10 Gratitude Songs for the Classroom: A Thanksgiving Playlist
The week before Thanksgiving, half your class is already mentally on break. The other half is asking if you're watching a movie.
Here's a better plan: a short playlist of songs about gratitude, family, and good days. They're calm enough for a Tuesday before a long weekend and rich enough to teach real English. Every song is on Roxxem with a ready-to-play lesson.
The Be Thankful Playlist
1. Thankful, Ringo Starr and Alison Krauss (G)
A gentle country duet that says thank you in the simplest way. A perfect opener for a gratitude week, and slow enough for lower levels to follow.
2. Thank You For Everything, Kirk Franklin and Karen Clark-Sheard (PG)
A joyful gospel song built around one big message of thanks. Great for listening practice and for talking about different music traditions in the US.
3. What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong (G)
A list of small, beautiful things the singer notices: colors, trees, the sky, people saying hello. Ideal for sensory verbs like see and hear, and for nature vocabulary.
4. Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles (G, beginner)
Short, warm, and repetitive in the best way. The opening line is a natural example of it's been, so it doubles as a gentle intro to the present perfect.
5. Happy, Pharrell Williams (G)
Students already know it. Use it for feelings vocabulary and because clauses: I'm happy because...
6. Stand By Me, Ben E. King (G)
A song about the people who show up for you. Good for future forms with won't and for a discussion about who students count on.
7. Count on You, Big Time Rush (G)
A teen-friendly way to teach the phrasal verb count on, and a nice bridge into friendship vocabulary.
8. Dance With My Father, Luther Vandross (G)
A tender song about missing a parent and wishing for one more moment together. It's a strong example of the second conditional with if I could. Since it touches on loss, consider how it might land with your group before choosing it.
9. All Together Now, The Beatles (PG, beginner)
Counting, letters, colors, and a sing-along chorus. A fun pick for beginners and a nice nod to everyone gathering at one table.
10. Best Day of My Life, American Authors (PG)
High energy, very positive, and easy to sing. End the week on this one.
Three Quick Ways to Use the Playlist
- Gratitude wall: after each song, students add one sentence starting with I'm thankful for... to a class poster.
- Song of the day: play one song as a warm-up each day of Thanksgiving week.
- Class vote: play three songs, then students vote for their favorite and explain why in two sentences.
For more ideas, see our gratitude activities for ESL students and Thanksgiving vocabulary for ESL.
Teach the Different Ways to Say Thank You
Most students know thank you. Fewer know when to say thanks a lot and when to say I really appreciate it. Play one song from the list, then use the chart to sort the phrases from casual to formal. It takes about ten minutes, and students can use these phrases outside class right away.
Pair this playlist with our Black Friday ESL lesson for the week after Thanksgiving, or use this guide to build a full lesson around any one of these songs.
Thanksgiving Videos to Pair With the Playlist
Want a break from the music? These short videos on Roxxem keep the gratitude theme going, with transcripts and games built in.
Canada vs USA Thanksgiving (Auntie Charli, A2+, G)
A short comedy sketch comparing Thanksgiving in Canada and the United States, from the different dates to the size of the feast. The dialogue is clear and repetitive, so it works well as a warm-up and a quick culture comparison.
🔗 Watch "Canada vs USA Thanksgiving" on Roxxem!
The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin (Mimi’s Hope, B2, PG)
A read-aloud of the classic picture book about Papa Bear’s giant pumpkin, a little competition, and learning to be grateful. The moral gives you an easy discussion question: What are you thankful for this year?
🔗 Watch "The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin" on Roxxem!
Teaching Children about Gratitude (Easy English with Daisy, A2+, G)
A gentle conversation between a mother and child about breakfast, effort, and saying thank you. The language is slow and simple, with phrases like I understand and You are welcome.
🔗 Watch "Teaching Children about Gratitude" on Roxxem!
FAQ
What are good Thanksgiving songs for the classroom?
Songs about gratitude, family, and friendship tend to work better than songs about turkey. What a Wonderful World, Here Comes the Sun, and Thankful are all rated G and easy to follow.
Are these songs appropriate for elementary students?
Most are rated G on Roxxem. All Together Now and Here Comes the Sun are especially beginner friendly.
Can I use these songs outside of Thanksgiving?
Yes. Gratitude and friendship fit any time of year, especially before winter break or at the end of the school year.
Your Be Thankful week is ready. Open any song in Roxxem and the lesson is already built. Try it free.
6 gratitude activities for ESL students built on songs. Teach feelings, because clauses, and thank you notes this November.
Thanksgiving vocabulary for ESL students: food, family, and dinner phrases, plus songs that put the words in context.
A Black Friday ESL lesson with songs. Teach shopping vocabulary, needs vs wants, and a store role-play in one class.