Have you ever looked up the lyrics to a song and noticed how the chorus is written out at the start, and then later in the song, it just says “chorus” instead of repeating all the words? This is a lot like how functions work in programming!
In this lesson, we’re going to learn about functions by using songs. Think of the chorus in a song as a function. We define the chorus at the beginning, and then every time we want to use it, we just refer back to it instead of writing it all out again. This is exactly what happens when a program uses functions. It defines a function once, and then calls it whenever needed.
Let’s use a familiar song like “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” to understand this better. In the song, the chorus repeats, but sometimes certain words change, like the animal sounds. This is a great way to introduce the idea of parameters in functions. Parameters are like special words or numbers you can pass into a function to give it extra information. So, in “Old MacDonald,” the animal sound is a parameter that changes each time the chorus is sung.
Once you get the hang of it, you can try breaking down your own favorite songs. Work with your friends or classmates to see if you can identify the chorus and any parts that change. This will help you understand how functions and parameters work in programming.
Did you know that using functions in programming makes your code easier to read and saves time? Just like in songs, where you don’t have to write the chorus over and over, in programming, you don’t have to write the same code repeatedly. You just call the function!
So next time you listen to a song, think about how the chorus is like a function, and see if you can spot any parameters. Happy learning!
Think of a simple song you know well. Write down the chorus and identify any parts that change, like the animal sounds in “Old MacDonald.” Now, create a “function” for your song by writing the chorus once and using placeholders for the changing parts. Share your song function with a classmate and see if they can “call” your function by filling in the placeholders with their own words!
With a partner, choose a song and write down the chorus. Then, list different parameters that could change in the song, like different animals or sounds. Take turns “calling” the chorus function by saying the chorus and substituting the parameters. See how many different versions you can create!
Write a short story with a repeating phrase or sentence. Identify this repeating part as a “function.” Then, add parameters to change certain words each time the function is called in your story. Share your story with the class and explain how the function and parameters work together.
Create a poster that explains how a song chorus is like a function in programming. Use a song you like and illustrate how the chorus repeats with different parameters. Include examples and drawings to make your poster engaging and informative. Present your poster to the class.
Organize a karaoke session where you and your classmates sing songs with a focus on identifying the chorus as a function. Before singing, discuss the parameters that change in the song. After each performance, talk about how the song’s structure relates to programming functions.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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You know how when you look up the lyrics for a song, they define the chorus at the very beginning, and then for the rest of the song, they just refer back to the chorus? That’s similar to how you call a function. In this lesson, we define the chorus at the beginning of our song, and then as we go through the song, we notice that the class doesn’t repeat the word “chorus”; they automatically refer back to the top where we defined it.
We use this as a great introduction to understanding what a program does when it defines and calls a function. We incorporate familiar songs, including “Old MacDonald,” to illustrate how a chorus is repeated and how sometimes it can change. For example, in “Old MacDonald,” certain words change, which is a perfect opportunity to introduce the concept of parameters—passing specific words through to send extra information to your function.
Once everyone understands the concept, you can take your own familiar songs and break them down together. See if you can figure it out as a group!
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This version maintains the original message while ensuring clarity and professionalism.
Functions – In coding, functions are blocks of code that perform a specific task and can be used whenever needed. – Example sentence: In our coding class, we learned how to create functions to make our programs more organized and efficient.
Chorus – In music, a chorus is the part of a song that repeats several times and is often the most memorable. – Example sentence: The chorus of the song was so catchy that everyone was singing along by the end of the concert.
Parameters – In programming, parameters are special kinds of variables used in functions to pass information. – Example sentence: We used parameters in our function to change the color of the shapes on the screen.
Programming – Programming is the process of writing instructions for a computer to perform specific tasks. – Example sentence: We spent the afternoon programming a simple game using a new coding language.
Songs – Songs are musical compositions with lyrics that are sung. – Example sentence: Our music teacher asked us to write our own songs for the school talent show.
Code – Code is a set of instructions written in a programming language that a computer can understand. – Example sentence: I wrote a code to make the robot move forward and turn left.
Animal – In coding, an animal can be a character or object in a program that interacts with the user. – Example sentence: We created a game where the animal had to collect food while avoiding obstacles.
Sounds – Sounds are audio effects or music that can be added to a program or game to make it more engaging. – Example sentence: We added sounds to our game to make it more exciting when the player scores points.
Repeat – In coding, repeat is a command used to make a set of instructions run multiple times. – Example sentence: We used the repeat command to make the character jump up and down continuously.
Learn – To learn is to gain knowledge or skills through study or experience. – Example sentence: We learn new coding techniques every week in our computer class.
