I like to start kids on a split rail. Cutting strips WOF and sewing together teaches about the 'bowing' and using a rotary cutter (I tend to start newbies with 3" strips). The strips are easy to sew together, but long enough to work on accuracy. And it helps that when they cut the blocks out, suddenly they have everything ready to put together. I start them with a smallish throw and if they are doing good, I let them keep it growing. I think for a first quilt, while you want to teach basic skills, you want to give them the feeling of accomplishment sooner rather than later. It is also an easy top to quilt using a basic crosshatch pattern. And, finally, I let them do a machine stitched binding. I explain how to do a handstitched binding, but I let them wait to do that one until they are more comfortable with their skills. How wonderful that she wants to learn and that you are passing your skills on to the next group!