The Gate of Code🔐 Unlocking Secrets with Functions
After collecting clues from the maze, PixelPup arrived at a grand gate carved into ancient stone. Beside the gate was a talking stone head that said:
“Only coders who can speak in reusable magic may pass.”
PixelPup tilted his head. “Reusable magic? Like… coding spells?”
A scroll on the ground read:
“To pass this gate, define your own powers.”
PixelPup realized it was time to learn something powerful:🪄 Functions!
- What a function is and why it’s useful
- How to create and name functions in Python
- How to use parameters (input) and call functions
- How functions help you write less code
These coding spells help PixelPup pass the gate and get closer to solving the big mystery!
🐾 The Endless Maze
PixelPup looked at the scroll again. It said:
“To unlock the gate, use your own code spells.”
“What’s a code spell?” PixelPup barked.
That’s when he learned about something super cool called a function!
🪄 What’s a Function?
A function is like a special move in coding. You give it a name, tell it what to do, and then use it anytime you want — like a magic trick!
Imagine you teach PixelPup how to sniff for clues. Instead of writing the same steps every time, you create a function called sniff().
Here’s how that looks in Python:
def sniff():
print("🐶 PixelPup sniffs the ground.")
print("He smells... a carrot?! 🥕")
sniff()
sniff()See that? Now PixelPup can sniff as many times as he wants by just calling sniff() — no need to repeat the code!
🧭 Let’s Find Clues with a Function
You can even make a function that takes in special clues and tells PixelPup where he found them:
def show_clue(item, place):
print(f"Clue: PixelPup found a {item} at the {place}!")
show_clue("feather", "rocky trail")
show_clue("muddy pawprint", "forest floor")
Now you get to choose what the clue is and where PixelPup finds it. So cool, right?
💡 Functions are a big part of real coding. They help keep your programs clean, smart, and easy to change.
PixelPup is one step closer to unlocking the gate… with code!
♣ It is magical spell – remember harry porter? Imagine functions like lumos to print light 🙂
💎 The functions help you create more efficient code and easy to correct the actions
We are using our re-using the print super power here as well as variables. so lets go pups! So lets try that out here in the python playground below – so type your code and click on the ▶️ button when you are ready to run the command and you will see it showing up on the right side!
🧠 Ready to try it solo?
Use input to ask the reader what PixelPup should do next, and call a matching function!
Create a function called decode(message) that prints the message backward!
Add fun actions like jump(), sniff(), or unlock_gate() and try calling them in different orders.
Try testing your python code on the above playground and if it works good then Love to hear it – add a comment with your code!
🎨 Bonus Activity – Unlock new challenges!
Ready to try it solo?
- Draw or write a list of PixelPup’s magic actions: sniff, dig, jump, bark.
- What does each action do?
- Can you make a board game where each card is a function?
- Create a real-life code adventure scroll!
PixelPup loves fan art!! You will be able to see that on our instagram pages too
♣ How to reuse code to save time
💎 How to pass information into a function (like a clue or location)
Now PixelPup can do tricks with just a few lines of code — and he’s passed the gate!
The Puzzle of ChoicesPixelPup will face forks in the road. He must learn how to let the reader decide where to go using input and branching paths!
He’s getting closer to solving the big mystery…
