All of you (in the USA) that have kids are familiar with the fact
that they are constantly pressured to sell overpriced junk to
help their schools. I hate this practice in general, but
yesterday, this problem hit me where I live:

My kids' school is offering a $2.00 "mini Bonsai Kit". It
consists of a 2.5 inch x 0.5 inch mica(?) pot, a compressed peat
pellet, 4 Jack pine seeds, a pair of Barbi doll scissors, and a
tiny book on bonsai care. My 10-year-old daughter got suckered
because she knows I'm doing some bonsai.

I'm glad she's showing an interest in bonsai, but it's
unrealistic to expect this pretend-bonsai kit to produce
anything. I told her that we could go through my potensai, and
pick one for her. Has anyone experienced something like this
before? Any advice on which plants a 10 year old would like?

We live in USDA zone 7.