VKPI Wooden Cross Stitch Kits for Kids, Make Your Own 6 Cross Stitching Keyrings, Wood Sewing Kit, Arts & Crafts Stars, Hearts Ornaments, Plastic Needle Embroidery Kit for Beginners, Girls, 6-13

Sorry if this is TMI, I'm making myself stop now but... Agree with suggestions about trying out plastic canvas first. There are kit options for teaching kids but anything like that which is premade will get more spendy than DIY assembly options but you could look at something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C13JY5R1/?th=1 If you plan to reach the point of showing them how to read/translate a pattern, strongly suggest you check out the free cross stitch patterns available at https://www.dmc.com/US/en/patterns/free-patterns-by-craft/cross-stitch?q= Many of them are more complex than a total beginner is ready for but there are also some simpler ones and also some that are groups of smaller items where just one item could be sewn such as https://www.dmc.com/US/en/products/cross-stitch-pattern-sharks Look specifically for 7 or 9 count aida cloth as a next step once they manage on plastic canvas. Aida cloth is woven in a fashion that leaves "holes" for needle placement/making Xs and is starched for stability/stiffness. AVOID monk's cloth which is sometimes touted as aida or a cross stitch fabric--it is a fabric that CAN be cross stitched on but because of the way it is woven it requires a specific stitch technique to prevent the stitches from slipping behind the weave of the fabric which is not something you want to try to manage with new stitchers. IDK what your student to teacher ratio is or how much of an option this is for you, but maybe canvas your student's parents for stitchers, or even just warm bodies, who are willing to come aid in this effort. I'm sure you know that the lower student-stitcher to adult-helper ratio you can achieve the more manageable this project will be for you. I think kids of this age should be capable of learning this skill but they may need more 1:1 attention than you alone can provide. Think through what kind of scissors you have/can have in your classroom (many schools allow blunt tipped scissors) and look at other alternatives for sizing/trimming thread such as: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCLMR3Y7?ref=clp_cat_p_1 or a straight edge nail/toe nail clipper (I know this is a weird application for this tool but they should be strong enough to cut floss/yarn and have no pointy tip). Suggest a first skill of threading the needle and that you have several needle threading tools available (there are a variety on the market but this is probably a good one for kids https://www.amazon.com/Clover-8611-Threader-Embroidery-Needles-Apple/dp/B0013AK9HU ). Cheaper ones are exactly that, cheaper and very, very breakable when dealing with heavier thread or yarn. Suggest limiting the length of thread a new stitcher is using on their needle. Easiest way to do this will be by pre-cutting thread lengths, probably no longer than 12" to start. Definite pros/cons to this thought but consider making use of a locking loop (or slip knot) at the eye of the needle to secure the thread, at least initially--at a minimum have this trick in your skill set in case its needed for a particularly frustrated student-stitcher. Pro: the thread will not be continually slipping off the needle. Con: keeping the needle threaded while sewing is a highly desirable skill which shouldn't be skipped, may make drawing needle/thread through fabric slightly less smooth. Teach loop start as the primary method for starting thread--there are other methods but this one is brilliant and will be useful in most circumstances. Teach how to hold the needle with a pinch grip at the eye to secure the thread to the needle and it threaded when pulling through. Teach how to form an X and set them to sewing :-]