Strong speaking for every child in 6th 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 6th Class, the focus shifts from control to intent — pupils learn to sustain an assured presence, use eye contact strategically to hold and direct an audience, use gestures selectively for effect, and make controlled voice choices for purpose and impact.

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 sustain an assured presence — ready to speak with intent from the first moment.

  • Eye Contact

    Pupils use eye contact strategically to include and hold an audience.

  • Gestures

    Pupils use gestures selectively for effect.

  • Voice

    Pupils make controlled voice choices for purpose and effect.

  • 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, sustaining an assured presence, using eye contact strategically to hold one listener and making selective gesture and controlled voice choices for purpose and effect.

  • Lesson 2 · Speak to a Few: in groups of four, one speaker sustains an assured presence, uses eye contact strategically to include, hold and direct every listener, uses gestures selectively for effect and makes controlled voice choices so meaning lands with each member.

  • Lesson 3 · Speak to Many: facing the whole class as audience, pupils sustain an assured presence, use eye contact strategically to hold and direct attention across the room, use gestures selectively and make controlled voice choices for purpose and impact.

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 6th Class programme: Programme Brief, Teacher Guides, Lesson Slides, Pupil Self-Assessment and Classroom Poster.

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.

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.