Give us a list of components included in the kit(s).
Kids like flashing coloured lights, moving motors, push button switches that cause things to happen, remote control devices, sound effects, robots (line followers?) etc.
Review these links to see what is appealing.
Arduino links of interest.
How to use this forum:
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=149014.0
Listing of downloadable 'Arduino PDFs' :
Either Google >>>- - - - > arduino filetype: pdf
Or
https://www.google.ca/search?q=arduino+filetype%3A+pdf&rlz=1C9BKJA_enCA739CA739&oq=arduino+filetype%3A+pdf&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i65.1385j0j7&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
Listing of downloadable 'C++ PDFs' :
Either Google >>>- - - - > C++ filetype: pdf
Or
https://www.google.ca/search?q=c%2B%2B+filetype%3A+pdf&rlz=1C9BKJA_enCA739CA739&oq=c%2B%2B+filetype%3A+pdf&aqs=chrome..69i57.22790j0j7&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
Arduino cheat sheet:
Troubleshooting common errors:
Watch these:
Arduino programming syntax:
Arduino arithmetic operators:
Arduino control flow:
Arduino data types:
Some things to read
https://learn.adafruit.com/category/learn-arduino
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-read-a-schematic
Language Reference:
Foundations:
How and Why to avoid delay():
http://playground.arduino.cc/Code/AvoidDelay
Demonstration code for several things at the same time.
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=223286.0
Useful links:
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=384198.0
Arduino programming traps, tips and style guide:
Jeremy Blume:
Arduino products:
Motors/MOSFETs
Switches:

Share tips you have come across, 500+ posts:
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=445951.0
Debug discussion:
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=215334.msg1575801#msg1575801
Also, a PhD should not prevent your educators from grasping the Arduino platform.
.