Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Making a “L is for Lion” craft is a fun activity that is great for preschool and kindergartners who are starting to recognize letters and animals. You could theme a whole week around this animal combo, try out our paper plate lion craft too!
You can use this craft as a template or as a coloring page and do the activity directly on the printout. Our free printable alphabet template is the base for all of our animal letter creations, you can download and print the full alphabet or grab just the letter ‘L’ at the bottom of this post!
This is a part of our Letter of the Week series! We’ve been working through the alphabet and sharing fun animals that can be made from letters- similar to when we shared how to make 10 animals from heart shapes! Check out our ‘A is for Alligator,’ ‘B is for Bear,’ ‘C is for Cat‘, or ‘S is for Snake‘ for more letter fun!
What’s Great About Letter of the Week Crafts
- It’s an easy way to introduce letters to kids and help them with alphabet recognition.
- It can be a quick activity or way to work on phonics without them feeling overwhelmed.
- I like crafts that you can adjust to what age of kiddo you’re working with, or their skill level. You can prep most of this ahead of time or let them work on it from scratch!
Supplies for your L is for Lion Craft
- Printer or access to a printer (this is the printer I have and love)
- Letter ‘L’ printable template
- Googley Eyes (or you could make them with paper!)
- Crayons or markers
- Cardstock
- Gluestick
Making a Paper Lion
If you’re using the template to create an alligator you’ll start by printing off the page and tracing the template onto yellow cardstock.
After you cut out your cardstock letter ‘L’, use your glue stick (you could use school glue too) to add a cut out circle for a lion’s head. Add cut out ears here too.
Next, add googley eyes, a cut out nose and draw on any other face details. These can all be drawn on too!
Make a mane! Using cut out cardstock scraps, yarn, string or tissue paper glue the mane onto the craft. This part can be a bit tricky for smaller hands/fingers, it may be helpful to cut out the pieces in advance or have an adult help with the glueing.
Book Ideas to Pair with this Craft
Pairing a book with a craft is a fun way to bring storytime to life and create a fun theme! Try some of these titles to go along with the letter A or for a fun story about alligators.
- The Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
- The Lion’s Share by Matthew McElligott
- The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright
- That’s Not My Lion by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this ‘L is for Lion’ craft for?
This is ideal for kids who are just starting to learn their letters, most likely 3-6. It’s great for preschool and kindergarten too!
How can I use this printable?
This free letter template is for personal and classroom use. If you use it please link back or share what you make!
Letter ‘L’ Template
Here is the template for an uppercase letter ‘L’. If you’re looking for the full alphabet set or for other specific letters, be sure to check out our Alphabet Template.
Get creative ideas for recipes, crafts, decor, and more in your inbox!
Get the How-To
Supplies
- 1 piece yellow cardstock paper
- 1 piece printer paper
- 2 pieces orange and yellow cardstock paper
- 1 marker or crayon
- 2 googley eyes
Instructions
- If you're using the template to create an alligator you'll start by printing off the page and tracing the template onto yellow cardstock.
- After you cut out your cardstock letter 'L', use your glue stick (you could use school glue too) to add a cut out circle for a lion's head. Cut out small circles to use as ears too and glue on.
- Next, add googley eyes, a cut out nose and draw on any other face details.
- Finally, make a mane! Using cut out cardstock scraps, yarn, string or tissue paper glue the mane onto the craft. This part can be a bit tricky for smaller hands/fingers, it may be helpful to cut out the pieces in advance or have an adult help with the glueing.