Strong speaking for every child in 5th Class

Speak to One · Speak to a Few · Speak to Many

Mighty Oak is a ready-to-teach oral language programme that gives every child in your class a real turn to speak, in every lesson. Pupils practise four simple speaking skills, first with one listener, then a few, then the whole class.

In 5th Class, the focus is on gaining and holding attention, maintaining connection across an audience, using controlled purposeful gestures, and making deliberate choices with volume, pace, tone, pause and emphasis so important ideas are clear and engaging.

No public-speaking experience or special equipment needed. Follow the routine, model the skill and let the children speak.

What your class will learn

Four speaking skills that run from 1st to 6th Class, building every year.

  • Presence

    Pupils learn to gain and hold attention with growing confidence and control.

  • Eye Contact

    Pupils maintain connection across a larger audience and make sure listeners feel included.

  • Gestures

    Pupils use controlled, purposeful gestures to clarify or emphasise important points.

  • Voice

    Pupils use a deliberate, varied voice — volume, pace, tone, pause and emphasis — to convey meaning.

  • One → Few → Many

    The audience grows step by step: one listener, then a small group, then the whole class.

  • Every child speaks

    The routine gives every pupil a turn to speak in every lesson, not just the confident few.

Lessons at a glance

Short, active lessons of about 30 minutes. The audience grows from One → Few → Many.

  • Lesson 1 · Speak to One: in pairs, one pupil describes a picture their partner cannot see, speaking with increasing confidence and control, maintaining connection with one listener and making deliberate choices with gesture and voice.

  • Lesson 2 · Speak to a Few: in groups of four, one speaker maintains connection across three listeners, uses controlled, purposeful gestures and adapts the voice so every listener can follow and stay engaged.

  • Lesson 3 · Speak to Many: facing the whole class as audience, pupils learn to gain and hold attention, maintain connection across a larger audience, use controlled, purposeful gestures and make deliberate choices about volume, pace, tone, pause and emphasis.

What's included

Everything a class teacher needs to walk in and teach.

  • Programme Brief: teaching mindset, routines, differentiation and curriculum alignment

  • A Teacher Guide for every lesson

  • Ready-to-show Lesson Slides for the whiteboard

  • Pupil Self-Assessment sheet

  • Printable Classroom Poster of the four skills

  • Simple before-and-after assessment guidance for evidence of learning

Ready to get started?

€75 per class · instant access

Everything you need to teach the 5th Class programme: Programme Brief, Teacher Guides, Lesson Slides, Pupil Self-Assessment and Classroom Poster.
Buy now · €75

Curriculum alignment

Primary Language Curriculum (2025) · Stage 4: Fifth & Sixth Classes

Mighty Oak supports the Oral Language strand of the Primary Language Curriculum (English and Gaeilge), with a particular focus on these learning outcomes:

  • LO 1 Engagement, listening and attention
  • LO 3 Social conventions and awareness of others
  • LO 6 Demonstration of understanding
  • LO 11 Information giving, explanation and justification
  • LO 12 Description, prediction and reflection

It also links to SPHE / Wellbeing, Drama and Gaeilge, follows Universal Design for Learning principles, and gives schools simple before-and-after evidence for School Self-Evaluation.

Got questions?

Time, equipment, shy speakers, mixed classes and more.

We have answered the questions teachers ask most often, from how much class time each lesson takes to how the programme supports reluctant speakers.
Read our FAQs

Bring Mighty Oak to your whole school

Whole-school licences cover every class from 1st to 6th Class, with one shared language for speaking across the school. Contact us for pricing.

Enquire about a whole-school licence