I'm Teaching a Class! .... HELP!

A few comments:

Be sure to prime with black: this will speed up base-coating a bit (anything you can't easily reach is 'in shadow').

I'd throw in some examples of dry-brushing, since this is one of the most simple blending techniques.

Since glazes take a long time to dry, try to do that as the last step of the first hour block.

Considering it is complete newbies I would start by providing a few printed take-home sheet with step by step suggestions from opening the package to varnishing. I would keep the steps as simple as possible and provide a tip on each for a “next level” skill that could be researched later, after they’re confident with the current skills. For instance:
1. Prep - Handout covering the basics of cleaning and assembling models. Show examples of super glue and green stuff assembly with a “next-level” suggestion of learning to pin.

2. Prime - suggestions on priming thin, paint vs aerosol, color? Etc. Next level suggestion to research zenethal or whatever it’s called. Lol.

3. Base - next level “wet blending”
4. Wash - next level “two-brush”
5. Highlight - dry brushing basics with next level suggestion to research “glazing”
6. Protect

Then I would provide another quick tips handout on brush maintenance (as a fairly new player it was nearly a year before I did anything other than rinse with water and lay out to dry)

Then have the unit examples available live in each step as you are suggesting. “This model is in step 2, this in step 3 etc.”

Then for the demonstration part have them start at step 3 and start base coating. Work your way around and be really helpful making sure everyone is good at getting their paint consistency right. Do a small section like you were thinking so they can put on a base coat, put a wash on it and then dry brush on a highlight.

Teach the next step while the paint is drying on their previous step.

If they walk out with a shoulder pad ready for varnish I’d say you rocked it. Lol

You might consider doing a demonstration on priming a single model in front of them. Stress the points of spraying lightly, with multiple coats, to keep details on the model. I’ve seen new painters overbase and then lose major interest in the hobby.

Since it's for beginners, keep it simple. I like the 3 color with a shader technique. Basically have a base coat color, then a mid tone and a high light for dry brushing. Then take a brown or dark gray shader and cover model. It's easy to teach

I also suspect that you're trying to cover too much. If teaching miniature painting is anything like teaching undergraduates, one hour goes by really quickly. New teachers typically try to cover too much too fast, leaving student dazed and confused. Since this is a hands-on thing, I bet you've only got time for:

1. Introduction and getting miniatures into their hands
2. Talk about washing, trimming, and priming. Pass around a model that hasn't been prepared so they can see.
3. Talk about base coats with thin paints
4. Let them start base-coating a part of their minis
5. Talk about shading with washes. Some of them might get far enough to start themselves
6. Talk about highlights with drybrushing (if any of them make it this far)
7. Hand out a sheet with a re-cap of what you've done plus names and brief descriptions of other techniques so they know what to search for online

Anything more than that and some people will be overwhelmed. Plus, base coats and a wash is enough to get them playing with figures painted to "tabletop" quality.

Definitely run a practice session with a couple friends, relations, pets, etc.

Put together an initial lesson plan based on the above advice.  Hopefully I didn't miss anything.


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Those are some good points.  I will see where I can work them in.  
Yellow and White difficulty I'll talk about during the priming section if I can.  As one of the strengths of white primer and how those colors are just always difficult to work with and keep clean.
Alternate color schemes I'll mention and encourage when doing the base color.  Let them choose anything they want rather than sticking to the same color scheme from the beginning.
The point about light and scale I can probably fit into the shading tutorial.  This one took me quite a while to realize myself.  Would have been nice to have heard about it from day 1.
Building up layers of colors I can add to the highlights section.

I'm currently working on the handouts now.  Starting with the basic info from the class.  Adding one "advanced" item for them to research for each section.  Then I'll see how much room I have for extra stuff like brush care.