Parsley germinates fairly quickly.

Do not let the children smoke your herb.

That's weird. Parsley was my slowest germinator. Basil is super easy to grow and we love to eat it on pizzas. Basil grows quickly from seeds. Chives never stop once you get them growing. Rosemary is a great perennial for chicken soup and for a nice flavored hot tea.
Basil grows like a weed and chives grows well but it is alot smaller. My Thyme plant survived 20 degrees several times this winter. I am impressed. It is flowering now and I hope it attracts beneficial insects.

I've done a fair amount of gardening projects w/ kids in our after school program over the years & also as a kids activity for the Green Thumb Festival here.

Unfortunately, it's the wrong time of year to be starting parsley - it prefers cool weather. Mine gets started in the Fall/Winter & dies out when the hot, humid weather hits.

Garlic chives are even easier to grow than regular ones, IME, & may be started from seeds or divisions year-round. Mints are fun because kids are familiar w/ the flavor, but tricky to start from seeds - rooted cuttings are easier. Basils are by far the easiest to start from seed - again, IME. Fennel starts & (usually) grows easily & can be a butterfly plant as well.

Not exactly an herb, but scallions/bunching onions are not too hard to start & grow & many kids enjoy nibbling on them.

HTH

I've been able to grow parsley all year long, just have to keep it cool and dry. 4-5 gallon clay pots, filtered sun/shade and protected from the summer rains....

I agree about the basil and garlic chives.

Although not from seed rosemary sure is easy to start from sprig tips, I keep about twenty going in various sizes to give away as gifts. Usually start them in 3oz Solo bathroom cups, the kids would be able to take them home in the solo cups and pot them up as they grow.

I am not an herb expert but you can try dill, easy from seeds, attractive plant and very nice flowers like an umbrella and I like how it smells. You can use in the chicken soup and salads

Edible flowers would be fun! Nasturtiums, chives, and lavender would be fun to taste and pretty as a garnish on snacks.

Mint would be a great herb to have on hand for them to taste. They could eat it plain or add it to sweet tea after their planting as a refreshment. Here is a quick recipe for mint sweet tea that they could make with you and many age groups could make it at home for their parents too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mint-Infused Sweet Tea

Thank you all for your reply's. I wish we were using small plants or something other than herb seeds at the end of April but its what the owner wants to do. I found out I will be working with a gifted class of fourth graders. Hmmm smart 10 years olds, this should be interesting for a girl who hasn't spent much time around children. Ricky I may just have to let them smoke. :o)

Just know that gifted kids are usually eager to learn, so it should be a fun experience.

Arugula counts as an herb in my book - it sprouts readily & is spicy - esp. the perennial type...