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 WeAreTeachers HELPLINE Facebook group for their suggestions, and as usual, they gave us some great ideas!
We’ve compiled their recommendations into an energizing, school-appropriate playlist. Check out the songs below or start jamming immediately by listening to them all on our WeAreTeachers Spotify Page!
As a reminder, everyone has their own ideas about what’s appropriate to share with students. Always review songs ahead of time to see if they’re right for your classroom.
Our Favorite School-Appropriate Songs
1. Better When I’m Dancin’ by Meghan Trainor
2. OK OK by HOKO
3. Three Little Birds by Bob Marley
4. The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti and Spearhead
5. Brand New Day by Lindsey Ray featuring Tim Myers
6. Colors by Black Pumas
7. Heat Waves by Glass Animals
8. Pompeii by Bastille
9. Golden Years by David Bowie
10. Safe and Sound by Capital Cities
11. Take On Me by A-Ha
12. Is It True? by Tame Impala
13. Me! by Taylor Swift featuring Brandon Urie of Panic! at the Disco
14. Cha Cha Slide by DJ Casper
15. Born This Way by Lady Gaga
16. Counting Stars by OneRepublic
17. When Can I See You Again? by Owl City
18. All About You by the Knocks featuring Foster the People
19. Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson
20. Don’t Stop Believing by Journey
21. Levitating by Dua Lipa featuring DaBaby
22. It’s the End of the World As We Know It by R.E.M.
23. On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons
24. My Universe by Coldplay & BTS
25. Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
26. Africa by Toto
27. Praise You by Fatboy Slim
28. Save Your Tears by Ariana Grande and the Weeknd
29. Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake
30. More of This by Vetiver
31. I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
32. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
33. Brown Skin Girl by Beyoncé, Wizkid, and Saint Jhn featuring Blue Ivy
34. Jump by Van Halen
35. Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
36. This Is What You Came For by Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna
37. Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall
38. Permission to Dance by BTS
39. Cheap Thrills by Sia featuring Sean Paul
40. Good Feeling by Flo Rida
41. Miss You Much by Janet Jackson
42. Girl by Jukebox and the Ghost
43. Brown-Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
44. One Week by Barenaked Ladies
45. Life Is a Highway by Tom Cochrane
46. Riptide by Vance Joy
47. Happy by Pharrell Williams
48. Try Everything by Shakira
49. Some Nights by Fun
50. Everybody Wants To Rule the World by Tears for Fears
51. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
52. The River of Dreams by Billy Joel
53. Canned Heat by Jamiroquai
54. Centerfield by John Fogerty
55. Treat People With Kindness by Harry Styles
56. Dance Monkey by Tones and I
57. Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty
58. Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon
59. What Do I Know? by Ed Sheeran
60. September by Earth, Wind, and Fire
61. Feel It Still by Portugal the Man
62. MMMBop by Hanson
63. Budapest by George Ezra
64. Respect by Aretha Franklin
65. One of Those Days by Little Big Town
66. Dynamite by BTS
67. Give a Little by Maggie Rogers
68. Malibu by Miley Cyrus
69. Kill ’Em With Kindness by Selena Gomez
70. Lights by Ellie Goulding
71. Old Town Road by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
72. Havana by Camila Cabello
73. I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness
74. Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen
75. Take a Chance on Me by ABBA
76. Yet To Come by BTS
77. Kick, Push by Lupe Fiasco
78. Hurricane by The Vamps
