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 We Are Teachers HELPLINE Facebook group for their suggestions, and as usual, they gave us some great ideas!

We’ve compiled their recommendations into a big list of energizing, school-appropriate songs. Check out the songs below or start jamming immediately by listening to them all on our We Are Teachers Spotify page!

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.

Dance Party School-Appropriate Songs

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

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

Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa

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 and 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

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 Believing 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

A Sky Full of Stars by Taron Egerton

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

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

Get my free printable music quote posters!

Don’t forget to download your free music quote posters, featuring five of our favorite quotes for the classroom.

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