Lens approach

4 Lenses

We focus on one school of thought (or lens with which to view the world) each week and connect them to each other as we see that all truth fits into one great whole.

The lenses are:
Leadership Academy (morality/government/freedom)
Eureka (math/science)
Geo-Conquest (geography/history)
Imaginative Arts (arts and imaginative literature)

1. Leadership Academy (morality/government):
To develop leadership virtues as we learn to become better followers of God so we may lead others to Him; and understanding moral law, or principles of freedom, that allow men to reach their full potential by learning how to govern ourselves and others. We will learn about great leaders and nations which have demonstrated these virtues and used them to serve others, as well as those who have not.

Things that may be covered:
-Principle or virtue of focus for the month,
-Leadership/scholar skills (time management, attitude, goals, etc)
-Great leaders of the past and what made them great
-Imaginative literature (about man's possibilities – the possible can not be false)
-Letters, Documents, Writings from great leaders
-Non-fiction books (Covey, LDS leadership manual, etc)
-Scriptures/Talks/Articles
 

2. Eureka (math/science):
To see God’s hand in the world around us as we understand and apply the natural laws of the earth and the patterns therein. We will 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 find it. We will learn to better understand the language of creation

Things that may be covered:
-Great Discoveries
-Nature Studies
-Influential scientists/mathematicians
-How things work
-Logical thinking games/activities
-Synergy of the mind
-Science Experiments
-Science/Math Classics
-Scriptures/Talks

3. Geo-Conquest (history/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. We will develop the desire and ability see patterns in the past, how they relate to the present and how they may relate to the future. We will develop a love for all of God’s children and a desire to serve them.

Things that may be covered:
-Important historical Events
-Influential people - biographies
-Current events
-Historical fiction (accurate and high quality)
-Culture Immersion (projects)
-Tour of continent
-Geography games
-Historical documents, letters, writings
-Scriptures/Talks

4. Imaginative Arts (arts/literature):

To see the artistic view of the concept of the month as we study the imagination of man through the arts and literature. We will develop the desire and ability to recognize truth through its beauty and feeling. We will desire to create new ways to share ideas to help others find truth and develop the ability to do so. We will learn to better understand the language of ideas. 

Things that may be covered:
Imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, myths, legends, plays, etc)
Composers/Music
Artists/Art
Authors/Writing
Scriptures/Talks

Why these lenses or schools of thought?

We found these different schools of thought in many resources for similar reasons:

Scripture:
D&C 88:
78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly
in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the
kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things
which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are
abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land;
and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—
80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling
whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
 
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, leadership)
 
Color wheel with light visual:

It helps to understand this through a visual:

A color wheel with 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.
 
Curriculum:

The teaching should be determined by the mentors and not by a set curriculum. The reason for this is so that the mentors will have the opportunity to let the subject go through them as they plan
and organize their subject.