What you will need
Index cards
Loaf of bread
Plastic jar of peanut butter
Plastic jar of jelly
Plastic knife

Warning: if done correctly-this exercise can get messy!!! 

Instructions
Have participants write out instructions on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  If you give this as homework you will have more time to make the sandwich and have a discussion.  You can collect the cards and follow the instructions or have participants read from the card. 

Your job is to follow the directions without interpretation.  For example when they say open the bread.  Grab it in the middle, with a hand on either side, and tear it open.  If done correctly the bread flies out.  Another suggestion is when they say open the peanut butter throw it on the floor and stomp on it.  Again if they do not give exact directions fill in the blank.  If the instruction is put the knife in the peanut butter-put it in upside down.

The participants will become frustrated because they expect you to understand what they are trying to tell you.  That is the point of this exercise.  You will be able to discuss with them how we expect people to understand what we are saying because we assume they understand certain terms.  This is also why others may not understand what the participants are trying to communicate.  Discuss that communication is not only telling the other person what you want them to hear but also assuring that they heard correctly what you said. 

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