Fifth Grade Students Investigate Natural Phenomenon of Tear-Inducing Onion

CLARK, NJ — Fifth grade students in Jessica Massa’s class at Hehnly Elementary School recently investigated the questions: Why do people cry when they peel onions? Would wearing goggles prevent tears? Sparked by their own curiosity about natural phenomena, students explored the questions in connection to their study of solids, liquids, and gas.

Students collaboratively examined the different parts of an onion and drew a model to represent what was happening to the particles involving the changes from solids, liquids and gasses. The students discovered that by cutting up the onion, the particles were changing from a solid to a gas and the sulfur particles led to the tears.

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Further, the students discussed whether goggles, glasses, or contacts would be the best means of blocking out the particles and stopping the tears.

Massa stated, “The students were actively engaged and asking spectacular questions. They drew phenomenal models to represent what they believed was happening using the science vocabulary that was learned earlier in the week.”

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