Free Letter L Tracing Worksheet (Printable PDF)

What is on this worksheet

About the letter L — sound, shape, and words

Letter L makes the /l/ sound — a voiced lateral approximant. The tongue tip touches the ridge just behind the upper front teeth while air flows around the sides, as in lion, leaf, and lamp. L is one of the simplest letters to form and one of the clearest sounds for children to identify.

How to form the letter L

Uppercase L: draw a straight vertical line from top to bottom, then add a horizontal line to the right along the baseline — like an upside-down T without the top arm. Lowercase l: a single tall vertical line from the top to the baseline. The simplest letter to form — but children must make it tall enough to distinguish it from lowercase i.

Words that start with L

Use these words while tracing to connect the letter shape to a sound: Lion, Leaf, Lamp, Lemon, Lake, Ladder, Ladybird, Loop. Say L — Lion while tracing. The /l/ sound is easy to hold — children can sustain it (lllll) which helps them hear it clearly at the start of a word.

The Todpoles Letter L flash card

The Todpoles Alphabet flash card for Letter L pairs Ll with a Lion illustration — the same word-letter connection used on this worksheet. When children see the card, trace the letter, and hear the word together, they form a much stronger memory than any single activity alone.

In the Todpoles app, scanning the Letter L card unlocks interactive letter games — children hear the letter sound, see the letter animate, and match it in a game. The card and worksheet work together: paper builds the motor skill, the app reinforces the sound.

How to use this worksheet

Ages 3–4

Do one tracing row per sitting — uppercase first, lowercase in a later session. Trace slowly, saying “L — Lion” aloud with each stroke. Do not rush to the free-write lines; tracing builds the motor memory that makes free writing possible. Three to five sessions spread over a week is ideal for this age group.

Ages 5–6

Complete the full sheet — uppercase, lowercase, and the free-write lines — in one sitting. Aim for consistent size and letters sitting on the baseline. Once free-writing feels confident, try writing the letter without looking at the model at all.

Common mistake to avoid

Many parents skip straight to the free-write section. This feels faster but skips the motor-learning phase — children end up with shaky, inconsistent letterforms. Let the tracing rows do their job first. The free-write section is the reward, not the shortcut.

Frequently asked questions

What age is this worksheet for?

Ages 3–6. Children aged 3–4 typically work one row at a time over several sessions. Children aged 5–6 can complete the full sheet — uppercase, lowercase, and free-write — in one sitting.

What does the letter L sound like?

Letter L makes the /l/ sound — like the start of lion, leaf, and lamp. It is one of the clearest and most consistent sounds in English, making it a great early phonics target.

Is this worksheet free to download?

Yes — completely free. Click the download button and the PDF opens directly. No email, no account, no watermark. Print as many copies as you need.

Can I print more than one copy?

Yes. We recommend printing 2–3 copies and using a pencil so your child can erase and repeat. Most children need 3–5 practice sessions before writing a letter confidently from memory.

What comes after Letter L?

Move on to Letter M once your child can write L from memory with consistent size and shape. You can also browse all 26 letters and download the full A–Z bundle.