Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Leo Lion Loves Lunch
Goal: Within activity context, students will name and write the letter Ll.
Target Words: lion, lunch, lick, little, large
Materials and Preparation:
 Would They Love a Lion? By Kady MacDonald Denton or The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
(optional)
 Lion puppet
 Letter Ll picture/word cards (cut out and place around the classroom)
 Large lunch sack (paper grocery bag)
 Paper—1 for each student
 Pencils or crayons
Introduce:
Read Would They Love a Lion? or The Lion and the Mouse at another time, and retell here, emphasizing
target words (optional). Hold up the lion puppet and say, “This is Leo Lion. Leo Lion loves lunch! Today as we
help Leo look for lunch, listen for words that begin with the letter Ll.”
Playful Practice:
 One at a time, choose students to look around the classroom for food items that begin with the letter Ll.
 Have each student put the object he or she finds in the large lunch sack, saying, “Leo Lion loves l____ for
lunch.”
 Once Leo Lion’s lunch sack is filled, have students take turns feeding Leo Lion food from his large lunch
sack. As they feed him, have students say, “Leo Lion likes l___ for lunch.”
Example phrases to use during Playful Practice:
Leo Lion licks a lemon.
Leo Lion loves his large lunch!
Review the Playful Experience:
 Write the capital letter Ll on the board and help the students tell you what letter it is.
 As a class, write down everything that Leo Lion had for lunch. Read the list aloud, and have students
repeat after you, saying, “Leo lion licked a little lollipop,” etc. Have students make the letter Ll with their
pointer fingers and thumbs and hold them up every time they hear the letter Ll.
 Have students write the letter Ll on their own sheets of paper and draw a menu of things that Leo Lion likes
to eat for lunch.
1
BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Leo Lion Loves Lunch
Ll Picture/Word Cards: Class and Home Activity
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lemon
lime
lollipop
lobster
lasagna
lettuce
liver
licorice
BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Leo Lion Loves Lunch
Lion Puppet: Class Activity
Instructions: Cut out and glue the lion head to the flap of a paper lunch sack. Cut a hole underneath the flap large
enough so Leo Lion can “eat” the picture word cards.
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BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2009 Project S EEL, McKay S chool of Education, Brigham Young University All rights reserved
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Leo Lion Loves Lunch
SEEL AT HOME
Playing to Learn
Goal: Within activity context, your child will name and write the letter Ll.
You will need:
Items in folder: Ll picture/word cards, blank Ll lunch menu
From home: plastic or paper lunch sack with the letter Ll written on it (optional), pencil
Activity: Leo Lion Loves Lunch
1. Before you begin, hide Ll picture/word cards around the room.
2. Have your child pretend to be a lion and go around the room looking for food to eat that starts with the
letter Ll. When an Ll card is found, say together, “Leo Lion loves l___ for lunch!” Put the picture/word
cards in the Ll lunch sack (optional).
3. When all the Ll picture/word cards have been found, take them out of the lunch sack one at a time and
read them. Ask your child what letter each of the things in the lunch sack begins with.
4. Make a lunch menu of Ll foods that Leo Lion loves to eat. Have your child write the letter Ll before you
write the rest of the word.
Remember to be playful and have fun!
The activity can be repeated several times.
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
SEEL AT HOME
Playing to Learn
Goal: Within activity context, your child will name and write the letter Ll.
You will need:
Items in folder: Ll picture/word cards, blank Ll lunch menu
From home: plastic or paper lunch sack with the letter Ll written on it (optional), pencil
Activity: Leo Lion Loves Lunch
1. Before you begin, hide Ll picture/word cards around the room.
2. Have your child pretend to be a lion and go around the room looking for food to eat that starts with the
letter Ll. When an Ll card is found, say together, “Leo Lion loves l___ for lunch!” Put the picture/word
cards in the Ll lunch sack (optional).
3. When all the Ll picture/word cards have been found, take them out of the lunch sack one at a time and
read them. Ask your child what letter each of the things in the lunch sack begins with.
4. Make a lunch menu of Ll foods that Leo Lion loves to eat. Have your child write the letter Ll before you
write the rest of the word.
Remember to be playful and have fun!
The activity can be repeated several times.
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
4
BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Leo Lion Loves Lunch
Ll Lunch Menu: Home Activity
Leo Lion’s Ll Lunch Menu
Leo Lion’s Ll Lunch Menu
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BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University