There’s almost always a good reason to play music in the classroom. But finding a motivating, fast-paced playlist of school-appropriate songs can be tricky. We turned to the teachers in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE Facebook group for their suggestions, and as usual, they gave us some great ideas!
As a reminder, everyone has their own ideas about what’s appropriate to share with students. Always review song lyrics and music videos ahead of time to ensure they’re right for your classroom.
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How To Use Songs in the Classroom
Here are some teacher-tested ideas for using songs in the classroom:
- Charlotte, North Carolina, teacher Ms. Massey uses the Mission Impossible theme song during classroom transitions. Students know that when they hear the opening bars, it’s time to clean up and move.
- When you are getting to know students, have them choose a song that’s “theirs.” Then, when they are having a bad day, or when it’s time to celebrate an accomplishment, play their song.
- Task students with creating a song they can use to remember PEMDAS, vocabulary definitions, or another fact or process you want them to know. They can choose the tune but have to write and perform the song.
- Use songs to teach ideas like tone, mood, and word choice. What do different songs remind students of? Are they happy or sad? And what would happen to the meaning of a song if the songwriter had used a different word?
Dance Party School-Appropriate Songs
Golden by HUNTR/X
Better When I’m Dancin’ by Meghan Trainor
Cha Cha Slide by DJ Casper
Stay by Kid Laroi ft. Justin Bieber
The Feels by TWICE
Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
Dynamite by BTS
Zoo by Shakira
Dance Monkey by Tones and I
Happy by Pharrell Williams
Cheap Thrills by Sia ft. Sean Paul
Good Feeling by Flo Rida
This Is What You Came For by Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall
A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
Praise You by Fatboy Slim
Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake
When Can I See You Again? by Owl City
That That by Psy ft. SUGA of BTS
As It Was by Harry Styles
Sucker by Jonas Brothers
Rain on Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
Do It Like That by the Jonas Brothers and TXT
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness
Butter by BTS
No Excuses by Meghan Trainor
Canned Heat by Jamiroquai
Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon
Levitating by Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby
Cupid by Fifty Fifty
Chill Songs for School
My Universe by Coldplay & BTS
Counting Stars by OneRepublic
Heat Waves by Glass Animals
Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line
Save Your Tears by Ariana Grande and The Weeknd
Thunder by Imagine Dragons
Safe and Sound by Capital Cities
Colors by Black Pumas
Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
Riptide by Vance Joy
Cover Me in Sunshine by P!nk
Some Nights by Fun
Golden Hour by JVKE
Karma by Taylor Swift ft. Ice Spice
More of This by Vetiver
Girl by Jukebox and the Ghost
Celestial by Ed Sheeran and Pokémon
Pompeii by Bastille
I Don’t Think I Like Her Anymore by Charlie Puth
Cold Heart by Dua Lipa and Elton John
Is It True? by Tame Impala
All About You by The Knocks ft. Foster the People
Magic by TXT
Hurricane by The Vamps
Telepath by Conan Gray
Lights by Ellie Goulding
Old Town Road by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
Havana by Camila Cabello
Left and Right by Charlie Puth ft. Jungkook of BTS
Dance the Night by Dua Lipa
Feel It Still by Portugal the Man
Budapest by George Ezra
Give a Little by Maggie Rogers
Malibu by Miley Cyrus
Kick, Push by Lupe Fiasco
I Like You (A Happier Song) by Post Malone ft. Doja Cat
Adore You by Harry Styles
What Do I Know? by Ed Sheeran
Pink by Lizzo
You Know What’s Up by 4*Town
Only Wanna Be With You by Post Malone
Love Story (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
Annihilate by Lil Wayne, Metro Boomin, Offset, and Swae Lee
Am I Dreaming by A$AP Rocky, Metro Boomin, and Roisee
Happier by Olivia Rodrigo
Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift
Light Switch by Charlie Puth
A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
Best Song Ever by One Direction
Die With a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Lose Control by Teddy Swims
Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish
Throwback and Classic School Songs
Golden Years by David Bowie
Three Little Birds by Bob Marley
Take On Me by A-Ha
One Week by Barenaked Ladies
Brown-Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
Miss You Much by Janet Jackson
Jump by Van Halen
I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
Africa by Toto
It’s the End of the World as We Know It by R.E.M.
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Life Is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush
Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen
Respect by Aretha Franklin
MMMBop by Hanson
September by Earth, Wind & Fire
Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty
Centerfield by John Fogerty
Everybody Wants To Rule the World by Tears for Fears
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
The River of Dreams by Billy Joel
Take a Chance on Me by ABBA
Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & the Waves
What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
As Long as You Love Me by Backstreet Boys
Broadway and Musicals
Defying Gravity from Wicked
Part of That World by Halle Bailey from The Little Mermaid
A Sky Full of Stars by Taron Egerton from Sing 2
We Don’t Talk About Bruno from Encanto
Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music
Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ from Oklahoma!
I Got Rhythm from Girl Crazy
Getting To Know You from The King and I
For Good from Wicked
Good Morning from Singin’ in the Rain
Put On a Happy Face from Bye Bye Birdie
Anything Goes from Anything Goes
Consider Yourself from Oliver!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins
Seize the Day from Newsies
This Is Me from The Greatest Showman
You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen
Revolting Children from Matilda the Musical
Don’t Rain on My Parade from Funny Girl
Friend Like Me from Aladdin
We’re All in This Together from High School Musical
On My Own from Les Misérables
Circle of Life from The Lion King
Tomorrow from Annie
Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz
My Shot from Hamilton
Seasons of Love from Rent
The Greatest Show from The Greatest Showman
Memory from Cats
Hakuna Matata from The Lion King
Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid
Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast
Shiny from Moana
When I Grow Up from Matilda the Musical
The Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book
Step in Time from Mary Poppins
Peaches by Jack Black from The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Classroom Songs About Kindness and Positivity
Me! by Taylor Swift ft. Brandon Urie of Panic! at the Disco
Born This Way by Lady Gaga
I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber
Fight Song by Rachel Platten
Try Everything by Shakira
What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish
Permission To Dance by BTS
Firework by Katy Perry
Treat People With Kindness by Harry Styles
Flowers by Miley Cyrus
Kill ’Em With Kindness by Selena Gomez
Yet To Come by BTS
Lift Me Up by Rihanna
What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction
Fireflies by Owl City
OK OK by HOKO
Better Place by *NSYNC
The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti and Spearhead
Brand New Day by Lindsey Ray ft. Tim Myers
Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson
On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons
Last Call by Khalid
Count on Me by Bruno Mars
Brown Skin Girl by Beyoncé, Wizkid, and Saint Jhn ft. Blue Ivy
One of Those Days by Little Big Town
2 Be Loved (Am I Ready?) by Lizzo
Made You Look by Meghan Trainor
Could Have Been Me by Halsey
I Ain’t Worried by OneRepublic
Beautiful Things by Benson Boone
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