a broad stair variation

A little broad stair background:

• The broad stair is a Montessori material from the Sensorial area of the classroom.
• It consists of 10 rectangular prisms, varying in height and width (from 10 cm to 1 cm).
• When the child builds with the broad stair, he experiences the concept of width in a concrete way.

Top 2 favorite things to do with the broad stair:

1. roll a marble down the stair (It makes the most fabulous sound!)
2. build creatively with both the broad stair and the pink tower (There's a relationship between the two materials!)

What in the world is that child in the picture doing?

He's using a straw to blow a puff down the broad stair, of course!
He's having a blast, and he's...

• concentrating
• stimulating his facial nerves and muscles
• changing the focus of his eyes from near to far
  
• improving his balance
• strengthening the connections between the hemispheres of his brain

This is all according to HANDLE, of which my knowledge is very limited - I should just go ahead and take a class already!
What I do know is that the child in the photo is someone who rarely concentrates. He's usually the one rolling around in the middle of the classroom. (The one I feel like I'm constantly nagging...)

But, look at that photo, can't you just feel his concentration?
He LOVES using a straw to blow things like puffs and feathers down the broad stair.
I love seeing him engaged and successful. :)