Q: is there a way to lock into a certain few apps?

You might want to investigate Guided Access. That feature locks the iPad into a single App.

No, Guided Access is for one app only.

You have to uninstall all the other apps except those that are bundled with the IOS.

Also Settings > General > Restrictions > turn off the things you want.

One way to achieve this would be to slim-down the installed Apps on those iPads to just the Apps you are interested in and place restrictions on Installing Apps, Deleting Apps, iTunes, Safari, etc.

You might also want to look at the Apple Configurator.