When I first started teaching, along with my science, I also taught 5th grade social studies, which focuses on U.S. History. Children's innocence amazes and astounds me every day, but one day in particular stands out.
We were discussing the Civil War, and I was really going into detail on the horror of war and the insane situation of having to fight your own country and just why the two sides were so desperate to beat the other. At some point, I mentioned that the battle (I know longer remember which battle) lasted all day. At this point, one of my little girls got a curious look and raised her hand.
I have always told my students that curiosity is a wonderful thing and they are allowed to ask questions in the middle of a lecture as long as they raise their hand and I call on them. Seeing her hand, I called and asked what she wanted to know.
With a truly worried look, she asked, "If they fought all day, did they stop and take snack breaks every couple hours?"
That's funny enough, but even funnier is that no one else in the room thought there anything strange at all with that. Perfectly reasonable, in their minds, for two warring factions to halt hostilities and engage in a quick snack.
And that's why I love teaching.
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