Wicked STEAM Programming

Step into the enchanting world of the Wickedly Creative — a program where imagination takes flight and young minds get to explore the magic of storytelling, art, and performance, all with a wicked twist! This fun and interactive program is inspired by the fantastical elements of the musical Wicked, blending themes of friendship, courage, and self-discovery with a dash of mischievous magic. Each session allows children to explore the world of Oz through a blend of hands-on experiments, art projects, and creative storytelling. Whether it’s crafting Glinda’s sparkly wand, designing Elphaba’s emerald-green potions, or experimenting with “magic” that turns everyday objects into something extraordinary, kids will have a chance to explore science and art through the lens of their favourite magical world. Join us and unleash your inner Wickedness!

Wickedly Creative: Adventures at Shiz is a dynamic STEAM program that blends science, engineering, arts, and math with the magic of Wicked. Inspired by Shiz University, students will explore creative writing, drama, visual arts, and design while incorporating hands-on problem-solving and engineering challenges. They’ll craft their own characters, build enchanted settings, and experiment with materials to bring their imaginative worlds to life. This interactive experience fosters creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, helping students see the connections between the arts and innovation. Whether they love to write, design, or build, every child will discover their own unique spark in this wickedly fun adventure!

In this program, it will be up to the Instructor(s) to gauge the interests of the group and decide how best to structure the overall term. Below are options and examples of lessons that might be run, but please take your group’s interests and your talents and passions into account when planning your term. You can use the session options below or create your own lesson plans, exploring, crafting and creating with your students.

Note that depending on the age and attention span of your students, you may want to stretch a lesson across several weeks or combine lessons into one week to keep things exciting.

See the Wicked Program Packing List here.

Lesson Ideas:

Shiz University Campus Design: Geometry & Architecture

Objective: Students will apply geometric principles and architectural design concepts to create a blueprint of Shiz University or an Ozian city. They will explore scale, symmetry, measurement, and city planning.

  • Graph paper
  • Rulers, protractors
  • Reference images of famous universities & fantasy cities
  • Optional: 3D modeling supplies (clay, foam board, LEGOs)

Materials:

Activity:

Discussion:

  • Study city planning principles (how space is used in real vs. fantasy settings).
  • Identify key structures (dorms, libraries, magical buildings, marketplaces).
  • Introduce math concepts like scale, proportions, and geometric layouts.

Design Phase:

  • Students draft blueprints of Shiz or an Ozian city using proper scale.
  • Add architectural details, considering the needs of magic users.

Optional: 3D Modeling

  • Students bring their blueprint to life with a physical model or digital rendering.

Presentation & Peer Review:

  • Students explain their design choices.
  • Class discussion on urban development and sustainability in fantasy worlds.

STEAM Connection:

  • Math (geometry, scale, measurement, symmetry)
  • Engineering (city planning, structural design principles)

Ozian Infrastructure: Engineering Bridges & Buildings

Objective: Students explore structural engineering principles by designing and constructing a bridge or building that can withstand magical elements such as high winds, spells, or flying creatures.

Materials:

  • Popsicle sticks, toothpicks, or straws
  • Glue, tape, rubber bands
  • Small weights (coins, marbles, books)
  • Engineering challenge worksheet

Activity:

Discussion:

  • Review famous bridges and buildings for inspiration.
  • Discuss physics concepts (load-bearing, tension, compression).

Building Challenge:

  • Students construct a bridge or building that meets specific criteria (e.g., must support a certain weight, must be at least 10 inches tall).

Testing & Refinement:

  • Students test stability by adding weights or simulating wind resistance.
  • Make adjustments based on test results.

Reflection:

  • Discuss what worked, what failed, and how engineers solve problems.

STEAM Connection:

  • Physics (force, balance, weight distribution, center of gravity)
  • Engineering (design process, testing, iteration, material science)

Character Archetypes & Psychological Profiling

Objective: Students will create original Ozian characters using psychological analysis and character development techniques. They will explore how personality types and motivations shape storytelling.

Materials:

  • Character development worksheets
  • Writing journals

Activity:

  • Review character archetypes (hero, mentor, trickster, villain, etc.).
  • Discuss character motivations and psychological depth.

Character Development:

  • Students create a detailed character profile, including personality type, background, strengths, weaknesses, and moral dilemmas.

Creative Application:

  • Students write a monologue or short scene from their character’s point of view.

Peer Review & Presentation:

  • Students present their characters and receive feedback.

STEAM Connection:

  • Psychology (personality types, motivations, human behavior)
  • Literary Analysis (character development, storytelling structure)

Costume & Textile Engineering: Fashioning Functionality

Objective: Students design functional fantasy costumes for Ozian characters while considering material science, movement, and durability.

Materials:

  • Sketching paper, colored pencils
  • Fabric swatches
  • Measuring tape, rulers

Activity:

Research Phase:

  • Examine historical, fantasy, and stage costumes.
  • Discuss fabric properties (breathability, flexibility, durability).

Costume Sketch & Design:

  • Students sketch a costume for an Ozian character, labeling fabric choices.

Prototype Development:

  • Optional: Create a mini fabric sample or paper prototype.

Presentation:

  • Students present their designs and explain their choices.

STEAM Connection:

  • Material Science (textile properties, function-driven design)
  • Engineering (clothing construction, movement analysis)

The Physics of Flight: Designing a Better Broomstick or Bubble Transport

Objective: Students design and test flight models using principles of aerodynamics and lift.

Materials:

  • Paper, balloons, straws
  • Tape, scissors
  • Measuring tape, stopwatch

Activity:

Introduction to Flight:

  • Study thrust, drag, and lift in real-world flight.

Design Challenge:

  • Students build a prototype of a flying broomstick or Glinda’s bubble transport.

Testing & Optimization:

  • Test how far and how smoothly the design travels.
  • Adjust and redesign for better flight stability.

STEAM Connection:

  • Physics (aerodynamics, motion, lift vs. gravity)
  • Engineering (prototype testing, iterative design)

Mythical Biology: Evolution & Adaptation of Ozian Creatures

Objective: Students will design a new magical species using evolutionary biology concepts.

Materials:

  • Research sheets on animal adaptations
  • Clay or drawing materials

Activity:

Study Adaptations in Nature

  • Explore real-world examples (camouflage, mimicry, bioluminescence).

Creature Design & Profile

  • Students sketch and describe an original species that thrives in Oz.

Presentation & Analysis

  • Students explain how their species survives & evolves in its habitat.

STEAM Connection:

  • Biology (evolution, adaptation, ecology)

Spell Coding: Designing Logical Magic Systems

Objective: Students create a structured magic system using math, logic, and scientific principles.

Materials:

  • Magic formula worksheets
  • Math charts (probabilities, sequences)

Activity:

Study Symbolism & Spell Logic

  • Examine math in magic (patterns, cause & effect, conditions).

Create a Magic Formula

  • Design a spell with rules, inputs, outputs, and side effects.

Present the Spell System

  • Students explain the science behind their spell’s function.

STEAM Connection:

  • Math (probabilities, equations, sequences)

Ozian Economics: Creating a Currency & Trade System

Objective: Students will develop a fictional currency and trade system for Oz using real-world economic principles, including supply & demand, inflation, and barter systems.

Materials:

  • Example currency (bills/coins)
  • Paper for designing money
  • Markers, rulers, scissors
  • Trade scenario worksheets

Activity:

Introduction to Economics & Currency:

  • Discuss the history of money (bartering → coins → paper money → digital currency).
  • Analyze real-world currencies and their features (symbols, value, security).
  • Compare economic systems in different regions of Oz (Emerald City’s wealth vs. Munchkinland’s rural economy).

Design a Currency for Oz:

  • Students create a currency system for their own region of Oz.
  • Consider factors such as:
    • What is the money called? (Emeralds, Spellstones, Silver Leaves, etc.)
    • What does it look like? (Size, shape, symbols, security features)
    • How is it used? (Coins vs. paper bills, value compared to goods)

Simulated Trade Market:

  • Create a mini marketplace where students use their currency to trade goods (imaginary items or small objects like stickers).
  • Introduce inflation by increasing money supply and observing price changes.
  • Discuss how trade impacts different regions of Oz.

Reflection & Discussion:

  • How does currency design reflect the culture of a society?
  • What happens when too much or too little money is in circulation?

STEAM Connection:

  • Economics (supply & demand, inflation, barter systems)
  • Math (value assignment, exchange rates, pricing structures)
  • Art & Design (currency aesthetics, security features)

Optical Illusions & Light Magic: The Science Behind Ozian Spells

Objective: Students will explore the science of optics and illusions by designing a magical spell that uses light manipulation.

Materials:

  • Prisms, mirrors
  • Flashlights
  • Colored transparencies
  • Paper for illusion drawings

Activity:

Understanding the Science of Light & Illusions:

  • Learn about refraction, reflection, and light bending.
  • Study real-world optical illusions (holograms, mirages, forced perspective).
  • Discuss how light could be used in magic spells (e.g., invisibility, colour-changing potions).

Experimenting with Light & Color:

  • Use prisms to split white light into a rainbow (demonstrating refraction).
  • Create mirror illusions (infinity mirrors, reflecting text).
  • Test color mixing with transparencies (how different light colours combine).

Design a “Light Spell”:

  • Students create a spell that manipulates light (e.g., “The Vanishing Cloak” that bends light, “Rainbow Ray” that changes object colours).Include:
    • A scientific explanation of how the spell works.
    • A drawing or model of the spell effect.
    • Possible uses in Oz (e.g., camouflage, magical lanterns).

Presentation & Reflection:

  • Students demonstrate their illusions and explain the science behind them.

STEAM Connection:

  • Physics (light, refraction, reflection, color mixing)
  • Art (optical illusions, visual storytelling)
  • Technology (holography, lens-based magic tricks)

Narrative Engineering: Writing Multi-Perspective Stories

Objective: Students will rewrite a classic scene from The Wizard of Oz or Wicked from multiple character perspectives to explore bias, unreliable narrators, and point of view in storytelling.

Materials:

  • Copies of a key scene from Wicked or The Wizard of Oz
  • Writing journals
  • Perspective chart worksheet

Activity:

Understanding Perspective & Bias in Storytelling:

  • Discuss how Elphaba’s story in Wicked reinterprets the “good vs. evil” narrative of The Wizard of Oz.
  • Compare first-person vs. third-person perspectives in writing.
  • Examine how different characters might tell the same event differently.

Rewriting a Scene from Different Perspectives:

  • Choose a well-known Oz scene (e.g., Dorothy meeting the Wizard, the Wicked Witch’s final moments).
  • Students rewrite the scene from at least two different character perspectives (e.g., Glinda’s vs. the Wizard’s vs. a Munchkin’s).

Discussion & Analysis:

  • How does bias affect storytelling?
  • Which version of events seems the most “true”?

STEAM Connection:

  • Literary Analysis (point of view, unreliable narrators, rewriting history)
  • Psychology (perception, bias, memory distortions)
  • Creative Writing (narrative techniques, character voice)

The Ethics of Power: Debating Wicked vs. Good

Objective: Students will engage in a structured debate about ethics, morality, and leadership in Wicked and real-world history.

Materials:

  • Debate worksheets
  • Case studies on real-world leaders
  • Ethical dilemma prompts

Activity:

Understanding the Grey Area Between Good & Evil:

  • Examine Elphaba vs. the Wizard: Who is truly “wicked”?
  • Discuss real-world historical figures with mixed legacies (e.g., inventors who created life-saving tech but also destructive weapons).

Structured Debate Preparation:

  • Divide students into teams (e.g., “Elphaba was justified” vs. “The Wizard was a good leader”).
  • Students research, develop arguments, and prepare rebuttals.

Debate & Reflection:

  • Conduct a formal debate with opening statements, rebuttals, and closing arguments.
  • Discuss how power can corrupt or inspire.

STEAM Connection:

  • Ethics (moral dilemmas, leadership analysis)
  • Political Science (propaganda, government control, power structures)
  • Critical Thinking (debate, argument structure, persuasive techniques)

The Science of Spell Creation: Testing & Improving Magical Theories

Objective: Students will apply the scientific method to design and refine a unique spell system, ensuring that their magic follows logical, consistent rules while incorporating real-world physics, chemistry, or biology concepts.

Materials:

  • Spell creation worksheets
  • Math reference charts (probabilities, sequences)
  • Scientific method templates
  • Optional: Small-scale hands-on materials (color-changing pH indicators, magnetism demos, physics-based tricks)

Activity:

Understanding the Science Behind Magic:

  • Discuss how real-world science can inform believable magic systems.
  • Explore physics-based illusions, biological adaptations, and chemical transformations as inspiration.

Developing a Logical Magic System:

  • Each student (or small group) will design a new spell or magical ability that must follow specific scientific rules.
  • Key considerations:
    • Energy source: Where does the magic come from?
    • Limitations: What prevents overuse?
    • Side effects: Does using the spell have unintended consequences?
    • Mathematical balance: Is the spell overpowered?

Experimenting & Refining Spells:

  • Students will “test” their spells by mapping out different outcomes using probability tables or if-then logic trees.
  • If using hands-on science components, they might:
    • Demonstrate a potion reaction that simulates the spell’s effect.
    • Use magnetism or static electricity to create a “telekinesis” illusion.
    • Manipulate light & color filters to mimic visual spell effects.

Writing a Spell-book Entry:

  • Students document their spells in an organized spellbook format, including:
    • Spell name & incantation
    • Required components
    • Instructions for use
    • Explanation of the underlying science

Peer Testing & Feedback:

  • Students exchange spell instructions and evaluate each other’s magical systems for consistency and logic.
  • Optional: Role-play a “wizard scientist” testing new discoveries!

Reflection:

  • What makes a good spell believable?
  • How does science influence fantasy writing and world-building?
  • How did your spell evolve based on testing and feedback?

STEAM Connection:

  • Science (physics, chemistry, biology applications in fantasy world-building)
  • Math (probability, logic sequences, balancing magical power)
  • Writing (structured technical documentation, world-building)
Wicked Program Packing List
General Classroom Materials (Used in Multiple Lessons)
  • Pencils, pens, erasers
  • Lined & unlined paper
  • Notebooks or writing journals
  • Rulers, protractors
  • Colored pencils, markers, crayons
  • Scissors
  • Tape (clear & masking)
  • Glue (liquid & stick)
  • Index cards
  • Post-it notes
Math & Engineering Supplies
  • Graph paper (City Planning, Spell Coding)
  • Measuring tape & rulers
  • Popsicle sticks (Bridge Building)
  • Toothpicks or straws (Infrastructure, Flight Design)
  • Rubber bands (Bridge Tension)
  • Small weights (coins, washers, marbles) (Testing Strength)
Art & Design Supplies
  • Sketchbooks or blank paper (Costume Design, City Design, Mythical Biology)
  • Fabric swatches (Costume Design)
  • Sewing needles & thread
  • Scrap fabric, ribbons, or textured paper
  • Clay or modeling material (Creature Design)
Science & Experimentation Materials
  • Prisms & small mirrors (Optical Illusions)
  • Flashlights (Light Experiments)
  • Colored transparent sheets (Light Magic)
  • Magnets (Spell Testing – Optional for telekinesis effect)
  • Static electricity materials (balloons, wool fabric, plastic combs)
  • Food colouring
Economics & Trade Materials
  • Example bills/coins (Currency Design)
  • Craft paper for designing fantasy money
Writing & Literary Analysis
Bonus Optional Supplies (For Hands-On Enhancements)