A Big Reptile of the Swamps: teacher key

American Alligators, grade 3 edition, written for 3rd grade. An alligator has a wide snout and hidden lower teeth. Read about its size, food, sun time and nest.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. How many eggs does a female alligator lay in her nest?
   • Only one
   • About 20 to 50 (answer)
   • About 3,000
2. What can an alligator go through in its lifetime?
   • 3,000 teeth (answer)
   • 30 nests
   • 300 dens
3. Where does an alligator rest in winter?
   • In a nest of plants
   • In salty water
   • In a den (answer)
4. As of November 2026, which is the largest reptile in the United States?
   • The turtle
   • The alligator (answer)
   • The frog
5. What does seize mean here?
   • To grab and hold (answer)
   • To drop
   • To hide
6. Why does an alligator bask in the sun?
   • To find salt
   • To lay eggs
   • To warm up (answer)

Words

• scutes: bony plates
• bask: rest in sun
• seize: grab and hold
• den: resting place