I never thought making a peanut butter sandwich could be so hard until sophomore-year chemistry class.
It was one of our first classes of the year, and the assignment was to write out the instructions to make a peanut butter sandwich.
Easy, right?
Not so much.
The next class, our teacher was ready with a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. He asked for a volunteer to read the instructions they created.
One student raised his hand.
"Put the peanut butter on a piece of bread."
The teacher took a piece of bread out and put the entire jar of peanut butter on top of the piece of bread.
Get it?
He literally took the container of peanut butter and placed it on the bread. Obviously not the start to a peanut butter sandwich, but he technically followed the instructions.
The next student's attempt made it a little further.
1. Open the jar of peanut butter.
2. Take a knife and scoop out some peanut butter with it.
3. Put the peanut butter on one side of the piece of bread.
At that point, the teacher put the peanut butter on the side of the bread. On the crust side.
Again, not a peanut butter sandwich we would be excited to eat, but he technically followed the instructions.
The point of the exercise was to get us thinking about writing our experiments down in such a way that anyone could replicate them. But, there was a larger point that continues to stick with me as an educator and as a learner.
We take it for granted that children are still very new to the planet and don't have our experiences.
For example, saying "up" and "down" on the piano does not click with young children right away.
Because up is to the right on the keyboard. Down is to the left. And children may not even know left from right yet, let alone how to associate it with higher and lower pitches.
In my case, cooking is my all-time shortcoming I have yet to find a good guidebook for.
Even "Cooking for Dummies" assumes some basic knowledge that makes me feel like I need the remedial Dummies class.
When it comes to our teaching and our learning, let's challenge ourselves to break it down so that even an alien from another planet can understand it.
Our children will be happier learners.
And I might finally learn how to cook.