Middle School Science Lessons

Oct 29, 2026 – Updated and improved:

NEW LINK: https://middleschoolscience.com/2026/10/29/who-wants-to-live-a-million-years-20th-anniversary/

Link UPDATED (Again on 4.1.25) – Scroll down the following pages to play on your desktop:

👩🏻‍💻🧑🏻‍💻 Getty Nerdy or Science is Real

The game on each page is free to play, there are optional webquests to purchase on each of the sites run by teachers. (I am not affiliated with either website)

Objectives: How do traits enable a species to survive? What happens if the conditions change for the species with those traits?

Will your species survive for a million years? Will it survive a viral outbreak, meteorite impacts, predators, temperature changes, and changes in food sources?

In this natural selection simulation, students will choose 3 individuals as their starter population. What traits do they think will increase the chances of survival for their species? Long legs? Long necks? Stripes? Furry or bulky bodies? Only time will tell!

My 6th graders enjoyed playing this game and many were much more successful than I was :)

📖 CK 12 Reading – for non-fiction reading skills

Links:

  • NEW LINK UPDATED 12.18.17https://www.ologames.com/Free_Games/Who-Wants-To-Live-A-Million-Years 
    • I removed the old link, looks like you can’t play in online anymore, needs to be downloaded now and says might be harmful?
  • Natural Selection – how are traits passes on?
    • Click on Natural Selection in the menu options
  • Who wants to live a million years?
    • Click on Survival Game in the menu options

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7 responses

  1. Don Wittekind Avatar
    Don Wittekind

    Hi Liz, I know this is an old thread, but I’m Don Wittekind from Swarm Interactive, the company that developed this game in the mid-2000s. I was learning some new tech and thought it would be fun to remaster the game for 2026, and I’ve just finished. Our idea is to make it available free for teachers to use. The game is in Alpha (meaning three of us have tested it) and can be found here: https://dans-dash.don538885.chatgpt.site/previews/million-years-remaster/. The link at the bottom can be used to send comments. There’s also a download link with instructions to put it on your own site, meaning it will live as long as your site does.

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    Reply
    1. Liz Belasic Avatar
      Liz Belasic

      Thank you so much for sharing this update – I know students have enjoyed using this simulation in my classroom and others!

      Like

    2. Don Wittekind Avatar
      Don Wittekind

      Had a lot of fun doing it and just trying to get the word out. Have several teachers reviewing it now and we’ve added a “Hardcore Mode” where you can’t intervene at their request.

      Like

  2. Q the Science Teacher Avatar
    Q the Science Teacher

    I cant get this game to work. I downloaded flash player, went to the shockwave site and nothing is working.

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    Reply
    1. Liz LaRosa Avatar
      Liz LaRosa

      Hi, Sorry you having trouble with it, please contact your school’s Tech Department to help you troubleshoot.

      Like

    2. Francesca Avatar
      Francesca

      The link is dangerous to download in any computer. That’s the sign that appears in my computer and that’s the reason why my school’s tech department didn’t want to give acces. Is there something we can do about it?

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    3. Liz LaRosa Avatar
      Liz LaRosa

      That’s too bad, it didn’t need to be downloaded before, I removed the link until I find a replacement. Thank you for letting me know. ~Liz

      Like

Comments are welcome!