191: Finding the Openings: What Sudoku Taught Me About Teaching Outdoors

Over the past few months, I’ve been playing a lot of Sudoku. What began as a simple puzzle quickly became something much more meaningful. As I struggled through Easy puzzles and eventually unlocked the Master level, I began to notice something fascinating: the mindset needed to solve Sudoku is remarkably similar to the mindset needed to teach outdoors.

Episode 191: Finding the Openings: What Sudoku Taught Me About Teaching Outdoors

In this episode of Outdoor Classroom News, I explore the surprising parallels between solving puzzles and guiding children in nature. Both require patience, curiosity, experimentation, and the willingness to keep trying even when things don’t immediately make sense.

Drawing from real moments in our Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom Nature Classes, I share how children naturally approach learning the same way we approach puzzles—by noticing openings, testing ideas, and persisting through challenges.

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to bring more outdoor learning into your work with children, this episode offers a refreshing reminder: sometimes the solution appears when we shift our perspective and take the next small step.

In This Episode

1. How a simple Sudoku puzzle became a lesson in mindset and persistence
2. Why “looking for openings” is a powerful strategy in outdoor education
3. Stories from Secret Gardens Outdoor Classroom Nature Classes
4. How experimentation and curiosity fuel children’s learning in nature
5. Why persistence is one of the most valuable skills children develop outdoors
6. How shifting perspective can unlock new possibilities in teaching and learning

Reflection Questions

As you listen, consider these questions:

1. Where are the “openings” in your classroom or outdoor space right now?
2. What small experiment could you try with children this week?
3. When have you seen persistence lead to a breakthrough in learning?

Listener Challenge

This week, try this simple practice:

1. Notice an opening — a child’s curiosity, a seasonal change, or a moment of wonder in nature.
2. Experiment — follow that curiosity and see where it leads.
3. Persist — allow time for discovery and growth.

Just like solving a puzzle, meaningful learning often happens one small step at a time.

Subscribe & Share

If you enjoyed this episode of Outdoor Classroom News, be sure to subscribe and share it with a fellow educator, parent, or nature-loving friend.

And remember:

The next breakthrough—whether in a puzzle or an outdoor classroom—may be just one opening away.

Join the Outdoor Classrooms Community:

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👉 Join the CIRCLE Membership and grow into a more confident, connected outdoor classroom leader.

FREE Outdoor Classroom Resource:

🌿 Our Children's Library: 4 Types of Teaching Gardens Booklist (PDF) (halfway down the page)

Outdoor Classroom Resources & Links:

🎓 Outdoor Classrooms Teacher Certification Program

🎓 Outdoor Teaching Bootcamp

🎓 Seasonal Masterclass Bundle (includes Exploring Nature in Winter Masterclass)

🎓 Teaching Beyond Walls Capstone Course

🌸 CIRCLE Membership for Educators

🌿 30-Day Gratitude in Nature Challenge

🌸 1-hour Online Workshop Library

Connect with Victoria:

WEBSITE: www.outdoor-classrooms.com

EMAIL: [email protected]

Instagram: instagram.com/outdoor_classrooms/

Facebook: Facebook.com/OutdoorClassrooms1

Mentioned in this episode:

Exploring Nature in Spring Masterclass

Exploring Nature in Spring Masterclass (receive all 4 seasonal courses when you enroll!): https://www.outdoor-classrooms.com/exploring-nature-in-spring-masterclass/