We did our tessellation activity after realizing that the parquet floors in Thomas Jefferson's Monticello are a repeating pattern of shapes.

​To make your own tessellations at home (or wherever you might have the supplies), begin with a small square. We used a three-inch by three-inch square (which happens to have an area of nine square inches and a perimeter of twelve linear inches).  The square, of course, has four sides which we called the left, the right, the top, and the bottom.

With scissors, cut a non-straight line from the bottom to the top without cutting any pieces off.  You will be left with two pieces that fit together like a puzzle.

Now, keeping the pieces oriented as they are when the puzzle fits together (In other words, do not flip or rotate them.), slide the right piece over the left, so that the straight sides are touching.  Tape the straight sides together.

Beginning in the upper left corner of a full sheet of construction paper, line up the straight top of the taped shape with the top of the paper.  Trace the shape.  Sliding it to the right so that the left side of the shape fits within the right side of the tracing, keep tracing the shape.  When you have made it across the page, slide it down to make a second row.  Do the same until the larger paper is covered with the tessellated shape.  Trace over the pencil outline with a black marker.

The outfits vary because the dress of regiments varied.

Other students are still awaiting their turn; we'll try to get them all in before shipping the trunks out of here soon.

We have the rare opportunity to get into costume for the Revolution.  Clothing and props from the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington, DC, were delivered to our school, last week. Students were intrigued by the locked trunks, but even more so when we opened them to reveal clothing from. a variety of Revolutionary regiments.

A few had a meaningful experience trying on the outfits which, unfortunately, are not one-size-fits-all.