Trace and draw a footprint diagram from your own foot, label toes, arch, heel, add measurements, and compare left and right prints.


Step-by-step guide to draw a footprint diagram
Step 1
Gather the materials and find a flat hard floor space to work on.
Step 2
Tape two sheets of paper side by side to the floor so they won’t move.
Step 3
Sit down and place your left foot flat on the left sheet with your toes pointing forward.
Step 4
Hold the pencil upright and carefully trace all the way around your left foot.
Step 5
Write the word "Left" near the left outline with your marker.
Step 6
Sit and place your right foot flat on the right sheet with your toes pointing forward.
Step 7
Hold the pencil upright and carefully trace all the way around your right foot.
Step 8
Write the word "Right" near the right outline with your marker.
Step 9
Use the ruler to measure from the heel to the longest toe on the left outline and write that measurement next to the left print in cm or inches.
Step 10
Use the ruler to measure from the heel to the longest toe on the right outline and write that measurement next to the right print in the same units.
Step 11
Draw and label the toes the arch and the heel on each outline using your marker or colouring materials.
Step 12
Look at both prints and write two short sentences next to them describing one difference and one similarity you see.
Step 13
Share your finished footprint diagram on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!


Help!?
What can we use if tape, a ruler, or a marker are hard to find for this footprint activity?
Use heavy books or furniture to hold the papers in place for step 2 instead of tape, a piece of string measured against a printed ruler or a phone measuring app for the heel-to-longest-toe measurements in steps 9–10, and a colored pencil or crayon in place of a marker for steps 4, 7, and 11.
The outline looks wobbly or the measurements seem off—what should we check or fix?
If the paper shifts during tracing in steps 3 or 6 or the outline is uneven because the pencil wasn't upright, stabilize the sheets with tape or have an adult hold them, keep the pencil vertical as instructed, and mark the heel and longest toe clearly before using the ruler in steps 9–10 to measure straight.
How can I adapt this footprint diagram for different ages?
For toddlers have an adult do the tracing in steps 3–6 and let the child color and place labels in step 11 while dictating the two short sentences in step 12, for school-age children have them trace, measure in steps 9–10, and write the comparison themselves, and for older kids ask them to measure to the nearest millimeter, calculate percent difference between prints in step 12, and add anatomical labels in step 11.
What are simple ways to extend or personalize the footprint activity after finishing the basic diagram?
Repeat steps 3–10 to trace other family members' feet to make a size-comparison chart, decorate and label each outline in step 11 with patterns or colors, laminate prints to track growth over time, and then share the finished comparison and photos on DIY.org as suggested.
Watch videos on how to draw a footprint diagram
Facts about foot anatomy and measurements
👣 Babies are usually born with flat feet; the arches typically develop during early childhood, often by around age 6.
🦶 Every person's footprint is unique — even identical twins have slightly different prints!
🔍 Footprints are useful in forensic science and gait analysis to learn about someone's walk, estimate height, or match prints to shoes.
📏 It's common for one foot to be a little larger than the other — that's why measuring both feet matters when drawing and fitting shoes.
🦴 The human foot contains 26 bones, plus dozens of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that help you stand and move.


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