Teacher's Resources

Classroom Activities & Projects

How to Read a Shoe

Worksheet 2: How to Read a Shoe


Riding shoes with upper of shagreen leather. Upturned toe may have had a leather thong extending from it originally.

What material is used to make these shoes?

What do you think they feel like?

Are they made by hand or machine?

What shoes have you seen that are similar?

Are they a man's or a woman's shoe?

Do you think these shoes were made for a special purpose? Why?

Worksheet 3: How to Read a Shoe


Chopines of silk velvet covered wooden platforms ornamented with silver lace, silver tacks and an upper of ruched silk.

What materials are used to decorate these shoes?

Were they made by hand or machine?

What shoes have you seen that are similar?

Are they a man's or a woman's shoes? Why?

Were they upper, middle or working class shoes?

What do these shoes tell us about the wearer?

Worksheet 4: How to Read a Shoe


1.) Boot of multicoloured beadwork in geometric patterns and three 3-dimensional birds sewn to front of leg. 2.) Boot entirely beaded in black, pink, turquoise, blue, gold, yellow, and grey geometric lozenge and zig zag patterns. Face in top centre, 2 attached birds on sides.

What materials are used to decorate these shoes?

Were they made by hand or machine?

Were they upper, middle or working class shoes? Why?

What do these shoes tell us about the wearer?

What do you think the many symbols represent?

Are they a pair?

Worksheet 5: How to Read a Shoe


black leather sandals with gold leaf covered wood figures at instep.

What part of the world might these have been worn?

Were they made by hand or machine?

What materials are used to decorate them?

What does this tell us about the person who wore them?

What do you think the sculptures represent?

What shape are the soles? Why?

Worksheet 6: How to Read a Shoe


Mules, embroidered with blue, green, yellow, white and light brown silk thread, silver thread and black and white braid.

What materials are used to decorate these shoes?

Were they made by hand or machine?

What shoes have you seen that are similar?

Are they a man's or a woman's shoes? Why?

Were they upper, middle or working class shoes?

Do you recognize any of the images on the shoes?

Worksheet 7: How to Read a Shoe


This pair of moccasins was worn by one of the most important Indian leaders of the 20th century, the Blackfoot Chief, Two Guns White Calf.

What shoes have you seen that are similar?

What materials are used to decorate these shoes?

Were they made by hand or machine?

Were they upper, middle or working class shoes? Why?

What do these shoes tell us about the wearer?

What do you think the symbols represent?