AVR-Chat

I've used PICAXEs.  They're pretty cool.  A nice, cheaper alternative 
to BASIC Stamps.  I don't use them anymore, because I'm much better at 
programming PICs now and PICAXEs, of course, have limitations and 
overhead.

I would definitely recommend them for schools, though.  The cost is 
like 1/4 of what Stamps are.

Mike