Computer Science
Grade 3
20 min
Function Optimization: Making Code More Efficient
Students will learn how to optimize their code by using functions to avoid repetition.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define what a function is using a simple analogy.
Identify repeated blocks of code in a program.
Create a simple function to hold a sequence of commands.
'call' a function to run its code from another part of the program.
Explain why using functions makes code shorter and easier to change.
Fix a program that has a function defined but not called.
Have you ever had to write your name over and over on a worksheet? 📝 What if you had a special stamp that could do it for you in one press?
Today, we're going to learn how to make special 'code stamps' called functions! Functions let us save a group of commands and use them again and again, which makes our code shorter, faster, and easier to work with.
Real-World Applications
A ...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
FunctionA named block of code that performs a specific task. Think of it like a recipe with a name, like 'Recipe for a Square'.A function named `draw_star` could hold all the code needed to make a character draw a star on the screen.
Define a FunctionThe process of creating a function and giving it a name and instructions. This is like writing down the steps for a recipe.Using a 'define' block to create a new function called `jump` and putting 'move up' and 'move down' blocks inside it.
Call a FunctionUsing a function's name in your main program to make it run. This is like telling the computer, 'Time to use the jump recipe!'Placing the `jump` block after a 'when space key pressed' event block to make t...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
Defining a Function Pattern
DEFINE [function_name] {
// Command 1
// Command 2
}
Use this pattern to create a new function. Give it a clear name that says what it does, and put all the steps it needs to follow inside the curly braces or block.
Calling a Function Pattern
[function_name]()
Use this pattern in your main code whenever you want to run the instructions stored inside your function. Just type the function's name followed by parentheses.
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
You have two functions: `draw_body()` which draws a big circle, and `draw_leg()` which draws a short line. How could you create a new function `draw_spider()` using the functions you already have?
A.`draw_spider()` should call `draw_body()` eight times and `draw_leg()` once.
B.`draw_spider()` should call `draw_body()` once and `draw_leg()` eight times.
C.`draw_spider()` should call `draw_body()` once and `draw_leg()` once.
D.You cannot create `draw_spider()` from these functions.
Challenging
A program draws a village with 3 identical houses and 2 identical trees. What is the most efficient way to code this?
A.Write the code for a house 3 times and the code for a tree 2 times.
B.Make one big function called `draw_village` that has all the steps inside.
C.Make two functions, `draw_house` and `draw_tree`, then call `draw_house` 3 times and `draw_tree` 2 times.
D.Make five functions, one for each item in the village.
Challenging
When would it be a BAD idea to make a function for a piece of code?
A.When the code is used many times.
B.When the code is very long and complicated.
C.When the code is very short and only used one single time.
D.When the code has a name that is hard to remember.
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