I taught a friend to quilt. We started with a wall hanging size, she wanted a Christmas wall hanging and I had a pattern for an applique (simple fusible applique). So she learned to use steam a seam, blanket stitch around it, and then add a border. Then she was able to do a simple quilting around it and then bound it. Done in one day (she stayed up to finish her binding she told me!).
so she learned a lot that first project and had a finished piece in one day. Really motivated her to keep going. Next we chose a sudoko quilt...again simple squares and then she was able to learn sashing. and she quilted it again herself and voila! Done.
Keep it simple and small for the first thing, what if she finds she doesn't like quilting and has a whole project to finish? something that can be done in one day or two is perfect. Wall hanging, table runner.
Have fun!!!!