Teach the basics for solving linear equations before developing your interactive program. The basics include: The purpose of a variable; isolating the variable to solve, and how to perform opposite operations to isolate the variable.
Create the basics of the program. The first step is to determine whether you want your class to work together, individually or in competition. Working with large groups of students, such as dividing the classroom in half for a competition, presents an easier situation to work with since time and resources are usually limited. You only have to work with two large groups as opposed to a dozen or more individual children. Base this decision on practicality.
Create the rules for your interactive program. A common example of an interactive game you can implement in an overall interactive linear equation program is Linear Equation Jeopardy. Divide the class into two teams and place different equations on the board. Award points based on the difficulty of the linear equation. The team that accumulates the most points wins the game.
Watch your students during game play in case they run into difficulties. Use this as an opportunity to cover the basic concepts within that particular equation. Cover the appropriate topics and return to the interactive program after you ensure all students understand how to solve the problem.
Implement multiple interactive games throughout your linear equation interactive program to keep things fresh and keep your students interested. You can change the focus of the concepts covered for each individual game and even change the group assignments. You must actively stay involved to ensure all students engage in the program and advance their knowledge and to know when you must step in to help out.