It’s the early 90’s.
Chicago.
Between the two of us, five kids under 5.
Before the matinee, we nestled into a red leather booth with steaming bowls of tomato basil soup, crusty bread, each with a bountiful glass of red wine before walking across the street to see a live performance of Wicked
Sitting still was a luxury.
I closed my eyes.
Fast forward to 2025, and I am wide awake as I watch Wicked on the big screen.
The film tells the story of life circumstances and how our circumstances–like being born green–”give people the right” to make assumptions about us, impact what we think about ourselves and others, and can demoralize or inspire us. Wicked is a ripe teaching tool that can be used to spark classroom conversations that explore empathy, compassion, friendship, and opportunity.
Below, we’ve curated some well-known Wicked quotes and paired them with classroom conversation starters. We believe you will find them to be a safe and meaningful way to initiate deep discussions with students.
1. “Let the green girl go!”
When accompanying her sister Nessarose to Shiz University, the students are shocked by Elphaba’s green skin. They point, whisper, and laugh.
The film teaches: Empathy.
Conversation Starters:
- Groupthink is a research-based phenomenon that shows we act differently when we are part of a group versus when we are alone. Think about a time when you acted differently when you were a part of a group. What were the circumstances?
- Describe what empathy means to you and talk about a time when someone was empathetic with you.
- How would you manage being pointed at, whispered about, or laughed at for being green?
2. “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”
At the beginning of the film, Galinda says, “No one mourns the wicked.” This statement sets the stage for learning about good versus evil—and that even though someone is assumed to be “wicked,” perhaps they really aren’t. The film teaches us that tearing things down is easy, but building things up takes time, dedication, and courage.
The film teaches: Compassion.
Conversation Starters:
- When making a difficult decision, whom do you seek for advice, and how do they demonstrate compassion?Â
- Consider the comments you have received or made on social media. Describe how posting behind a screen is different from talking face-to-face.
3. “Pink goes good with green.”
The two main characters, Elphaba, who is green, and Galinda, who is always in pink, acknowledge their friendship when they say, “Pink goes *good with green!” (Attn movie makers: Pink goes WELL with green, but we acknowledge the alliteration!) The movie gives us a chance to watch Elphie and Galinda’s friendship develop, learn what it means to be a friend, and how far kindness can take us.
The film teaches: Friendship.
Conversation Starters:
- What actions make somebody a good friend?
- As we grow, we change and so do our friendships. Talk about how your friendships have changed over the years.
4. “As someone told me lately, everyone deserves the chance to fly.”
School is a place to learn, try new things, and take advantage of opportunities. One of the best parts about Wicked is the message that we all deserve a chance to fly!
The film teaches: We all deserve a chance to explore opportunities and to learn new things—to fly!
Conversation Starters:
- Failure has become a feared outcome, yet failure is inevitable when we try new things. Share a time when you failed. What did you learn?
- Through extracurricular activities (theater, sports, debate, etc.), schools provide many chances to explore who you are and the kind of person you want to be. Talk about an opportunity you took advantage of at school and the experience.
Movies like Wicked provide a safe angle for discussing delicate topics. The thought-provoking and entertaining film is a fresh way to bring up social-emotional learning so teachers can gauge where attention is needed. When we give our students time to talk about what they are feeling, what they are doing, and actions they can take to be good humans, we win.
About the Author
Susanne Leslie is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s in Education. As a former parent educator, Susanne’s specialty is Culture, Wellness, and Early Childhood instruction. In her current role, she writes courses and content, and is an enthusiastic advocate for play and time outdoors as the best teaching tools.
Fun Fact: Susanne has jumped out of two (perfectly good) airplanes!
