Peeling Back Layers: Exploring Math Concepts Through Onions

K-10 | Math Illustration

This spring, I had the opportunity to conduct a STEAM NOLA NOW (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) segment for the local news station, WVUE. These segments are aimed at providing families with arts-integrated lessons they can easily do at home. My lesson involved using an onion to study the art concepts of shapes, color, and patterns, along with math concepts like arithmetic and geometry.  Watch the segment and follow along!

Supplies needed: 

• 1 medium red onion 

• Paint (acrylic) or ink pads

• Thick paper

• Paintbrush (optional)

• Ruler (optional)

The first step is to cut the onion in half. Allow the students to examine the rings of the onion. What do they notice about its structure? Next, students pick a sheet of colored paper and a complementary paint color (complementary colors are colors that strongly contrast, for example, red and green). The students will now apply the paint or ink to the face of the onion and press that painted face onto the paper. They may stop there, OR you can have the students explore patterns by using their new stamps to place more onion prints onto the paper. Once done, let the artwork dry for at least 15 minutes.

K-2 learners can practice counting the rings or engage in simple addition and subtraction. Older learners can use rulers to explore geometry concepts such as radius, diameter, and circumference.

To extend the activity into a science lesson, students can compare and contrast the layers of an onion with the ring layers of trees.

This lesson offers a creative and tangible way for young learners to explore math concepts through art, using simple materials readily available at home.