Instructional Support Services

Curriculum Lab

The Bakersfield City School District's Curriculum Lab is a vital part of the Department of Curriculum and Standards. Located upstairs in the Education Center, the Curriculum Lab provides an exciting, collegial environment in which staff can network, create instructional materials, get ideas, information, and support. In addition to the friendly, knowledgeable Curriculum Lab personnel, mentor teachers, curriculum specialists, and the director are available resources.

The Curriculum Lab is designed to:

• help administrators, classroom teachers, instructional aides, and parents make better use of existing instructional materials, programs, and equipment.
• provide meaningful teaching aides and materials not readily available from other sources.
• enable individuals to make curriculum support materials for classroom use.
• offer teachers the opportunity to explore various instructional approaches (i.e., bulletin board alternatives, manipulatives, learning centers, etc.)

Laminators

Four 25 inch laminators are available for use. This is a great way to preserve special work and bulletin board ideas with a protective high-gloss plastic coating. Check with your school principal/secretary to see if your school has a laminating account and/or requires a laminating authorization slip.

Ellison Machines

There are seven regular size Ellison machines available for use. This popular piece of equipment is used to cut letters and shapes for bulletin boards, visual aids, classroom games, rewards, arts and crafts, signs, etc. There are eight different alphabet styles and over 550 die shapes for use. In addition, the lab has three extra large Ellison machines which will press 9 X 12 inch dies.

Click here for an index of the Ellison dies available!

Badge-a-Matic

Use the Badge-a-Matic to make buttons to promote school spirit, as classroom incentives, or to identify classroom monitors and helpers.

Spiral Binder

A great way to publish and preserve student work is to make it into a book using the spiral binding machine. Various sizes of spirals are available.

Poster Maker

This machine will instantly print a 24" X 36" poster from an 8 1/2" X 11" original.

Materials

Hundreds of curriculum support materials are available. These materials vary in format from bulletin board alternatives, classroom organization charts, manipulatives and games to learning centers. Ideas encompass all curriculum areas with special materials and booklets available featuring seasonal, monthly, holiday, and bulletin board ideas.

Materials are accessible for making games and learning activities in the lab. These include felt pens, spinners, glue, paper, etc. Unfortunately, the Curriculum Lab is unable to provide classroom sets of materials or supplies.

Lab Hours

The Curriculum Lab is usually open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Check the district TAB for current hours and holidays.  The Lab is available for school or department groups by reservation. Call 631-4787 to reserve the facility for your group.

Non-District Employees

Non-district employees who wish to use the Lab for "school related" materials are welcome.  A user's fee of $3.00 per person plus the cost of all materials used will be charged.

Reminder - Children under 10 years old are not allowed in the Curriculum Lab.

Curriculum Lab Materials Online