State and Model the Objective
Tell the children that they will make loops for little leaping leprechauns as they listen for words that begin with the /l/ sound, such as loop, link, long, and low.

Literacy Activities

Link lots of loops for leprechauns 

• Ask the children to listen for the /l/ sound in words such as little, loop, link, long, leap, low, and leprechaun.
• Have the children make paper chains by linking loops of paper.
• Make comments as the children make the chains: “link and loop, loop and link, link loops for leprechauns, link long loops, link long loops for little leprechauns.” 
• Have the children attach leprechaun graphics to the loops and say, “Lay leprechauns on loops” and “Link leprechauns to loops.”
• Hang the long leaping leprechaun loop chains.
• Let little leprechauns leap with long loops.
   

Leprechauns leap with /l/ words 

• Show the little leprechaun graphic.
• Tell the children that the little leprechaun loves to leap.
• Let the little leprechaun take long or low leaps as he hears such phrases as leaping leprechauns leap low; little leprechauns take long leaps over lemons, logs, leaves, loops, and lots and the letter L -- lots and lots of Ls”  
• Let the children leap like leprechauns over lemons, logs, and leaves (see below) while saying, "Little leaping leprechauns leap like lions. Little leaping leprechauns like ___ (e.g., lollipops, lemons, and lemonade).

Leap like leprechauns

• Put a leprechaun graphic on one side of the room and have the children line up along the other side. 
• Ask the children to make low or long leaps with linked loops to the leprechaun.  
• Ask the children if they hear /l/ in ‘long and low leaping little leprechauns’ or ‘lots of linked loops for leaping leprechauns.’
• Say, you did lots and lots of leaping like little leprechauns. You were leaping low and leaping long -- leaping like leprechauns!”