ALLIGATOR TEETH TREK

Let's trek through the swamp and dive into an excavation like no other in this Alligator Teeth Trek tutorial. This quick post will show you how to make a super cool excavation activity filled with real alligator teeth. The addition of real alligator teeth to this excavation engages your excavating adventurer when they realize these teeth were once in the jaws of a mighty alligator.

Pro tip: The American alligator is the largest reptile in North America and they have up to eighty teeth in their jaws. As the teeth fall out or wear down they are replaced and an alligator can go through 2000 teeth or more in their lifetime.

Materials:

Sand
Plaster of Paris
Water
Mixing bowl
Wooden spoon
Measuring cups
Excavation tools. Wooden dowels and other blunt instruments work well. Sharp tools are unsafe and not necessary as the excavations are reasonably brittle and excavate easily.
Safety goggles
Small brush
Alligator teeth - These can easily be found online. Etsy has them readily available at a good price.
Container - Any plastic container will do.
Optional - Moss or other decorative material to give your Alligator Teeth Trek a swampy look.
Optional - Little plastic alligators, snakes, and other animals that would live in a swamp ecosystem.

Pro tip: Purchase small glass bottles with cork stoppers to store the alligator teeth once they have been excavated. Be sure that your alligator teeth will fit. Once the alligator tooth has been placed inside, your excavating adventurer will have their very own alligator tooth wishing bottle. The bottle can be displayed on a shelf, or use a piece a string to make the alligator tooth wishing bottle into a necklace!

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Instructions:

Put one cup of sand in your mixing bowl.
Add one-third cup Plaster of Paris.
Use the wooden spoon to mix the sand and Plaster of Paris.
Add one-third cup of water and mix.
Keep adding small amounts of water until you reach a pancake like batter consistency.
Add the alligator teeth to the container.
Pour a layer of the mixture into the container to cover the alligator teeth.
Gently tap the sides of the container to remove any air bubbles. This will also allow a little mixture under the alligator teeth.
Optional - Add little plastic alligators, snakes, and swamp creatures to the excavation. These will often try to float to the surface of your excavation. Just keep an eye on them as push them back into the excavation as it begins to stiffen.
Set the Alligator Teeth Trek in a safe location to dry undisturbed overnight. I like to put the excavation in front of a fan.
Optional - Once dry, decorate the Alligator Tooth Trek to make it look like a swamp.

Pro tip: Skip the plaster excavation and make or buy some green slime. Simply hide the alligator teeth in the slime and let your excavating adventurer dig in and explore. You can even call it a Slimy Swamp Exploration.

Now the Alligator Teeth Trek is ready to be enjoyed. Find an area that is easy to clean up, distribute the safety goggles and excavation tools, and let the excavating begin.

I hope you enjoyed this super quick tutorial and enjoy making the Alligator Teeth Trek. These excavations are very easy to make, inexpensive, and a lot of fun!

Pro tip: Use this activity to create some excitement around discussions or lessons regarding swamps, ecosystems, reptiles, and predators.

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