Sequencing Puzzles Part 1
In this lesson, you will learn the following:
- Function Calls
- Sequencing
- Syntax and Debugging
Here are a few tips to help you with this learning activity:
- Read the Directions Each small task in the activity will ask you to solve a puzzle by accomplishing a given task. Read the directions carefully. If you are having trouble with a puzzle, consider reading the directions out loud.
- Think Literally When you tell a computer to do something through code, the computer does not really know what your mind is thinking, it only knows what commands you are giving to it. Being detail-oriented really helps here.
- Double-check Your Typing If you are talking to someone and you say a word incorrectly, the person can usually figure out what you really meant. This is NOT true for a computer. Any one small mistake can really confuse it. In particular, a typing mistake, such as spelling a word incorrectly, forgetting a symbol, or not following the rules for indentation, can cause the computer to not understand anything in your entire program.
- Expect to Have Errors Unlike other tasks that you might do in school, it is really common to not write a correct program the first, second, or even third time! Be patient and expect to make mistakes.
Let's get started!
Cyber Trap
Jean and her friends were somehow transported into their school's computer lab!
Avoid the evil Megabytes and collect the memory chips—help Motherboard regain her lost memory. Can you help Jean restore the balance and return to reality?
Jump obstacles!
Blast baddies!
Oh, and just one more thing: Stay on the path!
Function Calls
In the previous lesson, you learned that functions can be called, and they will execute one-at-a-time.
Sequencing
Sequencing describes the order of events or code instructions. In short, when a program runs, each individual instruction in the program will be executed, one after the other. This is called its sequence.
Hint: You’ll often have to rearrange code instructions and experiment with the sequence of your code.
Your First Puzzle
In this challenge sequence, you'll take control of the player character shown below. Your goal is to reach the card at the end of the path — that's a memory chip!
You can move the characters around on the game grid using code! This first puzzle has already been solved for you. Notice how the code appears at the bottom. In the next puzzle, you'll need to write Python code yourself.
Press run to watch the solution play. Click Next to continue.
Inside the Computer
Use the forward() function to reach the memory chip.
- Each time you use this function, the player moves one block forward.
- Write your code in the code area below. Then press run to run your code.
Available Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
forward() |
Moves the character one step forward. |
Hints
When you're using programming languages like Python, the details really matter. If you misspell one word, or if you forget even a little bit of punctuation, your code won't run!
If you get an error, check your code closely for errors.
To move the character one step forward, you need to type the forward() command in the coding area.
- Write the
forward()function twice. Don't forget the parentheses! - Each time you use this function, put it on on a new line.
More Memory Chips
Use the forward() command to reach the memory chips.
Available Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
forward() |
Moves the character one step forward. |
Hints
You'll need to use the
forward()function three times, putting each command on a new line.When you're using programming languages like Python, the details really matter. If you misspell one word, or if you forget even a little bit of punctuation, your code won't run!
If you get an error, read your code closely for errors. Make sure you don't forget the parentheses.
Around the Corner
Navigate the corner using the turn_right() command and get that memory chip!
Available Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
forward() |
Moves the character one step forward. |
turn_right() |
Turns the character to the right. |
Hints
- The
turn_right()command will turn the character to the right.
Scale the Slope
Reach the memory chip. Just be sure to stun those Megabyte Chompers!
Available Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
forward() |
Moves the character one step forward. |
stun() |
Launches an stun bolt that travels 5 blocks in the direction the character is facing. |
Hints
- Don't get eaten by the Megabytes! Use the
stun()command to get rid of them.