How can a relative beginner have fun while improving?

I am trying to help out a pretty good beginning player and want to make the improving process fun so he will actually want to do it.  Any activities or excersizes that are fun and instructive? 

there are a few books I am enjoying now that would really turn a beginner on to chess. The best by far is 1000 best short games of chess, by irving chernev. It is in descriptive notation which can be a little harder than the algebraic, but it is rather humerous. The author has very entertaining commentary, and the games are all 4 to 25 moves, so you dont have to spend a lot of time per lesson- 10 minutes is enough. It may as well be called "what NOT to do in the opening". should help a beginner a lot- i wish I had it when I was starting out.

The other 2 books I will mention are children's books, but I am thoroughly enjoying them now at the tender young age of 36. Murray Chandler's "how to beat your dad at chess" and "chess tactics for kids" have a lot in them that can score an easy win against more advanced players, that would be sure to make chess a BLAST for a learner.

You have to let people win. Perhaps endgames with overwhelming advantages ( gradually decreasing advantages over a period of time).

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess is a pretty fun and helpful book for a beginner.

A range of chess handicaps is explored here

I dunno, I think improving one's game in itself is fun.  I wish I had a coach or something. (that wouldn't charge me to help me improve my game)

Ahh well, DIY.

I got to agree, eventually you have to teach yourself anyway, more important for the student to learn how to learn. not for the teacher to cater too much