Edubuntu es quizá tu medicina, porque tienes SO, y software educativo incluido, por supuesto con entornos de desarrollo diseñados para aprender y compiladores GNU/GPL.
Esta por ejemplo está en el repositorio de Ubuntu, así que seguro seguro también en Edubuntu
El Pequeño Mago
development environment for children
Little Wizard is created especially for primary school children. It allows to learn using main elements of present computer languages, including: variables, expressions, loops, conditions, logical blocks. Every element of language is represented by an intuitive icon. It allows program Little Wizard without using keyboard, only mouse.
Homepage:
http://littlewizard.sourceforge.net/Esta aplicación la proporciona la comunidad de Ubuntu.
Y este también:
KTurtle
educational Logo programming environment
KTurtle is an educational programming environment using the Logo programming language. It tries to make programming as easy and accessible as possible. This makes KTurtle suitable for teaching kids the basics of mathematics, geometry and programming.
The commands used to program are in the style of the Logo programming language. The unique feature of Logo is that the commands are often translated into the speaking language of the programmer.
KTurtle is named after "the turtle" that plays a central role in the programming environment. The user programs the turtle, using the Logo commands, to draw a picture on the canvas.
Note that this version of Logo is only focused on the educational qualities of the programming language and will not try to suit professional programmers' needs.
This package is part of KDE 4, as a component of the KDE 4 education module. See the 'kde4' and 'kdeedu-kde4' packages for more information.
Esta aplicación la proporciona la comunidad de Ubuntu.
Sitio web:
http://edu.kde.orgOtro más:
BASIC-256
educational BASIC programming environment for children
BASIC-256 is an easy to use version of BASIC designed to teach young children the basics of computer programming. It uses traditional control structures like gosub, for/next, and goto, which helps kids easily see how program flow-control works. It has a built-in graphics mode which lets them draw pictures on screen in minutes, and a set of detailed, easy-to-follow tutorials that introduce programming concepts through fun exercises.
Esta aplicación la proporciona la comunidad de Ubuntu.
Sitio web:
http://kidbasic.sourceforge.net/Pero deben existir otras opciones, creo que ganarías dos cosas buenas, por un lado poner en contacto a los niños con el mundo de GNU/LINUX, además quizá de el señor Microsoft/Windows y por otro lado obtendrías los lenguajes de programación además quizá de programas educativos con soporte técnico y que se yo cuantas cosillas más. Es bastante probable que estas aplicaciones tengan soporte para español, yo como solo consulté la lista de aplicaciones disponibles lo tengo solo en inglés.
Saludos
Reinier