I was helping my nieces 4th grade class a couple of years ago. Each child had a choice of making a quilt or a pillow. (Most chose the pillow). The instructors (myself and another quilter) cut their 5" blocks for them. They hand sewed their blocks into rows using a 9-patch pattern. The pieces were then stuffed (pillows) or sandwiched (by the instructors). The students then hand-stitched their respective openings closed. All were displayed in a school-wide art display and then taken home at the end of the year. You're students are older so may be more advanced. Might also want to check with the teacher to see if this is to be an individual project or a class project.