The School Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) Lab is dedicated to improving student success through quality physical education, skills-based health education and school health initiatives aligned with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach. The lab provides professional development, curriculum resources, and technical support to teachers and schools to enhance standards-based physical education, health education curriculum and school health initiatives.
Laboratory Director
Dr. Kevin Lorson
- Associate Professor
- SHAPE Lab Director
Lab Members
Dr. Kevin Lorson
- Associate Professor
- SHAPE Lab Director
Research Emphasis
- Physical Education Curriculum and Assessment
- Teaching Health and Physical Education in Rural Schools
- Teaching Bike Riding in Schools
- Skills-Based Health Education Curriculum
- Opioid Prevention Curriculum
- School Health Policy & Advocacy
Recent Research Presentations and Publications
Lorson, K. & Benes, S. (In Press). Mental Health in Schools: The Health Education Teacher within a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Lorson, K. (In Press). A summary of the Ohio Physical Education Report Card data. The Physical Educator.
Lim CS, Robinson J, Hinton E, Gordy XZ, Gamble A, Compretta C, HolmesME, Ravola M. (2022). School-based obesity prevention programs in rural communities: a scoping review. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 2022. 20(12):p 2936-2985,DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-21-00233.
Chen, C-C (JJ), Kulinna, P.H., Spring, K.E., Ryuh, Y., & Holmes, M.E. (2022). The evaluation of physical literacy of preservice physical educators. The Physical Educator Journal. 2022: 79, 548-568.
Resources
Physical Education
SHAPE America Physical Education Standards (2024)
Health Education
- SHAPE America Health Education Standards (2024)
- Erika’s Lighthouse – A free depression education and suicide prevention curriculum
School Health
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Approach (WSCC) – (https://www.cdc.gov/whole-school-community-child/about/index.html)
Prospective Students
- Physical Education and Coaching Program
- Health Education Endorsement
- Master of Science – Sport Pedagogy
- Doctor of Philosophy – Sport Studies
Contact Us
Kevin Lorson
Associate Professor
Physical Education & Coaching
Kml739@msstate.edu
SHAPE Lab Highlights
What do we do?
We help create healthy schools and students by using a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach. We can provide professional development, curriculum, resources, policy guidance and technical support.
Examples of our work
Physical Education
Standards-based physical education curriculum and assessments. We design physical education to maximize students learning and engagement to promote physical activity, fitness and wellbeing.
Bike in the Schools
Mississippi State Physical Education & Coaching faculty and students are implementing the All Kids Bike program in Starkville to teach every first grader to safely and successfully ride a bike.
School Based Physical Activity
We can provide support and guide your school through a planning and implementation process to implement a Comprehensive School Physical Activity program that includes quality physical education, physical activity breaks, before/after school physical activity, staff wellness and parent engagement. We also provide professional development for school Physical Activity Leaders (PALs)
Health Education
Skills-based health education curriculum aligned with the National Health Education Standards. We provide professional development and resources to engage students in a curriculum that builds skills that lead to healthy behaviors.
Health and Opioid Prevention Education
We provide an evidence-informed opioid prevention education curriculum for Grades K-12. We can provide research and technical support to maximize your grant funding and prevention program success.
Healthy Schools
We support School Health Councils to implement a strategic planning process to coordinate policies, programs and practices to promote student success through a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach.