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primary music time and family home evening resource – bubblegum ben

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have you ever tried to get your primary kids (or even your own kids) to sing a little louder and more enthusiastically during primary music time or family home evening? what about the nursery kids who are looking up at the ceiling or poking each other instead of singing the songs?

i’ve come across a really fun solution: bubblegum ben! he’s a great helper. he doesn’t smile very much because he is always chewing bubblegum. (it’s hard to chew and smile at the same time.) so the only way you can tell if he likes your singing is by how big he blows his bubblegum bubble!

bubblegum ben with blown up balloon

here’s how it works:

there’s a little hole cut out where ben’s mouth is. you put a balloon in there, and from the back of the poster board you use a hand-held balloon pump to make the balloon bigger or smaller, depending on how quiet or how loud they’re singing.

blowing up bubble - stage 1

bubblegum ben singing, stage 2bubblegum ben - stage 3our primary kids and even my own young children love ben, and i’m sure you will find that he will get yours singing the loudest you’ve ever heard them!

i saw this idea on another music leader’s blog and fell in love with it. so i got out my construction paper, scissors, and glue and am so happy with how ben turned out. i traced all my pieces before gluing him together.

i used to email the pdf of bubblegum ben to anyone who asked, but due to the overwhelming response, i’ve decided to upload it for easy download. click here to download ben! 

p.s. stay tuned – i’ve been working on a bubblegum betsy! should be fun for a boys vs girls game. it’s gonna get loud in the primary hallway! 🙂

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. This is perfect for our primary kiddos, especially now that it’s time to get ready for the sacrament program. My own little guys will love this at FHE. I would love a copy. It’s so cute!

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  7. This is so fun & adorable! Please send me a copy too! The primary children (& I) need Ben! Thanks you’re the best!

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  8. I’d love the PDF. I’m the primary chorister and we all know the Primary Program is just around the corner. I was looking for a great idea and I found it here!

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  10. This is Adorable! I would LOVE this pattern if possible! My primary kids would absolutely love this! Thank you so much!!!

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  11. This is so so clever! I would love a copy of this, pretty please! I know our primary kids would absolutely love it! And it’s just in time to practice for our primary program!

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    • thanks, faye! it definitely helps in getting them to sing louder! it’s amazing how many of them know the words to the songs and we’ve just never heard them…until now! 🙂

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  12. This is absolutely darling! I am no longer the chorister, but this would be great for FHE. I would love a copy of the PDF, thanks for sharing!

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  13. I’ve come over from Pinterest, and I would love to get in on the PDF files if I could. I’m just the primary pianist, but my mom is the chorister and I can tell you or kids would LOVE Ben.

    Thanks!

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    • Thanks, Rachel! when i’ve pulled him out of the music cupboard right before music time all the kids start cheering, haha. i’m sure your primary kids will love him just as much!

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  15. I LOVE your Ben! I’m going to have the Activity Girls make him for me…could you provide me with the PDF file? Thanks for sharing your talent.
    Karryn from Oregon

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  19. This is so awesome!!! Could you please send it to me too? I know our Primary will love it!! Now, do you let the balloons pop? Would that be the goal? I cant wait to try 🙂

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    • Thanks, Margot! I think having the balloons pop would be a fun goal to have! In fact, one reader emailed me and told me that she’s putting words to a “secret message” (Choose The Right) in each balloon. If they can get the balloon to pop, then they post that word and eventually get the message. I think that’s a really great idea!

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  20. This is so adorable! I would love a copy of the PDF file. What did you use to glue Bubblegum Ben onto? It looks like one of those cardboard things I used to use for school presentations, the kind the bend into three little sections? I can’t wait to use this! Thanks so much for the great idea!

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    • hi aimee! yes, you’re exactly right – i did use one of those tri-fold cardboard things! (that you can get at walmart for around $2.50.) good eye. it’s worked out great so far – folding those sides panels in help to keep him safe when we’re not using it.

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  21. I’ve seen Bens floating around for a few years but yours is the best looking Ben I’ve seen! Could I please get the pdf file for him also? Thank you so much!

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  26. This is so adorable! Would you mind emailing me a copy? I teach pre k – 3rd grade music and concert season is coming up!!! Thanks so much!!!!

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  27. This is so cute. I think the kids will love BEN! if you don’t mind sending me the PDF file, that would be great!
    Thank sooo much

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  28. What a cute idea. I’m even going to try it for nursery. I would be so grateful to have this pdf file.
    Thanks – Lisa House

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  33. love it! what kind of pump is it? i ‘ll read the comments again in case you answered already, but i’d also love a PDF! thx!!!!

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    • hi becc! great question. it’s just one of the $3 hand-held balloon pumps that you can buy in the walmart party section. i’ve also heard you can buy them at some dollar stores, though i’ve yet to see one at mine. worth checking out in your area, though! let me know if you have any more questions! there’s a pdf heading your way 🙂

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  35. Oh My!!! You’re so talented! He’s too perfect! What a super fun idea, I would love him! How would you feel about sending me a copy of Ben? I couldn’t thank you enough! ~A

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  37. I would love this!! I am the primary chorister and a music teacher at a small Montessori school. We are practicing our program this week for thanksgiving and I would love to take Ben with me! Thanks for sharing!

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  38. LOVE your blog & I’m so happy to have found you! I would love to use this in our Primary, & if you are still willing to share your Pdf’s, I would love a copy. THANK YOU so much for sharing your talents!!

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  43. I would love for you to send me Bubble Gum Ben. This looks like such a fantastic way to get the kids having fun.

    Thanks.

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  47. I just love this idea! I got out all my sharing time lessons for 2013 to see if I can somehow use Ben for those since I’m not the music leader. He is too cool to pass up! This is so wonderful. Please send me the PDF files.

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  49. Love it! My mom (Kristine Hales) did this YEARS ago! Maybe 10 years ago. I LOVE to see the good stuff on the internet. Thanks for sharing such a great picture of BubbleGum Ben for me to use now that I’m a primary chorister. 🙂

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  50. Love Bubblegum Ben…..I would love it if you could send me a copy in pdf . I have a Ben of my own…..love this idea! Thanks!

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  51. Hi Katie,
    I was asked to do singing time in primary and would love to have the pdf of Bubblegum Ben to help me out for Sunday. Any chance you can email me that?

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  56. Wow, this is darling! Our primary kids would just love this. Would you mind sending me the PDF? I have no drawing ability at all! 🙂

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  57. Hi, I’m wondering if I’m too late to get your pdf of Bubblegum Ben? I was just put into this calling Sunday, and this looks like tons of fun!

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  58. Hi, I must be the slow coach who has just only discovered this GREAT IDEA. Would I be able to be emailed the template to start our “Bubble O Ben” in our primary. ( as Bubble O’ Bill is a icecream here in Australia). Love your creative ideas.

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  60. I would love a pdf file copy of Bubble Gum Ben. I am going to use it with my sunbeam class and apply it to reverence. Thanks for sharing.

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  62. I love this activity. As a preschool inclusion coordinator/speech pathologist i could really use this with helping my students learn to talk louder. Please email the template at your convenience.. Thank you!!

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  66. Katie! This is SUPER CUTE!!! My kids are tired of the singing meter now and they would absolutely LOVE Bubble Ben! May I please have a copy? Thank you for sharing your great ideas!

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  67. I would love to get Bubblegum Ben PDF!! I am just getting started in primary. So THANKS for all the helpful ideas!
    Lisa

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  71. I am a new primary music leader and I need more ideas like this!! I don’t have a single crafty bone in my body!! I would love the PDF for this as well!!! Thank you thank you and keep your amazing ideas coming!

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  72. Just found you through pinterest! I’ve been primary chorister for a year and half and I’m running low on ideas. This will be great. Could you send me a copy of the PDF? Thank you so much for being willing!

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  73. I’ve been the music leader for a while now and always looking for cute ideas. Would love a copy!! Thanks!!

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  76. just found your site, I am always looking for new things to do with the children. Please send the PDF for Bubblegum Ben. Thanks for sharing your talents.

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  78. I would absolutely love the pdf for him. How cute!!! I was just called as primary chorister and could really use him.

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  80. I just got called as the Primary Music chorister. Saw this and LOVED it! I know its been a while since this amazing post, but do you think I could get that copy of this? THANK YOU!

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  81. He is adorable! I would love a copy to share with our chorister. She is amazing and I know she would love him! Thank you for sharing your talents. He really turned out great!!!

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  86. Adorable! I know my little Primary kids would looove this, plus their singing would be great! Could I get a copy of this? If so, Thank you so much!

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  87. Hey! this is great!!!!! Found it on the primary chorister’s facebook page. Just wanted to let you know that I posted a link to this on my blog. I already emailed the email address with a request for the pdf, but I have a yahoo account, and sometimes my messages end up in bulk folders (a lot). Thanks so much!

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  88. Hey katie,
    You sent a link but, for some reason it was having trouble opening, could you send it to me one more time, please? I know my Primary would love it!
    Thanks

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  90. I have been wanting to do something like this for a while, but alas I lack the artistic ability to make anything resembling a person! I would love a pdf of Bubblegum Ben! THANK YOU!!!!

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  92. Okay, this is adorable! I am the Primary Chorister and am always looking for ideas! I tried downloading the PDF and it takes me to SCRIB and asked me to pay $9.99. Do you have the PDF you can send me? Sorry to bother you with this. I would be forever grateful!!
    Thanks,
    Jill

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  93. I was really hoping to use this cute guy but the website link that you said was a free download actually cost a minimum of 9 dollars. I was very dissappointed. I s there any other way to get a copy of bubble gum Ben?

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  95. Bubblegum Ben was a huge hit in my ward. I have never had my Junior Primary sing so loud or so well! I am going to add a bubblegum machine to the side of my board and put different colored ‘gumballs’ in the machine with songs on the back so that the kids can pick one and have Ben blow that color of bubble!

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  97. I too love this idea. It’s direct, fun and cute too. May I please have a copy of the pdf?
    Jasmin

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  99. I love this! I made it and used it in Primary today to help review for the upcoming program. It was the best practice we have had yet. He is going back to Primary with me next week! Thank you so much for your creativity and help with the pattern.

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  100. Our primary LOVES Bubblegum Ben! I was wondering if you every got Bubblegum Betsy created? A boys vs. girls sing-off would be lots of fun during our review for the program. 🙂

    Thanks for your GREAT website!

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    • Hi Jennifer! I’m so happy your primary loves Bubblegum Ben! Betsy’s been put aside for a few months while I work on other projects, but I do agree, she would make for a great boys vs. girls sing-off!! I’ll get it done and posted in the next week or two. Thanks so much for your interest!

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  101. Hi! This is such a darling idea, I am so excited to try it! I tried to download Bubblegum Ben but can’t seem to get it to work through that link. Any way that you can email it to me?

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  103. Hey! I tried downloading this on the scribe site to no avail. It didn’t work in Safari or Chrome. Is there any way you could email this to me? Sorry for being so annoying.

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  105. I thought I posted a comment here a few days ago, but now I can’t find it. I don’t know if you still e-mail people the PDF’s of your Bubble Gum Ben, but I would LOVE it for my primary. I was called to Chorister a few weeks ago and this is darling. If you do send this out still I’d really appreciate it! 🙂

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  106. You are amazing! thanks so much for sharing your talents with people like me who have none and have to rely on others. the link for the pattern for Ben does not work. Can you email me the pdf? I can’t wait to use this in primary! THANKS!

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  110. I have been trying to download Bubblegum Ben and have had no luck. I’m wondering if you would be able to email the .pdf to me? This is going to be such a big hit with my primary!

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  112. Hi! I’m trying to download the link for bubblegum Ben from your blog but it’s not working for some reason. Is there any way I could get that emailed to me? I would so appreciate it, I love this idea!

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  113. I’ve just finished making one. I really loved the small detaila the pdf included like the back of the cuff on Ben’s sleeves. I can’t wait to see how the kids will sing with their new primary memeber!!

    Reply

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