They use mud to pack these materials together. The eggs are incubated by heat produced from the decaying vegetation. The male to female ratio of the hatchling alligators is dependent upon the temperature inside the nest. At or below 88 degrees, the hatchlings are all females. If the temperature is 93 or above the hatchlings are all males.
Description Give each participant a plate.
They will build their alligator nests on the plate. The shredded wheat and granola represents the vegetation alligators use to build their nests. Give each participant some shredded wheat and granola. The peanut butter represents the mud alligators use to cement their nests together. Give each participant enough peanut butter to make the shredded wheat and granola stick together.