OBSA — Week 3 (Bigs): Splash & Play

Our Big Summer Adventure Welcome · Planning Guide · Infant Overview · Week 3 — Bigs Week Room

Our Big Summer Adventure · Week 3 · Bigs (3.5–5)

Week 3 — Splash & Play

A week of water play that builds, day by day, toward a Friday Water Carnival the whole class runs together. June 15–19 · Bigs classroom, ages 3.5–5.

Read this first

This guide pairs with the General Planning Guide — that's where the planning principles, the energy arc, and the full executive-function primer live. This Week 3 guide applies them to Splash & Play, built around the Bigs (3.5–5) daily schedule. It's an outdoor water week in real Bakersfield heat, so the morning Outdoor Play window does the heavy lifting and water safety threads through every day. Start with the prep block just below — the EF lens and the before-the-week checklist — then run the days.

Section 1 · The Overview

Week Snapshot

Theme

Splash & Play

Anchor

Water Carnival — a Friday carnival of sprinklers, sponges, and water stations the class sets up and runs together.

Classroom

Bigs · ages 3.5–5 · the "Perfect World" Bigs daily schedule

Dates

June 15–19, 2026 (Monday–Friday)

Parent-facing hook

"We're cooling off with a week of water play that builds to a class-run Water Carnival — teamwork, turn-taking, and a whole lot of splashing."

Developmental value

Sequencing & memory, turn-taking, gross & fine motor, cooperation, sensory regulation.

Logistics

In-house · Phase: Build momentum · Cost: $50–100 · Ops complexity: Medium (water setup + safety)

EF lens this week

Working Memory A carnival is a set of stations with steps — so this is the week children practice holding a sequence in mind: remembering each station's steps and the order of the day.

Section 2 · Start Here

Before You Run the Week

Three things to take in before the day plans: how this guide works, the one skill we're watching for, and what to prep. Read these first; the five days follow.

How to use this guide. Each day below is the full run-sheet — every block of the Bigs schedule, in order, so you can print a single day and run it from the page. Transition and fixed blocks are kept brief; the flex blocks carry the detail.

The 📸 Brightwheel moments are built in. Look for the warm camera callout inside each day — it sits on the exact block where the photo naturally happens, with the shot to grab and a ready-to-post caption. Snap it in the moment, post it that day.

Printing. Use your browser's Print — each day breaks cleanly onto its own sheet, and the nav drops away.

Section 3 · The Lens

This Week's EF Lens — Working Memory

Holding the steps in mind

Working memory is the mental sticky-note — the ability to hold a little information in mind and use it. A water carnival is perfect for it: every station has a small sequence ("fill the sponge, run to the bucket, squeeze, run back"), and the carnival itself is an order of stations to remember. All week, children practice carrying steps in their heads.

Your job is the light touch: notice it and name it when it shows up in play — not run "memory drills." Point out when a child remembers a two-step routine, recaps the station order, or catches a missed step. That naming is the whole intervention.

Watch for it when a child…

Repeats back or acts out a two- or three-step station routine without a reminder.
Remembers where a station lives and what it needs after setting it up yesterday.
Catches a friend (or you) skipping a step — "wait, we forgot the sponge!"
Recaps the order of the day or the carnival stations from memory.

Section 4 · Prep

Before the Week

Water week takes more setup than most. Get these squared away over the weekend or Monday morning.

Water-safety plan + ratios

Review supervision/ratio rules for water play with a lead; confirm against licensing before Monday.

Sun protection routine

Sunscreen on file for every child; hats and the shade canopy ready for the morning window.

Station gear

Sponges, squirt bottles, cups, buckets, funnels, a small sprinkler or water table — enough for 3–4 stations.

Change of clothes + towels

A labeled dry change for every child and a stack of towels; send a parent reminder Sunday.

Station picture cards

Simple step-by-step picture cards for each station — the visual scaffold for working memory.

Carnival map

A blank "where do the stations go?" poster for Thursday's setup; markers and station labels.

Heat plan

Know your hot-day fallback for the midday Outdoor Activity (12:25) — shaded, shortened, or indoors.

Carnival songs + cleanup plan

Pick the water songs for Music & Movement; plan the wet-to-dry transition and where soaked clothes go.

Section 5 · Supplies

Supplies — Check & Request

Scan this against what's already in the room. Anything you're short on, send the checked list to Amy early — furniture & equipment especially, since those have the longest lead time — so it's ordered and ready before Monday. Items marked (parent) are family-supplied.

Furniture & Equipment · order early

Water table or low sensory bins3–4
Small sprinkler or hose attachment1
Shade canopy / umbrellasas needed
Drying rack or clothesline1
Lidded bins for wet gear & storage2–3
Non-slip mats for the splash zone2–3

Water-Play Materials

Sponges1/child + extra
Squirt bottles6–8
Plastic cups12+
Buckets6
Funnels4–6
Watering cans2
Scoops / ladles6
Pool noodles / foam pieces (optional)few

Craft & Carnival

Washable paintset
Eyedroppers / pipettes6
Thick paper + cardstock1 ream
Ribbon or yarn (medals)1 roll
Markersset
Stickerspack
Poster board (carnival map)1
Laminating sheets (station cards)as needed

Per-Child & Consumables

Change of clothes (parent)1/child
Towels2/child + extra
Sunscreen (check stock)2–3
Sun hats (parent / spares)spares
Gallon zip bags (wet clothes)1/child
Paper towels2–3 rolls

Safety & Cleanup

Toy & bin sanitizer1
First-aid kit (check / restock)1
Trash bags1 box
Hand soap refill1

Section 6 · The Week

The Week Builds Toward Friday

Five days that escalate — meet the water, learn each station's steps, practice the games, set the carnival up, then run it. Each day adds one layer the children carry to the next.

MON

Meet the water

Free water play; set the water rules together.

TUE

Station skills

Learn each station's little sequence of steps.

WED

Carnival games

Practice the games and hold their rules in mind.

THU

Set it up

The class maps and builds the carnival stations.

FRI

Water Carnival

Run every station, remember every step, celebrate.

Section 7 · The Skeleton

The Daily Rhythm

Every day runs the identical clock, and each day plan below carries it in full, block by block. Four blocks are fixed — the two snacks, lunch, and quiet time. Everything else is flex: that's the curriculum.

A note on water and the heat. Splash & Play lives in the morning Outdoor Play window (9:00–9:30) — the cool part of the day, and where the water anchor goes every day. The midday Outdoor Activity (12:25–1:00) lands in peak Bakersfield heat; keep it shaded and light, shorten it freely, or move it indoors. Pre-stage the water stations before Opening Circle so all 30 cool minutes are real play. Build in a wet-to-dry transition (towels, dry change) after the morning block — soggy kids at snack is no fun for anyone.

Section 8 · The Plans

Five Days, Fully Planned

Each day is the full run-sheet — every block of the Bigs schedule, in order. The 📸 Brightwheel moment is tucked into the block where it happens.

Day1

Monday

Meet the Water

Free water play · set the water rules together · the lightest-structure day.

6:30–8:30

Combined arrival care. All classrooms together — quiet free play and books until the Bigs room opens.

8:30–8:50

Opening Circle — Welcome to Water Week

Introduce the week with a splash of excitement: this week is all about water, and on Friday we'll run our very own Water Carnival. Preview the visual schedule and name the one big rule we'll learn outside today.

All week we're playing with water — and on Friday we'll build a Water Carnival together. Today, we figure out how to play with water safely.

8:50–9:00

Handwash / bathroom. In from circle, sunscreen + hats on at the door before heading out.

9:00–9:30

Outdoor Play · Free Water Exploration (anchor)

No stations yet — just water and simple tools (cups, sponges, buckets) to discover freely. Your real job today is to build the water rules together: water stays in the bins, gentle pours, we keep the ground from getting too slippery. Name two or three simple rules with the children so they own them.

Materials — water table or bins, cups, sponges, small buckets, towels nearby.

✦ Working Memory today — after play, ask the group to name our new water rules back to you. Holding two or three rules in mind is the week's first memory rep.

📸 Brightwheel moment

Shot: first delighted faces at the water bins — splashes mid-air, sponges dripping.

Water week is here! 💦 Today we met the water and made our own water-play rules together. Big smiles, soggy sleeves, and a whole week of splashing ahead.

9:30–9:50
Fixed

Morning Snack

Towel off and dry hands first. A calm reset after the morning's excitement.

9:50–10:00

Handwash / bathroom. Into the indoor blocks.

10:00–10:30

Craft · Splatter & Drip Painting

Watered-down paint, droppers, and brushes — children drip and splatter to make "water art." Connects the theme indoors and gives wet hands a calmer outlet.

Materials — washable paint, droppers, thick paper, smocks.

10:30–10:50

Music & Movement · Water Songs

Introduce this week's water songs ("Rain, Rain," "Five Little Ducks," a sprinkler freeze-dance). Singing the same songs all week builds the familiarity that makes Friday feel like a celebration.

10:50–11:20

Centers / Free Choice

Open centers with a water theme woven in — sea creatures in the sensory bin, water books in the cozy corner, boats in blocks. Let children revisit the morning at their own pace.

11:20–11:35

Handwash / bathroom. Wash up for lunch.

11:35–12:10
Fixed

Lunch

A calm, social meal. Narrate the afternoon to come.

12:10–12:25

Handwash / bathroom. Before heading back out.

12:25–1:00

Outdoor Activity / Play (hot window)

Peak heat — keep it shaded and light. A gentle sprinkler walk-through or shade-and-water-cups; on a hot day, move to an indoor movement game. Short is fine.

1:00–3:00
Fixed

Quiet Time

Rest, books, soft music. Bodies rest even if not everyone sleeps.

3:00–3:30

Wake-up · handwash / bathroom. Slow, gentle transition back.

3:30–3:50
Fixed

Afternoon Snack

Refuel for the afternoon.

3:50–4:20

Manipulative · Pour & Measure Table

Dry pouring with funnels, cups, and scoops (rice or beans) — the same pour-and-fill motions as water play, with a quieter cleanup. Lays down the fine-motor sequence the stations will use.

4:20–4:35

Cleanup & room reset. Everyone helps; sing the cleanup song.

4:35–4:50

Handwash / bathroom. Tidy up for closing.

4:50–5:00

Closing Circle

Recap the day in one question: "What were our water rules?" Let a few children answer — a tiny memory rep to close on.

5:00–6:00

Combined Active Engagement — Departure. Classrooms combine; calm play and warm handoffs to parents.

Day2

Tuesday

Station Skills

Learn each station's little sequence — fill, carry, squeeze, return.

6:30–8:30

Combined arrival care. Quiet welcome until the Bigs room opens.

8:30–8:50

Opening Circle — Meet the Stations

Show today's two or three water stations using the picture cards. Walk through each station's steps once, slowly, pointing to each card. Today's job: learn the steps.

Each station has steps, like a little recipe. Let's read the steps together — then you'll get to try them outside.

8:50–9:00

Handwash / bathroom. Sunscreen + hats at the door.

9:00–9:30

Outdoor Play · Station Skills (anchor)

Set up 2–3 simple stations: Sponge Carry (fill the sponge, carry it, squeeze it into the bucket), Funnel Fill, Squirt the Target. Keep the picture cards posted at each one. Children rotate and practice each station's sequence — the steps are the point, not speed.

Materials — sponges, buckets, funnels, squirt bottles, targets, station cards.

✦ Working Memory today — before a child starts a station, ask them to tell you the steps. Acting out a remembered sequence is the core rep this week.

📸 Brightwheel moment

Shot: a child mid-sequence at a station — sponge squeezed over the bucket, tongue out in concentration.

Little scientists at work! 🧽 Today we learned our water stations step by step — fill, carry, squeeze, repeat. Remembering the steps is great brain-building (hello, working memory!).

9:30–9:50
Fixed

Morning Snack

Dry off and settle. Recap a station's steps over snack if the mood is right.

9:50–10:00

Handwash / bathroom. Into indoor blocks.

10:00–10:30

Craft · Make a Station Sign

Children decorate a sign for their favorite station — drawing the steps in order. Drawing a sequence is working memory made visible, and the signs get used Friday.

Materials — cardstock, markers, the station cards as a reference.

10:30–10:50

Music & Movement · Water Songs + Motions

Repeat yesterday's songs and add hand motions that mirror the station steps (fill, carry, squeeze). Pairing motion to memory makes the sequence stick.

10:50–11:20

Centers / Free Choice

Add a dry "mini-station" to dramatic play so children can rehearse the sequences indoors. Watch who recreates the steps from memory.

11:20–11:35

Handwash / bathroom. Wash up for lunch.

11:35–12:10
Fixed

Lunch

Calm, social meal.

12:10–12:25

Handwash / bathroom. Before heading out.

12:25–1:00

Outdoor Activity / Play (hot window)

Peak heat — shaded and light. A slow walk to "check on" the morning's station spots, or shade play with cool water cups. Shorten on a hot day.

1:00–3:00
Fixed

Quiet Time

Rest, books, soft music.

3:00–3:30

Wake-up · handwash / bathroom. Gentle transition back.

3:30–3:50
Fixed

Afternoon Snack

Refuel.

3:50–4:20

Manipulative · Sequence Cards

Mixed-up station picture cards to put back in order. A quiet, direct working-memory game that mirrors the morning.

4:20–4:35

Cleanup & room reset. Everyone helps.

4:35–4:50

Handwash / bathroom. Tidy for closing.

4:50–5:00

Closing Circle

Pick one station and have the group recite its steps together. End on the memory win.

5:00–6:00

Combined Active Engagement — Departure. Calm combined play and warm handoffs.

Day3

Wednesday

Carnival Games

Turn the stations into games — and hold their rules in mind.

6:30–8:30

Combined arrival care. Quiet welcome until the Bigs room opens.

8:30–8:50

Opening Circle — Games Have Rules

Today the stations become games: a sponge relay, a squirt-the-target contest, a fill-the-bucket race. Introduce one rule per game and why it keeps things fair and safe (wait your turn, ready-set-go, stop at the whistle).

A game is a station with a rule. Today we add the rules — and the trick is remembering them while we play.

8:50–9:00

Handwash / bathroom. Sunscreen + hats at the door.

9:00–9:30

Outdoor Play · Carnival Games Practice (anchor)

Run the games as practice, not competition — everyone wins by remembering the steps and the rule. Rotate small groups through 2–3 games. Use a clear start/stop signal so children hold "wait for the go" in mind.

Materials — yesterday's station gear, a whistle or chime, cones/markers for game lanes.

✦ Working Memory today — each game has steps and a rule to hold at once. Notice children who keep both in mind mid-play, and name it.

📸 Brightwheel moment

Shot: a sponge relay in full swing — a child running, sponge overhead, friends cheering.

Game day at water camp! 🏁 We turned our stations into carnival games today — sponge relays, squirt targets, and lots of teamwork. Remembering the rules while playing is hard, joyful brain work.

9:30–9:50
Fixed

Morning Snack

Towel off and settle.

9:50–10:00

Handwash / bathroom. Into indoor blocks.

10:00–10:30

Craft · Carnival Tickets & Medals

Make tickets and paper "everyone's a winner" medals for Friday. A purposeful craft that builds anticipation and gives the carnival its props.

Materials — cardstock, ribbon or yarn, stickers, markers.

10:30–10:50

Music & Movement · Freeze Dance

A sprinkler-themed freeze dance with the start/stop signal from outside — reinforcing "stop at the signal," a rule they'll need Friday.

10:50–11:20

Centers / Free Choice

Dramatic play becomes a pretend carnival — children take tickets, "run" stations, and practice the language of the games.

11:20–11:35

Handwash / bathroom. Wash up for lunch.

11:35–12:10
Fixed

Lunch

Calm, social meal.

12:10–12:25

Handwash / bathroom. Before heading out.

12:25–1:00

Outdoor Activity / Play (hot window)

Peak heat — shaded and light. Quiet shade games or a gentle water-cup cool-down. Keep it short on a hot day.

1:00–3:00
Fixed

Quiet Time

Rest, books, soft music.

3:00–3:30

Wake-up · handwash / bathroom. Gentle transition back.

3:30–3:50
Fixed

Afternoon Snack

Refuel.

3:50–4:20

Manipulative · Build-a-Game Board

Loose parts to lay out a pretend carnival — deciding what goes where. A low-key rehearsal for tomorrow's real setup.

4:20–4:35

Cleanup & room reset. Everyone helps.

4:35–4:50

Handwash / bathroom. Tidy for closing.

4:50–5:00

Closing Circle

"What's your favorite carnival game, and what's its rule?" A quick recall to close.

5:00–6:00

Combined Active Engagement — Departure. Calm combined play and warm handoffs.

Day4

Thursday

Set Up the Carnival

The class maps and builds the stations — remembering what goes where.

6:30–8:30

Combined arrival care. Quiet welcome until the Bigs room opens.

8:30–8:50

Opening Circle — The Carnival Map

Bring out the blank carnival map. As a group, decide together where each station goes and mark it on the map. Tomorrow we follow this map — so today we make it and remember it.

Working Memory · today's spotlight

This is the week's biggest memory day. Building the carnival means holding a plan in mind: which station goes where, what each one needs, and the order you'll set them up. The map is the external memory aid — but children also carry pieces of it in their heads.

Keep naming it: "You remembered the sponge station needs buckets — nice memory!" Recapping the map together at the end cements it for tomorrow.

8:50–9:00

Handwash / bathroom. Sunscreen + hats at the door.

9:00–9:30

Outdoor Play · Build the Carnival (anchor)

Following the map, small groups set up "their" station — gathering the gear, placing the signs from Tuesday, and doing a test run. Let them problem-solve what's missing. By the end, the carnival exists; tomorrow we just run it.

Materials — all station gear, station signs, the carnival map, tickets/medals from Wednesday.

✦ Working Memory today — "What does your station need?" Let children recall the materials list from memory before checking the map.

📸 Brightwheel moment

Shot: a team setting up their station — carrying buckets, placing their handmade sign, pointing at the map.

Tomorrow's the big day! 🎪 Today the class built our Water Carnival from our own map — deciding what goes where and remembering what each station needs. Come see it all in action at Friday pickup!

9:30–9:50
Fixed

Morning Snack

Towel off and settle. Buzzing with anticipation is fine.

9:50–10:00

Handwash / bathroom. Into indoor blocks.

10:00–10:30

Craft · Finishing Touches

Last props for the carnival — banners, arrows pointing to stations, a "Welcome to our Water Carnival" sign. Purposeful work that makes the children the carnival's owners.

10:30–10:50

Music & Movement · Carnival Rehearsal Songs

Run the full set of water songs in order — a dress rehearsal for the soundtrack of tomorrow. Holding the song order is one more memory rep.

10:50–11:20

Centers / Free Choice

Quiet, regulating centers to balance the big morning. Offer the pretend carnival for those who want to keep rehearsing.

11:20–11:35

Handwash / bathroom. Wash up for lunch.

11:35–12:10
Fixed

Lunch

Calm, social meal.

12:10–12:25

Handwash / bathroom. Before heading out.

12:25–1:00

Outdoor Activity / Play (hot window)

Peak heat — shaded and light. A calm "walk the carnival" to admire the setup (no water), or indoor movement on a hot day.

1:00–3:00
Fixed

Quiet Time

Rest, books, soft music.

3:00–3:30

Wake-up · handwash / bathroom. Gentle transition back.

3:30–3:50
Fixed

Afternoon Snack

Refuel.

3:50–4:20

Manipulative · Map Recap

A small-group game: rebuild the carnival map from memory with loose parts, then check it against the real one. The perfect Thursday memory rep.

4:20–4:35

Cleanup & room reset. Protect the carnival setup; tidy the rest.

4:35–4:50

Handwash / bathroom. Tidy for closing.

4:50–5:00

Closing Circle

Walk through tomorrow's plan together: "First we… then we…" Holding the order of the big day overnight is the final rep.

5:00–6:00

Combined Active Engagement — Departure. Calm combined play and warm handoffs.

Day5

Friday

The Water Carnival

Run every station, remember every step, celebrate together.

6:30–8:30

Combined arrival care. Quiet welcome — big day energy is already building.

8:30–8:50

Opening Circle — It's Carnival Day!

Celebrate the moment. Recap the plan from memory together: which stations, what order, the start/stop signal. Hand out tickets and remind everyone of the one big rule — have fun and take turns.

You built this whole carnival. You know the stations, you know the steps. Today, we play!

8:50–9:00

Handwash / bathroom. Sunscreen + hats at the door — carnival time.

9:00–9:30

Outdoor Play · The Water Carnival (anchor)

The big one. Children rotate through the stations they built, running each one's steps from memory and collecting a sticker or medal at each. Keep it joyful and turn-taking; you're a cheerful ringmaster, not a referee. End with the whole group together and a soggy, happy cheer.

Materials — the full carnival setup, tickets, medals, extra towels, lots of dry changes.

✦ Working Memory today — watch children run multi-step stations with no cards at all. Name it: "You remembered every step!"

📸 Brightwheel moment

Shot: the carnival in full swing — a wide shot of stations running, plus a medal-around-the-neck close-up.

🎉💦 WATER CARNIVAL DAY! 💦🎉 The class built it, the class ran it — every station, every step, all from memory. Soaked, proud, and grinning ear to ear. What a way to end Splash & Play week!

9:30–9:50
Fixed

Morning Snack

Towel off, dry change, and a celebratory snack. Big feelings deserve a calm landing.

9:50–10:00

Handwash / bathroom. Dry and changed before indoor blocks.

10:00–10:30

Craft · My Carnival Memory

Children draw their favorite carnival moment to take home. Drawing from memory is a perfect, gentle close to a Working Memory week.

10:30–10:50

Music & Movement · The Whole Song Set

Sing the full week's water songs one last time, in order, as a group. A joyful, familiar wind-down.

10:50–11:20

Centers / Free Choice

Calm, open centers to decompress after the big morning. Let the carnival live on in dramatic play for those who want it.

11:20–11:35

Handwash / bathroom. Wash up for lunch.

11:35–12:10
Fixed

Lunch

A happy, social meal — let them retell the morning.

12:10–12:25

Handwash / bathroom. Before heading out.

12:25–1:00

Outdoor Activity / Play (hot window)

Peak heat — light and shaded. Quiet free play while the carnival is packed down, or indoor movement on a hot day.

1:00–3:00
Fixed

Quiet Time

A well-earned rest after a big week.

3:00–3:30

Wake-up · handwash / bathroom. Gentle transition back.

3:30–3:50
Fixed

Afternoon Snack

Refuel.

3:50–4:20

Manipulative · Free Choice

Open, quiet manipulatives — child's choice. A low-demand end to a high-energy week.

4:20–4:35

Cleanup & room reset. Final carnival pack-down; everyone helps.

4:35–4:50

Handwash / bathroom. Tidy for closing.

4:50–5:00

Closing Circle — Week in Review

Celebrate what the class built and remembered all week. "What will you tell your grown-up about the carnival?" Send them off proud.

5:00–6:00

Combined Active Engagement — Departure. Calm combined play; share the carnival photos and stories at warm handoffs.