@rzeta0 Part of the point of Lisp is that it has the irreducible minimum of syntax. Of course, some Lisps have reintroduced syntax in the form of reader macros; but in its purest form Lisp syntax comprises atom, pairs and lists.
Similarly, the number of core functions in Lisp is extremely small: ATOM CAR CDR COND CONS EQ LABEL LAMBDA NULL QUOTE.
So really all there is to teach is the thinking -- and although for me it's more than 40 years ago. the initial learning curve is steep.