The Big List of School-Appropriate Songs To Keep Kids Motivated

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

79. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift

80. As It Was by Harry Styles

81. Telepath by Conan Gray

82. Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush

83. Left and Right by Charlie Puth featuring Jungkook of BTS

84. 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready?) by Lizzo

85. I Like You (A Happier Song) by Post Malone featuring Doja Cat

86. Celestial by Ed Sheeran and Pokémon

87. That That by Psy featuring SUGA of BTS

88. Cold Heart by Dua Lipa and Elton John

Want to try out this playlist of school-appropriate songs with your students? Check out the WeAreTeachers Spotify page for this playlist and more!