Letter L Hands On Play Extension Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten

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Looking for simple, hands-on ways to make your Letter L week more fun? These Letter L extension activities are easy to prep, engaging for young learners, and perfect for preschool and kindergarten. Whether you are teaching at home or in the classroom, these activities give children a chance to explore the letter L through creativity, sensory play, storytelling, and early literacy experiences.

This roundup includes six low-prep Letter L activities that pair well with your worksheets, read-alouds, or letter of the week lessons. Use the jump links below to head straight to the activity you want to try first.

Letter L Extension Activities

• Light Storytelling
• Lemonade Sensory Bin
• Lion Paper Plate Craft
• Q-Tip Ladybug Craft
• Librarian Pretend Play
• L is for Leaf Craft

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Light Storytelling

Turn off the lights and use a flashlight or lamp to create shadows on the wall. Use toy animals or your hands to make shapes and tell a simple story together.

Supplies Needed

• Flashlight or lamp
• Toy animals or small objects
• Optional: blank wall or sheet

How to Do the Activity

1. Dim the lights in the room.
2. Use a flashlight to shine light onto a wall or surface.
3. Place objects or hands in front of the light to create shadows.
4. Encourage children to tell a story using the shapes they see.

Why It Works

This activity builds imagination, storytelling skills, and language development while reinforcing L is for light in a fun, memorable way.

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Lemonade Sensory Bin

This simple sensory bin brings pretend play and hands-on exploration together in a fun, low-prep activity.

Supplies Needed

• Sensory bin or container
• Rice or other filler (Water if you want some refreshing… and wet pretend play, but kids love this one and wet pompom so much, it kept my toddler busy for at least an hour) 
• White, yellow, and green pom-poms
• Cups, scoops, and straws
• Optional: simple “order card”

How to Set Up the Activity

1. Fill your bin with rice or another sensory filler.
2. Add pom-poms to represent lemons, limes, and ice.
3. Include cups, scoops, and straws for pretend play.
4. Optional: create a simple order card for added structure.

Why It Works

This activity encourages sensory exploration, sorting, and imaginative play while connecting learning to a familiar L word.

Don’t be afraid to keep this one simple.  Often times kids love the imagination play through simple sensory material just as much as they enjoy more detailed or specific play pieces. Take it to the next level with a super simple order card that they can use to match color or numbers of items. 

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Lion Paper Plate Craft

This bright and simple lion craft is perfect for little hands and a great way to reinforce L is for lion.

Supplies Needed

• Paper plate
• Yellow paint
• Orange yarn
• Googly eyes
• Black paper or marker
• Glue
• Scissors

How to Make the Craft

1. Paint the paper plate yellow and let it dry. Use construction paper for ears if wanted or paint some along with your plate. 
2. Cut orange yarn into pieces for the mane.
3. Glue the yarn around the edge of the plate.
4. Add googly eyes and a simple black nose.

Why It Works

This craft reinforces letter recognition while helping children practice cutting, gluing, and assembling materials.

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Q-Tip Ladybug Craft

This cute ladybug craft is a great way to combine art and fine motor practice.

Supplies Needed

• Red and black paper
• Q-tips
• Black paint or dot marker
• Glue
• Pipe cleaners
• Scissors

How to Make the Craft

1. Cut a red circle and a black circle.
2. Use a Q-tip to add black dots to the red circle.
3. Cut the red circle in half and glue onto the black circle.
4. Add a small head and pipe cleaner antennae.

Why It Works

This activity helps develop fine motor control while reinforcing L is for ladybug in a fun, hands-on way.

 

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Librarian Pretend Play

This simple pretend play activity helps children build confidence and early literacy skills.

Supplies Needed

• Books
• Optional: small basket or “library” setup

How to Do the Activity

1. Invite children to choose a favorite book.
2. Ask them to share why they like it.
3. Encourage them to “recommend” the book to others.
4. Optional: read books together or set up a mini library.

Why It Works

This activity builds confidence, language skills, and early literacy habits while reinforcing L is for librarian.

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L is for Leaf Craft

This nature-inspired craft is a simple and meaningful way to connect learning with the outdoors.

Supplies Needed

• Paper
• Leaves
• Glue
• Scissors

How to Make the Craft

1. Cut out a large letter L from paper.
2. Collect leaves from outside.
3. Glue the leaves onto the letter.
4. Let dry and display.

Why It Works

This craft connects the letter shape to a real-world object while encouraging creativity and fine motor development.

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Final Thoughts on Letter L Activities

These Letter L extension activities are a fun way to bring your alphabet lessons to life. From lions and ladybugs to lemonade play and leaf crafts, each activity gives kids a hands-on way to connect with the letter L while building important early learning skills.

Use one or two activities to keep things simple, or rotate through several during the week to create a well-rounded Letter L learning experience.

If you are working through the alphabet, be sure to explore my full ABC activities and printables directory where you can find free worksheets, crafts, and play-based learning ideas for every letter from A to Z.