Want to find some music that you can use in your elementary classroom? Looking for songs that are fun and that students recognize, or songs that have a positive message? Last spring I was looking for some songs to use in a video for my students and did not know where to start. It took me a while but I finally found 2 appropriate and child-friendly pop songs in my over 3,000+ song collection. I knew there had to be more options than that! If you’re interested in 25 Oldies Songs to Use in Your Classroom, check out my related post here.
This post has been updated as of May 2024!
This summer I set about to researching pop songs from the last 10 years or so and finding a good pool of them. I teach second grade and these songs, in my opinion, would be fine for classroom use. Some may even already be used for brain breaks in programs such as GoNoodle and Just Dance!
So how did I choose them? I listened to about 100 songs I thought might be okay and eliminated most, then read the lyrics and a few more didn’t make the cut. If you’d like to read the lyrics yourself, try AZ Lyrics’ website.
I will post links to the videos for the songs so you can hear the song but I can not vouch for the videos themselves. If you need to find music videos that are okay for elementary students, please search through videos on your own. I can only vouch for the songs themselves! If you have any other songs you know well and would recommend, please comment and let us know!
You can NOW also find my Spotify playlist with these songs! Click here to add it to your Spotify.
Here they are-25 Pop Songs to Use with Students
HAPPY by Pharrell Williams
Well, of course! I don’t think I need to say anything else!
ROAR by Katy Perry
I used this song as one of the two for my end of the year videos last year. It has such a positive message. Love it!
FIREWORK by Katy Perry
Yep, Katy Perry is one of quite a few artists who are on this list more than once. This is another positive, life affirming song. I remember I saw her perform it on the show Home for the Holidays one Christmas. The show promotes the Dave Thomas Foundation (for adoption) and all these children who had once been in the foster care system who had been adopted were in the front. So many happy smiles. It was the perfect song for it.
I LIKE YOU (a Happier song) by Post Malone & Doja Cat (clean version)
Be careful when choosing a version of this song – the original has a couple curse words. But the clean version (as shown in this video) is a-ok – the words are blanked out. It is just a fun, positive song about people who simply like each other!
UNWRITTEN by Natasha Bedingfield
This is the other song I used in my end-of-the-year video, and yes, you may also recognize it as the song played at the beginning of those The Hills shows on TV about 10 years ago. Its great and always makes me feel good when I hear it.
POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE by Natasha Bedingfield
More positivity here. Bedingfield has a message of creating your own happiness and staying positive, despite hard times.
22 by Taylor Swift
The first of the Taylor Swift songs on this list of suggestions! Not much to say but this song is fun and fine for the classroom!
BEST DAY OF MY LIFE by American Authors
This song is pretty new and I wasn’t that familiar with it until a few months ago. It reminds me of Lovin’ Each Day by Ronan Keating (which I loved but couldn’t make this list because it has one “bad” word). Its happy, uplifting and might be a good song for your alarm each morning.
POP ITS in the CLASSROOM
Let’s pause for a second with the pop songs because if you love using pop songs with your students, you also may like harnessing the power of those fidget POP its (or poppers) to engage students.
Pop each Sound in a Word
This is the main way I use pop its for learning with my own students. Popping each sound can help students develop letter sound identification, and practice the phonemics awareness skills of blending and segmenting sounds and words. This really helps to engage learners in reading lessons!
Here is a peek at task cards, which are part of the Pop its Phonics practice resource (for CVC Words) These cards, and the How many sounds? cards help save teachers time in planning your small group phonics lessons or centers. There is also a version with consonant digraphs and bonus letters and now many more versions!
MORE POP SONGS
STRONGER BY KELLY CLARKSON
I am sure you know this one, but Clarkson sings about being strong on her own and not relying on others for happiness. Of course it is about a breakup, but the message is pretty general. You may have to explain the saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” but if you don’t mind that, it’s a great choice.
BREAKAWAY by Kelly Clarkson
Another Clarkson song that is appropriate for younger kids, Breakaway talks about moving away from home and being on your own. It explains some times you need to take some risks in life and that doing so and embracing your independence can lead to real happiness.
GOOD FEELING by Flo Rida
This is a one of the interesting pop songs! I never would have thought of Flo Rida for this list but I remembered the chorus and researched the lyrics and it’s a solid, positive song. Flo Rida sings (well raps) about loving the life you’re living and about how working hard, really hard, leads to success. He also reflects on the feeling of beating the odds and living his dream.
STEREO HEARTS by Gym Class Heroes Ft. Adam Levine
This is a light, happy song, that is about love, but also can be applied to any relationship where two people love and support each other.
HALL OF FAME by The Script Ft. Will I. Am
You may not know the band or recognize the song name but you will recognize it once you hear it. It’s another song about working hard and becoming successful. The song also reminds children (and adults) you can be what you want – a teacher, lawyer, preacher, doctor, whatever you dream is possible.
WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL by One Direction
Sorry 1D haters, this makes the list because it’s sweet, fun, light, and has no risque lines or curses. And it promotes positive self esteem too!
HOME by Philip Philips
A great song from a former American Idol winner about supporting and being there for each other.
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP by Andy Grammar
So catchy and fun! I always walk a little taller after hearing it.
LET’S GO by Calvin Harris Ft. Ne-Yo
This choice from the pop songs list is not as well know as some of the others but its a fun dance song with a catchy chorus. As you might guess from the title, it’s about not procrastinating and taking action now.
FEEL AGAIN by Onerepublic
This is a song about healing after a break up but it might not be obvious. The lyrics make it clear that you can get through hard times with support and love. Just a note there are two versions and both mention “a gun” once (I never even noticed until I looked up the lyrics). The radio version says “just shy of a gun” but the album version says “Just shot a gun”. Just FYI in case it affects your choice to use it or not.
DIFFERENT COLORS by Walk the Moon
This is a terrific, uplifting song that celebrates diversity. Everyone is different and unique but we can support each other and get along. There is one line that mentions “biting the bullet” which you may have to explain has nothing to do with an actual weapon.
COOL KIDS by Echosmith
A song from this year by a band led by family members. It promotes the fact that you don’t need to be a certain type of kid to be happy. The lyrics question the need to be a “cool kid” and points out it’s best to be yourself. It is similar to the message of Different Colors but a very different song.
HOUSE OF GOLD by Twenty One Pilots
This is a fascinating song which details a conversation between mother and son. She is discussing growing old and asks if he will take care of her and buy her a “house of gold”. He says he will take care of her, love her, and keep her healthy. It’s extremely rare to find a song about a mother and son so this is a neat one.
SHAKE IT OFF by Taylor Swift
Not much to say here. All the kids already know this song, so if someone is going to hate, just shake it off!
SAFE AND SOUND by Capital Cities
This is a fun song that you will probably recognize even if you have no idea who this band is. Its about positivity and knowing that with the support of a loved one, everything will be okay. There is one lyric which if someone is listening very hard, may ask about: “Even if we’re six feet underground I know that we’ll be safe and sound”. Just so you know it’s in there!
RIPTIDE by Vance Joy
This is a catchy one that I bet you’ve heard. Its about a crush and how fun the feeling is, but if you listen to it, you may not even notice what its about!
HURRICANE by The Vamps
This song may be familiar to you if you saw that movie Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible…To sum up, its about a happy, fun day!
THE MAN by Aloe Blacc
This is the song with the chorus, “You can tell everyone, oh you can tell everyone, I’m the man, I’m the man, I’m the man, yes I am, yes I am, Yes I am…” It’s pretty positive overall! My research indicated there is an explicit version and a clean version but I listened to both and looked up both lyrics and didn’t see anything questionable. Just to be safe look for the clean version.
The video below is the “clean” version.
I’M ONLY ME WHEN I’M WITH YOU by Taylor Swift
The final of the 25 pop songs and another one from T. Swift – this is about how you can really be yourself with those close friends and family members! Positive and fun!
For more teaching ideas:
- 8 Ways to Use Pop Its to Engage Learners
- 25 Oldies Songs to Use with Students
- 25 More Pop Songs to Use with students
- Play or Analyze these Songs in the Classroom
Thanks for stopping by everyone! I appreciate you taking time out to check out this post! For my related post on 25 Oldies Songs to Use with Students, click here on on the image below.
