What Are L Blends?

L blends are two consonants that come together in a word, where the second sound is /l/.

Today we will focus on these blends in the beginning of words.

Examples:

BL: blue, black, block, blow, blanket
CL / KL: clap, clock, clean, clip, cloud
FL: flag, flower, fly, float, flip
GL: glue, glow, glass, glad, glove
PL: play, plate, please, plum, plug
SL: slide, slow, sleep, sled, slip

L Blends in Words

Practice saying the l blends in the words below.

Now, see if you can find one or more words that fit the following descriptions.

Find something:

sticky
round
made of glass
made of plastic
hard
soft
that flies

Same and Different

Let’s practice our blend sounds as we talk about how two things can be the same and how they can be different.

(This can also be called alike and different or compare and contrast.)

Below are sets of two objects.

Think about the characteristics of each item.

What do we do with them?
What do they look like?

This could also be their shape, color, what they’re made of, how they’re used, etc.

Share the things they have in common (how they’re the same).

Then share the things that set them apart (what makes them different).

I’ll start with an example of the first set, a bottle of glue and a glue stick

How they are the same:

They both contain glue that is sticky and holds things together.
They are often used for school work, crafts, and projects.
The glue inside will dry out if you leave them open.

How they are different:

The bottle has liquid glue that you pour or squeeze out of the top.
You twist this top to open and close the bottle.

The glue stick has a solid stick of glue inside.
You turn the bottom to push the glue stick out the top.
It has a cap you pull off and on to keep it sticky.

Now it’s your turn.

L Blends in Sentences

Facts and Opinions

Tell if the following sentences are facts or opinions.

Practice saying your sounds as you read the sentences.

Plums

Plums are delicious.
Plums are a fruit.

Flip flops

You wear flip flops on your feet.
Flip flops are my favorite shoes.

Blanket.

My grandma makes the most beautiful blankets.
Blankets are used to keep you warm.

Now make up your own fact or opinion sentences about these common objects.

L Blends in Questions

Practice your sound while reading the questions below.

Use the picture cards at the top of the page as clues.

Yes / No Questions

Are planets round?
Is a blender an appliance?
Can you fold a blanket?
Do flies give us honey?
Do flashlights have batteries?
Are plums a vegetable?

Wh Questions

What are blocks made of?
Why do people wear glasses?
What are clocks used for?
Who flies the airplane?
Why do we wear gloves?
When do trees have blossoms?

Asking Questions

Look back through the words and pictures above.

Think of three questions that each use one of the L blend words.

Ask someone the questions to practice your speech sounds.

Answers:

Answers will vary for descriptions, same and different, and asking questions.

Fact / Opinion: Plums: opinion, fact, Flip flops: fact, opinion, Blanket: opinion, fact

Yes / No Questions: yes, yes, yes, no, yes, no

Wh Questions: wood/plastic, to see better, to tell time, a pilot, to keep our hands warm, in the spring.

Illustration Credits: Kari Bolt, Bunny on a Cloud, LittleRed

Practice Saying L Blends: Language Building Activities for Early Elementary