Music for Physical Education Classes

Childhood obesity remains a serious problem in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since the 1970s, the percentage of children and adolescents impacted by obesity has more than tripled. Nearly one in five children and young people are considered obese.

Physical education is an important asset for students, and its benefits extend beyond battling obesity. Physical activity builds strong bones and muscles, improves fitness, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduces the risk of developing conditions like heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. The CDC added that students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance, and classroom behaviors.

Building positive physical activity habits in your students can improve their physical and mental health. One way to do this is through incorporating songs that will keep them moving. Music for physical education classes can help encourage your students and create a fun atmosphere for activities.

Motivating Students with Music for Physical Education Classes

How does using music for physical education classes help your students?

Hearing a favorite song naturally makes people move. That’s why wedding receptions tend to play songs like “Y.M.C.A” from the Village People and “Shout” from the Isley Brothers. They’re popular, catchy songs that make people want to dance.

Using music for physical education classes can have that same effect, but it doesn’t have to be about dancing. You can use music in the background. Just having music on while stretching can get students ready to start moving. Likewise, playing music during sports activities can inspire students to move more while they play.

Music inspires action. According to the BBC, stores use music to encourage customers to spend more money while shopping. Take advantage of the opportunity to inspire movement by integrating music into parts of the physical education curriculum. The following sections offer some ideas.

Warm-up and Cool-down Songs

The Stretching Song, (Warm-Up for Younger Students) 

Faded, Alan Walker (Cool-Down for Older Students) 

Gym Class Music for Early Elementary Grades

Swimming Song, Tony Chestnut & Fun Time Action Songs

The Hamster Dance, The Hit Crew

Bouncing Up and Down, Patty Shukla

Baby Shark, Pinkfong

Physical Education Music for Middle and High School Students

Shake It Off, Taylor Swift

Happy, Pharrell Williams

Fun, Fun, Fun, The Beach Boys

Gypsy, Fleetwood Mac

Free Music Tools for PE Teachers

There are several ways to stream music for free. Here are just a few of the most popular options:

• Spotify offers a free plan that has occasional advertisements. You can access playlists and discover new music, but you’ll need to listen in shuffle mode and you’re limited to skipping six songs each hour.
• Pandora generates customized radio stations based off your favorite artists or songs. It’s free with occasional advertisements.
• iHeartRadio works like Pandora, offering music recommendations based on your tastes. It’s also an internet radio station and completely free.
• SoundCloud is a free social music platform. It doesn’t have the music library as other sites, but it has attracted some big names to go with independent artists.

Commercials can be a distraction when using music for specific exercises. You could try having students choose their own exercise during commercials. Although commercials are common with many free music streaming plans, they don’t have to stop you from using music for physical education classes.

Making PE Class Exciting and Rewarding

PE class should be where students build healthy habits that impact their futures. Music is a great start, but there are several other strategies for helping students benefit their well-being.

Looking for ways to not only help your students enjoy physical activity, but understand how physical activity improves their body and mind? Advancement Courses offers K-12 educators more than 200 online, self-paced professional development courses covering both foundational topics and emerging trends. The course Game On! Getting Kids Pumped in P.E. Class will help you build a culture of enthusiasm and engagement from all students in your P.E. class, regardless of physical ability.