Living vs. Non-Living Game
Play a free living vs. non-living game right in your browser. See one item at a time and decide: is it living, or non-living? Choose an Easy level with clear-cut examples, a Tricky level that tests the actual criteria (a mushroom, fire, the Sun), or a Mixed review that combines both. Every answer comes with a one-line explanation of why, using the same fixed rule every time. No sign-up, and nothing is saved.
A free classification game that tests whether students can apply the real criteria for living things — not just recognize animals and plants — with a plain-English explanation after every answer.
Not a test — nothing is saved after you leave.
Ready to sort living from non-living?
Look at each item and decide: is it living, or non-living?
How to use the living vs. non-living game
- 1Choose a level: Easy, Tricky, or Mixed review.
- 2Press Start round.
- 3Look at each item and choose Living or Non-Living.
- 4Read the explanation, then move to the next item.
When this is useful
Teaching the criteria for living things
Reinforce that living things grow, need food and water, and can reproduce — not just "is it an animal."
Life science warm-ups
A quick, self-checking activity to open a life science lesson or unit.
Testing tricky classifications
The Tricky level uses fire, the Sun, clouds, and other items that move or change but aren't alive — a genuine test of the rule, not a snap visual guess.
Building science vocabulary
Items like mushroom, seedling, and spider give students practice with real biological classification, not just pets and toys.
Examples to try
Easy level
Clear-cut items like a dog, a tree, a rock, and a car — a gentle introduction to the sort.
Tricky level
Items that test the actual rule, like a mushroom (living — it grows and reproduces) or fire (non-living — it isn't made of cells).
Mixed review
A full round blending easy and tricky items for a broader check of understanding.
Tips for better results
Start with Easy
Easy items build confidence with the sort before Tricky asks students to apply the actual criteria.
Read every explanation
Even on a correct answer, the explanation restates the rule — that repetition is what makes the criteria stick.
Tricky items are the real test
If a student can correctly classify fire, the Sun, and a mushroom, they're using the criteria, not just guessing from a picture.
Session best isn't saved
The score shown is just for this browser session — nothing is stored, so every visit starts fresh.
How the living vs. non-living game works
Every item is a settled, uncontroversial classification: something is living if it grows, needs food and water, and can make more of its own kind — non-living things do not do these on their own. Genuinely ambiguous or contested cases are left out entirely, so every item has exactly one correct, defensible answer.
Easy items are unambiguous at a glance. Tricky items are still clear-cut, but test the criteria itself rather than a snap visual judgment — a mushroom is living (it's a fungus that grows and reproduces), while fire, a cloud, or the Sun are non-living even though they can move, grow, or give off light and heat.
Everything runs in your browser — nothing you tap is uploaded, and no score or progress is saved after you leave the page.
Private by design
- No account and no sign-up. Just open it and start.
- Everything runs on your device, so the level you choose and the answers you pick during a round stays with you.
- Nothing you create is uploaded. No values, names, scores, or generated content are sent to our servers.
- We use Google Analytics only for basic, anonymous pageview counts. It never receives what you enter into the tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is the living vs. non-living game free?
Yes, completely free, with no account and no limit on how many rounds you play.
What's the difference between Easy and Tricky?
Easy items are clear at a glance, like a dog or a rock. Tricky items test the actual criteria for living things, using examples like fire, the Sun, clouds, and mushrooms.
Why is fire non-living if it can grow and spread?
Fire isn't made of cells and can't reproduce on its own — growing and spreading isn't the same as being alive. The game explains this after you answer.
Why is a mushroom living?
A mushroom is a fungus. It grows and reproduces using spores, so it's living, even though it isn't a plant or an animal.
Does the game explain every answer?
Yes. After every answer, right or wrong, you'll see a one-line explanation using the same fixed criteria — growth, needing food and water, and reproduction.
Is it good for classroom use?
Yes. The Easy level suits an early introduction to the topic, while Tricky and Mixed suit students ready to apply the real criteria.
Does this use AI?
No. This is a browser-only game with a fixed, curated set of items and explanations. It does not use AI, and the game runs on your device.
Are scores saved?
No. Your score, streak, and session best stay in your browser for the current session and are cleared when you leave the page.
Always free · No account needed · Nothing you type ever leaves your device.