Functions in Coding. A Beginner-Friendly Guide for Teachers and educators
What Are Functions in Coding?
A Beginner-Friendly Guide for Teachers and Educators.
Functions are one of the most powerful and essential tools in computer science—and they’re also one of the most fun concepts to teach. In this blog, you’ll learn how to explain functions to students, demonstrate their power through Minecraft and the Artist tool, and help learners write more efficient and modular code.
What Is a Function in Computer Science?
A function is a named set of instructions that can be used again and again in a program. Rather than rewriting code, programmers create functions once and reuse them wherever needed.
Why do programmers use functions?
- Avoid repetition – Write code once, use it many times.
- Simplify debugging – Fewer lines of code means fewer chances for errors.
- Improve readability – Programs are easier to understand and organize.
- Enable modular thinking – Break down complex tasks into simple parts.
Real-World Analogy: A Chorus in a Song 🎵
Want to make functions click for your students? Try this analogy:
Just like a chorus repeats after each verse in a song, a function repeats the same instructions in your code.
Watch this video: A creative and visual way to introduce the concept.
How to Teach Functions Using Minecraft
Minecraft’s visual block-based interface is a great way to help students understand how functions work in coding.
Hands-On Activity: Minecraft – Course E, Lesson 10, Level 11
Instructions:
- Students locate the build bridge function block.
- Drag and drop it twice into the workspace.
- Run the program to see how one block builds a full bridge.
Discussion Tip: Ask students what would happen if they had to build that bridge manually. Functions = time saved!
Watch the video: Functions in Minecraft
Creative Coding: Teaching Functions with the Artist Tool
The Artist tool introduces students to how functions can be used to create repeating art patterns—perfect for visual learners.
Try It Activity: Functions with Artist Course E, Lesson 11, Level 2 .
Instructions:
- Use the pre-written draw a square function.
- Call this function repeatedly to create a pattern of squares, 75 pixels apart.
- Discuss how this makes the design simpler and more efficient.
Watch the walkthrough video: Functions with Artist
Teaching Tips: How to Make Functions Click
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Use analogies – Functions are like recipes, dance moves, or any other repeated instructions in daily life.
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Promote collaboration – Let students plan functions together before coding.
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Emphasize reusability – Ask students to reflect: “What would your code look like without using a function?”
- Reflect and share – Host a short discussion after each activity. Ask students how using functions helped them.
Key Takeaways for Educators
- A function is a reusable block of code that performs a specific task.
- Functions make code cleaner, shorter, and easier to manage.
- Real-world analogies and visual tools like Minecraft and the Artist make functions fun and relatable.
- Teaching functions builds critical thinking and computational fluency early on.
show your students how powerful a single function can be. Then, let them build their own—and watch their excitement grow.
This is the best book to use while teaching coding to kids/Teens, check out the eBook or paperback version on Amazon. 📚
💬 Have questions or classroom tips? Share them in the comments below!
