-paced practice at home with online access for reinforcement beyond the classroom.

Because of its play-based approach and multi-sensory design, the program is also used by families for self-paced practice at home and in school-based centers. Adventures can be accessed online, allowing students to revisit content and reinforce skills outside the classroom.

What Makes Little Sponges Different

Designed specifically for PK and elementary students

Thematic units introduce functional language and academic vocabulary from science, math, social studies, and health, so language time also builds content knowledge.

Authentic videos for engaging, real-world learning.

Instead of cartoons, students engage with authentic video footage of real people and places. When learning about farm animals, they see actual farms, connecting language to the real world.

Works across program models

Use one platform for Dual Language (50/50 and 90/10), ESL pull-out/push-in, Newcomer supports, and elementary World Language rotations. Reducevendor sprawl and simplify rollout.

Deep standards alignment and assessments

Objectives and assessments align with ACTFL performance descriptors and WIDA/ELPS-style progressions, allowing teachers and administrators to track student progress effectively across all 4 domains.

Built for real classrooms

Short, ready-to-teach lesson plans fit seamlessly into whole-group, small-group, or center activities. Materials are printable for hands-on practice and digital for easy access anytime, anywhere.

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Proven Results in Real Classrooms

Western Heights School District (OK)

Before:
Minimal student growth on WIDA assessments across four elementary schools.

After:
90% of emergent bilingual students showed measurable growth. Many advanced 1 to 2 proficiency bands, and multilingual students outperformed monolingual peers on state tests.

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Savannah-Chatham County (GA)

Before:
Difficulty in tracking progress and providing engaging Spanish lessons and practicing opportunities in the classroom and at home.

After:
111% increase in Spanish proficiency; district expanded program to all schools with language programs.

What Teachers Report:
 “Students build vocabulary more quickly and participate more confidently in class discussions, even in mixed-proficiency settings.”

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Learn More about Our Curriculum

Overview
Curriculum Scope
& Topics
Teaching Methodology
Program Comparison
Sample Lessons

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