Post-Show Classroom Activity

Invite students to consider and share their personal histories of wrongs, forgiveness, and empathy to better understand Gem of the Ocean.

As always, please note that some steps of the activity may be condensed, eliminated, or extended based on the needs of your classroom. This activity was created by Court Theatre Teaching Artist Monet Felton.

Forgiveness is a Gift

Activity Preparation

• Supplies:
  • Writing materials, either digital or paper (one per student)

This activity will take approximately 50 – 65 minutes.

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Learning Sequence

1. Prompt students to engage in 10 minutes of free writing using the following prompts. Inform them that they should be mindful of what they write, as their writing will be shared. Encourage students to write for the entire 10 minutes. (~10 minutes)
   • Write about a time you felt you had done something unforgivable. Were you forgiven? Why? Who did you hurt, and what caused you to make that decision? 
2. Have students get into pairs to share their writing with their partners. (~5 minutes)
3. Ask: Now that you’ve heard your partner’s story, how do you think the other person in the situation might have been feeling? Have students share their thoughts with their partners. (~5 minutes) 
4. Next, prompt students to write a monologue from the perspective of the person at the receiving end of their choice. Remind them to incorporate their peer’s ideas about how the other person might have been feeling. (~10 minutes) 
5. Once students have completed their monologues to accompany their free writes, have them rejoin their partners to share their writing. Once each pair has shared, have them select one monologue and one free write to turn into a scene. They may choose both pieces from one student, or do a mix-and-match across each of their work. (~10 minutes) 
   • Give students time to craft their scenes. They may wish to make adjustments to the writing to suit their desires. As needed, review the correct format for writing a scene.
6. As time allows, give students an opportunity to share their scenes with the class or another pair. (~5-20 minutes)
7. Invite students to reflect on this process in writing, with a peer, or with the class. (~5 minutes) 
   • What was it like sharing this moment with someone? 
   • Was it easy getting into the mindset and speaking for the person you hurt? 
   • Were you able to forgive yourself? 

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• This activity aligns with the following standards:
  • Illinois Arts Learning Standards 
    • Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
    • Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work
  • Common Core State Standards 
    • CCSS.ELA.W3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
    • CCSS.ELA.W4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. 
      

Posted on November 6, 2025 in Learning Guides, Productions