Class 10 English Notes: First Flight and Footprints Without Feet

These class 10 english notes give you the paper pattern and a quick guide to every lesson in the two NCERT books, First Flight and Footprints Without Feet. English is a scoring subject, so a clear plan helps a lot. Therefore, first, learn how the 80 marks are split. Then revise each lesson with its theme, and finally practise the writing tasks.

Class 10 English Notes: Exam Pattern for 2026-27

The paper is worth 80 marks, and the time allowed is 3 hours. Besides, internal assessment adds the remaining marks as per the board scheme.

Section	What it tests	Marks
Reading	Two unseen passages	20
Writing and Grammar	Letter or paragraph, grammar tasks	20
Literature	First Flight and Footprints Without Feet	40

Please confirm the paper design in the latest CBSE circular, since the board can revise it.

Prose Lessons in First Flight

This book has nine prose lessons, and the last one is a play.

• A Letter to God: Lencho trusts God so strongly that he writes him a letter asking for money after a hailstorm ruins his crop. Then the postmaster and his colleagues send some money. As a result, the story shows faith and human kindness.
• Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom: Mandela describes the inauguration day of democratic South Africa. Moreover, he speaks of courage, the end of apartheid and the duty to be free.
• Two Stories About Flying: The first story, “His First Flight”, is about a young seagull who overcomes fear. Meanwhile, the second, “The Black Aeroplane”, is about a pilot who survives a storm with a strange guide.
• From the Diary of Anne Frank: Because she wants a true friend, Anne calls her diary “Kitty”.
• Glimpses of India: Therefore, it has three parts, on a Goan baker, coffee in Coorg and Tea from Assam.
• Mijbil the Otter: Gavin Maxwell tells how he brings an otter from Iraq to England and how the pet shows both play and trust.
• Madam Rides the Bus: Valli, a little girl, takes a bus ride alone and, as a result, learns about the real world.
• The Sermon at Benares: The Buddha teaches Kisa Gotami that death comes to everyone, and so he gives her comfort.
• The Proposal: In this play by Anton Chekhov, a proposal turns into a funny quarrel about land and dogs.

Poems in First Flight

The same book has ten poems, and each one has a clear message.

• Dust of Snow: Here, a small moment changes the poet’s mood.
• Fire and Ice: The poet thinks about how the world might end, through hatred or desire.
• A Tiger in the Zoo: Here, the poem contrasts a caged tiger with a free one.
• How to Tell Wild Animals: A humorous guide to recognising animals.
• The Ball Poem: A boy loses his ball and, therefore, learns about loss and responsibility.
• Amanda!: A child is told off, and she dreams of freedom.
• The Trees: Trees try to break free from the house, and the poem suggests the longing for freedom.
• Fog: Here, fog comes quietly like a cat.
• The Tale of Custard the Dragon: In the end, a timid dragon turns out to be the brave one.
• For Anne Gregory: Finally, the poem asks whether love should depend on looks.

Footprints Without Feet: Supplementary Lessons

This book has nine lessons, and most are short stories.

• A Triumph of Surgery: Mrs Pumphrey’s love overfeeds her pet dog Tricki, so the vet has to cure him.
• The Thief’s Story: A thief meets a young man, Anil, and then learns the value of trust.
• The Midnight Visitor: A young writer, Fowler, is outwitted by the clever secret agent Ausable.
• A Question of Trust: A burglar is outwitted by a woman.
• Footprints Without Feet: A scientist uses invisibility for crime, but it ends badly.
• The Making of a Scientist: The life of Richard Ebright, who follows his curiosity from butterflies to a career in science.
• The Necklace: A woman borrows a necklace, loses it, and spends years repaying the cost, only to find the original was fake.
• Bholi: Thus, a shy girl gains confidence through education.
• The Book That Saved the Earth: Here, a funny play shows Martians who misread an old book.

How to Score in the Literature Section

First, learn each lesson in three lines: who, what happens and the message. Next, practise short answers of 40 words and long answers of 100 to 120 words. Use the words from the text, since examiners look for them. Also, learn a few key lines from each poem, along with its theme and poetic devices.

Writing and Grammar Tips

The writing section tests formats. In a formal letter, write the sender’s address, date, receiver’s address, subject, salutation, body and closing. Likewise, the analytical paragraph needs the data in a clear order, followed by a conclusion.

Grammar needs tenses, modals, subject-verb agreement, reported speech and editing tasks. Because these questions are short, steady practice raises your score fast.

Reading Section Tips

First, read the questions before the passage, so you know what to look for. Next, underline key words while you read. Also, answer in your own words when the question asks for it, and keep the answer short.

Common Mistakes in the English Paper

• Students write long answers where a short answer is enough, so they run out of time.
• Also, many forget the format of a letter, and lose easy marks.
• Similarly, some copy whole lines from the text when the question asks for their own words.
• Finally, others skip the grammar practice, although it is the fastest way to add marks.

How to Revise Class 10 English Notes

First, spend the week on the pattern and one writing format per day. Next, revise two prose lessons and two poems daily. After that, read the Footprints Without Feet stories once. Finally, solve sample papers under a time limit. For other subjects, see life processes class 10 notes and nationalism in India class 10 notes. You can also browse the Class 10 notes category and how to stop procrastinating.

Wrap-Up

Class 10 english notes work best when you know the theme of each lesson and practise the writing formats. Use the pattern table to plan your time, and revise a little daily. Then continue with the Class 10 notes category, or return to the The Note homepage.