Making a few special items for our preschool students at the end of the year is pretty much a tradition. There’s also one big thing we do for the parents, and that’s a slideshow with sweet end of the year songs to go along with pictures of the kiddos from the preschool year.
We also like to put together an individualized DVD slideshow for each child, or a collection of the photo files collected over the year. A preschool portfolio for each of the kiddos is a well-loved treat for the children and parents, alike. They really show how much they’ve grown over the year.
At our end of the year “graduation”, we like to include a slideshow of all the pre-k kids throughout the year. Here’s where the end of the year songs come in.
For all of these slideshows, I always search for songs that are “just right”, sometimes stressing over which songs to include. Below is a list of songs that I’ve come across that are a great fit for an end of the year playlist. I think these songs are perfect for pre-k and kindergarten graduations, but they’re also suitable for other grades! I don’t generally use all of these songs on one slideshow. Rather, they’re a list of possibilities to pick and choose from.
I tried to include direct links to each song if possible. Otherwise, the link is to the entire album.
End of the Year Songs for Graduation Slideshows
What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Count on Me by Bruno Mars
93 Million Miles by Jason Mraz
Sunshine Medley by Greg & Steve
Sing Together by Train
You’re My Best Friend by Queen
Safe and Sound by Matthew West
Lean on Me by Bill Withers
We’re Going to Be Friends by Jack Johnson or by The White Stripes
Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane or by Rascal Flatts
Let Them Be Little by Billy Dean or by Lonestar
You and Me by Dave Matthews Band
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah by James Baskett or by Louis Armstrong
Celebration by Kool and The Gang
Check out 25 more end of the year slideshow songs (based on awesome suggestions from you)!
Originally published on June 24, 2013
Thank you for this list. I will be sure to refer to it next year. Last week I was stuck for choices but at the last minute, I chose the following four songs that worked really well:
1. Greatest Love by Whitney Houston
2.. I Can Fly by R. Kelley
3. True Colours by Phil Collins
4. I Hope You Dance by Leanne Womack
Thanks, Erika! I appreciate your song suggestions — I’m always looking to add to my list!! Those are definitely good choices for the end of the year, as well.
I used the song In The Eyes of a Child by Air Supply for a pre school graduation slide show.
Ooooh, that’s a sweet one too! Thanks for the suggestion!
I like “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack, and “These Are the Days” by Keith Urban
Oh, Lori, thanks for your song ideas too! I’m not sure how I forgot “Unwritten”, and the 2 others would be great too. 🙂
I always use the song, “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts for the part of the slideshow that shows how much they’ve grown since the beginning of the year. The words to that song are just perfect!!
Oh, that song is just beautiful too! Thanks for the idea, Katie! 🙂
Great list, you’ve got all my favs on there 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Vanessa @Pre-K Pages recently posted…Pool Noodle Sign Stand
Thanks, Vanessa! 🙂
I am so happy I found this site – I always spend HOURS finding the perfect end of the year songs to play. I have used a number of these songs in our end of the year slideshow. I love, love, love the Billy Joel “Let Them Be Little”, especially since my students grow so much (2-3 years old!).
Of course my mind is blanking right now on the other songs I have used (that are not on the list) but I know we have used t
Best of Friends from Disney Fox and the Hound
a song from the Curious George sound track also about friends
“On My Way” From Disney’s Brother Bear
Yay, I’m so glad this was helpful!! And thank you for the additional song ideas. I love that we can all share ideas like this — it’s just going to make those of the year celebrations that much better. 🙂
You might want to add “ordinary Miricle” by Sarah McLachlan. I cry every time.
Oh I need to listen to that one again, but I’m sure I’ll get teary too!!
The house at pooh corner by kenny loggins will make you cry it’s so tender and appropriate. I may make a play list of this just to listen to while planning and working on end of the year report cards!
Oh, Stacie, I’m going to have to run off and listen to that soon. Thanks so much for adding to this list! I’m creating an end of the year slideshow this weekend and would love to try out some new songs.
I always start with the Tarzan song “You’ll Be in my Heart” – another Phil Colins. The beginning words are perfect!
“Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
Hold it tight”
Another great suggestion, Tracie! Those words are a great way to start off the end of the year playlist. Thanks so much!
I use a few of the songs mentioned but I also use Hannah Montana The Climb. I love it in my DVD. Thanks for the other suggestions!
I hadn’t thought of that one, but I can see how it would be great. Thanks so much for your suggestion! 🙂
One I am loving/using this year is “I Lived” by One Republic!
Thanks for the idea, Jenna! I’m going to have to think about adding that to my playlist this year. 🙂
Thank you for putting this helpful list together. Love reading all the other suggestions as well. Great blog 🙂
Thanks so much! I loved reading all of the suggestions, too! 🙂
One of my favorite good-bye songs. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day.
Thanks, Angel! I think that’s a great one to add to the list. 🙂
Great List – I can’t wait to add some of these, I have That’s What Friends Are For from the Jungle Book, Happy by Pharrell and Butterfly Fly Away from the Hannah Montana Soundtrack. Thanks all for sharing! Michelle
Thanks, Michelle! I’m glad to have even more song suggestions for the list. 🙂
Great list! Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift is one I’ve used for fifth grade moving up that would be darling for preschool!
these Are All Great Suggestions. My Favorite “Time Of Our Life” By Gree Day.
Thanks Valerie! I had so many wonderful suggestions from my readers that I compiled a list of 25 more end of the year songs. I made sure to include Green Day’s “Time of Your Life”! 🙂
Friends are friends forever. Matthew West
Make new Friends. When You Wish Upon a Star and The Goodbye Song
We started using “So Long, Farewell” from the Sound of Music. We choreograph it in a way that our PreKs leave their seats, walk forward and wave, then go up on stage for a final goodbye, by the time the music ends. This is a great list!
my year end slideshow always begins with “Getting to Know You” by James Taylor from the King and I and ends with “You’ve Gotta Friend In Me”! The music in the middle changes from year to year. Thanks for the great ideas!
I always use;
Take that- never forget
Heather smalls- proud
Miley Cyrus- the climb
Script and will I am- hall of fame
You raise me up- found a lovely Irish version
Did you mention what program you use? I had a favorite on my old desktop, when it crashed the program went with it. It was so old…… The format for the new program didn’t even seem the same!
This year my preschoolers did the song “You’ve got a friend in Me”” in sign language.
I taught myself from the internet then the kids. Everyone loved it!!
Thank you for this list! I love all of your choices! I wish I knew how to make a DVD slideshow. I have a macbook pro and I take lots of pics of my students. I just haven’t learned how to make a slideshow yet. Check out the song “Little Hands” by Jonathan Edwards. It would also be perfect for a preschool slideshow.
Thanks so much for the song suggestion! There are so many video slideshow programs out there – which are available for Macs?
Life is a Highway….”Tom” Cochrane not John
Oh my word, I must bow my head in shame. I know that . . . not sure why I wrote the wrong name! Off to fix. You’re awesome for letting me know. 😉
Everything Grows, By Raffi
Thanks a Lot, by Raffi
Yes, such a good one! 🙂