This is my experience. First give them or have them make a sandwich so they can practice hand quilting. Make it into a potholder. Never used mine it just hung in the kitchen. I have done this with GS leaders. Have them mark it and quilt it and bind it. It should be finished by the next class.
At the next class teach them to make the patterns, trace them, mark the seam allowance,pin them and how to stitch it together.
I made my first square that wound up a quilt as you go quilt. The rest of the class made a pillow. I already knew how to make a pillow.
Feel free to PM me if you want any more info on how I did it.