Homework activities for year 7

This sample shows an example of a source-based homework activity from the Homework activities for year 7 pack. 

Historians use evidence from the past (sources) to help them to work out what happened. Studying buildings can really help us to understand what mattered to people in the past. This is because certain features promote certain messages.

Task 1: Analyse the features of the Taj Mahal to find out what mattered to the Mughals. Put the numbers of the statements into the table, to provide evidence that it was built to show …     

… love for God                                                  … love for Mumtaz Mahal

1.    Walls enclose the main complex, which is huge and can be seen as a tribute.
2.    There is a four-part garden that represents the gardens of paradise and contains flowers and fruit trees.
3.    Verses from the Qur’an are carved above the gateway to suggest that it is the entrance to paradise.
4.    There are four water channels with fountains to represent the four rivers of paradise.
5.    The water pool in the centre represents God’s abundance.
6.    There is a white marble tomb which may represent God’s throne. 
7.    Many parts of the marble are decorated with flowers and are symbols of love from Persian poetry.
8.    There is black calligraphy on the walls that are verses from the Qur’an.
9.    There is a mosque on one side of the tomb.
10.    On the opposite bank of the river are the outlines of the ‘Moonlight Gardens’. Some people think these were meant to be a place of contemplation and for viewing the Taj Mahal.