Lens monthly structure proposed outline

What I see is this:

The first week is the leadership "lens" to set forth the topic/theme of the month.  The Leadership area was not so much a lens, as the core principle we are studying through the lenses.  Thus, the final week is merely using the arts and imaginative literature (our book discussion) lens in which to explore that principle. 

So, in other words:
Week 1: introduce the core principle to be studied
Week 2: explore it through a geographical/historical lens
Week 3: explore it through a inductive and deductive lens (math and science)
Week 4: explore it through the arts and imaginative literature lens

As in the past, we have tried to tie in the subjects to a theme to give what we study context.  Obviously, as we study people like Madame Curie, and how she exemplified "work," say, we are going to explore the wonderful things we have usually explored with our mathematicians and scientists.  So, rather than limiting our discussion, it merely confirms the connections to principles that people throughout time have embodied and inspired us with, as we explore their lives and contributions.
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further clarification from Karen

Karen: "I read several books including Teach the Children, Norms and Nobility and the Gateway to the Great Books Volume I. Each of these talked about different "schools of thought" that teach the students to think in different ways as they pursue truth... Here is how they were spoken of in the different books:

"Norms and Nobility:
There are 3 “schools of thought” to “form the conscience and style of each student” (with morality weaved through each one) :
1. Math and science
2. Humane letters
3. Arts and languages

"Teach the Children (ch.14):
There are four “lenses” that each child should have to properly view the world. Without these lenses the “student is handicapped in his ability to see things as they are”. Morality is the hub in which these things function to help distinguish between right and wrong
1. Math (for the ability to induce truth through logic and reasoning - inducing truth),
2. Science (for the ability to deduce truth through observation)
3. Social sciences (for the ability to see truth by widening perspective to see norms and values)
4. Arts and language (the ability to judge truth through beauty/value).

"Great Books:
There are 4 colors “representing 4 aspects of ourselves as we use words to communicate what we know, think, feel or intend”
1. Yellow - works of imagination (arts and language)
2. Blue - biographies and histories (humane letters or social studies)
3. Green - mathematics and natural sciences
4. Red - philosophy or theology (morality)

I have a visual:

A color wheel has red, yellow and blue. Each color represents a different "lens" for finding truth. Blue for humanities, yellow for the arts, and red for math and science (different than the green above for purposes of the visual). In the middle of the wheel is a white circle that represents light (the light of Christ, the Holy Ghost, morality). If we only have one color to work with - we can not see the world as clearly. Two colors help us see more clearly and we can create more color through the connections we make. All three colors will enable us see the truth all around us even more beautifully and clearly. However, without the light in the middle - we can't see anything at all.

"Tree example:
We will be weaving a principle through these lenses, but to make the idea more concrete I used a tree as an example of how these schools of thought help us see the world in a "whole" way.
Tree through leadership lens: What did Heavenly Father want us to learn from trees? How are trees used in the scriptures? How can we apply this?
Tree through science/math lens: Fibonacci numbers in different trees, circumference, age of the tree, photosynthesis, etc
Tree through history/geography: Different types of trees in different areas and how they affect the lives of the people there, how they affected the westward expansion...
Tree through arts/imaginative literature lens: Painting a tree - noticing it's colors, light, textures, beauty. Reading The Giving Tree and imagining what the world might look like through a tree's perspective.

"You can see how studying a tree through all these different lenses gives you a "whole" picture of a tree and you appreciate the truth found in it on a deeper level.

"We use a principle-based teaching approach so we take a principle and weave it through these lenses in much the same way. We make connections as we study through the different schools of thought. In addition, the youth pick "inspirements" in different learning styles and will subsequently be able to use different learning styles to see things through different lenses." (Blog post on "Vanguard Mentors"--April 2012).

Some groups are going to separate these "lenses" by week in Vanguard, to prevent the "bell-ringing interruptions"  mentioned in "Dumbing us Down" (but you can include some each week, if that format works better for you):
Week 1: Leadership Academy--principles-introducing the principle of the month which will be weaved through everything we study that month. This is the center of the wheel.

Week 2 - Face to Face With Einstein--math and science:To see the Creator’s hand in the world around us as we understand and apply the natural laws of the earth and the patterns therein; to develop the desire and ability to exercise inductive (i.e. logic) and deductive (i.e. scientific method) reasoning to find truth and to help others to do so; to expose them to great thinkers and concepts in history—to teach them to think --as well as inspire them to greatness as they study the lives of great individuals, their triumphs and struggles.

 Week 3 - Geo-conquest--history and geography: To enlarge our perspective as we view the world through the perspective of others as we study the history and culture of God’s children throughout the world. To develop the desire and ability see patterns in the past, how they relate to the present and how they may relate to the future; To develop a love for all of God’s children and a desire to serve them.

Week 4 - Imaginative Arts--arts and imaginative literature: To see the artistic view of the concept of the month as we study the imagination of man through art and literature. To develop the desire and ability to recognize truth through it’s beauty and feeling.  To desire to create new ways to share ideas to help others find truth.

Example:  I felt that the leadership class would focus on a principle that would hopefully be brought out through the other studies of the month: for instance, the historical biography for the Journeyman class for this month might be George Washington for the month of with the theme of “service-oriented leadership”, and a piece of art depicting the joy of service might be studied, or an artist that dedicated themselves to service (like Dorothea Lange’s photograph of “The Migrant Mother” from the depression), along with the art medium of photography for the subject of the journeyman class, or a painting of George Washington.  The book, "Princess Academy" could be discussed (or "The Lost Prince"...excellent!) as a way to further examine the value of service-oriented leadership.

It is more challenging to incorporate mathematicians that help mirror the theme, but it is good for the mentor to be aware of possible connection...i.e.  Thomas Edison as someone to study in the month where "the value of work" is discussed.