Sheena writes: 'I used the brainstorm sheets, enlarged to A3, as a class activity to stimulate a piece of homework, and invited children to think carefully about what they wanted to say. I then went round the class, rather than ask for voluntary 'hands up' ideas - everyone took part because not a single idea is irrelevant in these situations. The children were slightly nervous, but also rapt at my dramatic arrows, re-directing some ideas, at their or my instigation, to various places on our plan, and when I viewed their homework, I saw evidence of them imitating this idea - very successful and lots of fun! The homework was given as an A3 sheet, with advice to parents to help or let alone as they saw necessary - not always a successful option, I know. It became very obvious where parents had 'taken over' or not supported the idea, and I encouraged the children in these situations appropriately. The Electricity sheet was shared in the same way before being given as homework, using items in the classroom to start with, then widening the sphere of ideas.

I found the more the children were given these opportunities, the more free they became in putting forward their ideas, and backing these up, or 'shooting down' other contributions, though having to justify this! The enthusiasm these 'free for all's generated, and the subsequent confidence in approaching the classroom work was very rewarding, and when questioning the children at the end of the topic, there was real evidence that they had gained positively from this freedom. '