Geoffrey Gets the Jitters

Buy This Book * Nadia Shireen

Geoffrey’s got the jitters! It started last night when he was thinking about school – a funny, wiggly feeling in his tummy that grew and grew. But when Geoffrey’s tummy jitters started talking to him – that’s when he knew they were out of control. Geoffrey had to do something…

English:

• Look at the front cover of the book. What might it be about? Who is Geoffrey, and what are ‘Jitters’? How is the character feeling, and how can you tell?
• The back cover of the book includes some quotes about one of Nadia Shireen’s previous books. Could you think of a suitable quote about this book that might be included on one of her future books?
• Retell the story from Geoffrey’s point of view. You could also write this in the form of a diary.
• Create your own story about a different character who gets ‘the jitters’. How do they deal with them?
• This book includes a character from Barbara Throws a Wobbler. Can you read that too and describe which story you prefer? Could you write a new story that includes these characters?
• Read this article about the author. Can you think of some other questions that you would like to ask?

Maths:

• How many jitters can you count on each page? How many are there in the whole book?

Computing:

• Design a game in which a character has to defeat ‘the jitters’.
• Create a poster to teach people what they can do to overcome their worries.
• Use publishing tools to create a poster to advertise this book.

Design Technology:

• Could you create a 3D model of a ‘jitter’?
• Design a worry (or ‘jitter’) box in which people can post messages that explain their worries.

Art:

• Draw your own pictures to show what ‘the jitters’ (or other emotions) might look like. Look at the Worries guide at the back of the book for some ideas.
• Create your own illustrations of Geoffrey at different points in the story.
• Retell the story in the form of a comic strip.
• This book includes Barbara from another of Nadia Shireen’s books. Watch this video and draw the character along with her.

Physical Education:

• Create a sequence of stretches and movements that might help a person when they are feeling the jitters.

PSHE:

• Think of a time when you got ‘the jitters’. How did it make you feel? How did you overcome your nerves?
• What could one of Geoffrey’s friends say or do to help him overcome his jitters?
• Why does it help to ‘sloooowly blow out the birthday candles of a very old tortoise’ or ‘stretch up to the sky and down to your toes’ when you are feeling the jitters? What other things can you do?
• How many other emotions can you think of? How does each emotion make you feel?