In this paper, the authors describe a custom relational algebra query software environment that enables database instructors to teach relational algebra programming. Instead of defining query operations using mathematical notation (the approach commonly taken in database textbooks), students write query programs as sequences of relational algebra function calls. The data to be queried can be in any Microsoft Access MDB file. The query processor software executes relational algebra instructions interactively, allowing students to view intermediate result tables. Thus, students can learn relational algebra the same way they learn SQL-through programming.