If this is in the wrong area, please feel free to move it as I didn't see a spot for tortoise discussions.

I'm looking at getting one for the presentations I do on reptiles as pets since quite a few kids think turtles/tortoises are neat. I know I do not want to deal with the turtles as anything that needs to submerge in water does not do well with me. Tortoises, on the other hand, strike me as perfect. Here are my questions: Are there any that stay relatively small? Which are easiest to care for? And are there any special conditions I would need to worry about compared to my snakes/beardie? I fully intend to research the species I get and will do whatever is necessary for the animal. I've avoided them in the past because of the lifespan since I believe that once you take on a pet, you are responsible for that animal for its life. With the interest I'm seeing from kids, however, I want to get one to explain that they do require certain care and that they aren't a 6 month pet (my term for the poor animals that parents get kids to keep them quiet who then die within that time-frame). If anyone has experience or advice, I would greatly appreciate it. I've started researching online and though I love the star tortoises, they just get way too big. :/