Preschool aged children can learn the letter L through fun activities that support clear learning objectives.
Learning Objectives
- The students will identify the letter L.
- The students make and recognize the L sound.
- The students will learn to trace and write upper and lower case Ls.
- The students will identify objects that begin with the letter L.
- The students will create a paper plate lion.
- The students will learn enjoy books about items that begin with the letter L.
Handwriting and Phonetics
Introduce children to the letter L. Create a colorful poster board which showcases both the upper and lower case letter L. Draw of Paste a variety of pictures of objects cut from magazines that begin with the letter L.
Demonstrate the L sound and ask the children to make (repeat) the L sound. Chat about the poster board with the children, discussing the items that begin with the letter L. Ask the children to think of other objects, names, and places that begin with the letter L.
Be sure to draw an upper and lower case L on the white board or chalk board during the Letter L unit. Children can practice tracing the letter L in both upper and lower case using premade worksheets. A letter L worksheet appropriate for preschoolers can be found on the TSL Books website. In addition, teachers can direct children to practice making upper and lowercase Ns using pencils or crayons on blank sheets of paper.
Art Activity: Paper Plate Lion
First, create an L is for Lion poster board with pictures of different types of lions. Talk to the children about the characteristics of lions: what they look like, sound like, where they live and types of things they eat.
Paper Plate Lion Materials:
- Paper plates (one for each child)
- Yellow or tan paint
- Strips of orange and brown construction paper (2 inches by 3 inches)
- Markers
Activity Instructions:
Let each child paint a paper plate tan or yellow. Allow to dry completely. Next let children glue strips of orange and brown construction paper around the edge of the plate to create the lion’s mane. Then instruct the children in drawing a face on the lion.
Cognitive Learning: Object Sorting
Object sorting is great cognitive learning activity which will help children identify objects that begin with the letter L. For this cognitive learning activity, place objects which begin with the letter N in a cardboard box or other container. Along with these items, place objects beginning with other letters of the alphabet. As each object is revealed, children will sort those objects that begin with the letter L from those that do not.
Examples of objects that begin with the letter L: Leaves, letter, lemons, light bulb, lion, lamb, ladybug, lantern, leopard, ladder, lamp, lily, lollipop
Storytime: Books that Teach the Letter L
Read picture or board books that focus on objects that begin with the letter L. Great examples include:
- Five Little Ladybugs by Karyn Henley and Tess Erwin Stahlin [Tyndale Kids, 2000]
- That’s Not My Lion by Fiona Watt [E.D.C. Publishing, 2002]
- My Little Lambs by Susan Banta [Golden Books, 1996]
- First Wonders of Nature: Snow Leopard by Lynne Cherry [Dutton Juvenile, 1998]
- Millie Waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeiser [Walker Books, 2007]
The more young children see and hear the letter L in their classroom throughout the learning unit, the more they will commit it to memory it. Alphabet recognition and learning activities should be fun, creative and support a children’s natural curiosity.
 |
