GUIDEBOOK
Version 2. 2009
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................ 3
How to Organize the Contest ................................. 4
Ideas for Publicizing the Contest ............................ 6
Instructions for Teachers . ....................................... 7
Instructions for Parents and Students . ................... 8
Contest Announcements ......................................... 9
Global Warming Fact Sheet . ................................. 10
Activities ................................................................. 11
Checklists ................................................................ 12
Sample Cards .......................................................... 13
Poster....................................................................... 14
Pollution Punchcard is a program of Safes Routes to Schools,
a project of the Transportation Authority of Marin.
Introduction
CO2 pollutants
cause global
warming. Keep
things cool,
Walk & Bike
to School.
The Pollution Punchcard contest rewards students when they choose green modes of travel – walking, biking, and
can include carpooling and bus or transit. The card features the pollution gremlin which hovers over a blue sky.
When the student arrives at school at designated “Punchcard Days”, the gremlin is “punched out” of the card
leaving the air clear. The card is designed to be hooked onto a student’s backpack.
3
How to Organize
the Contest: 1
The Basics
The Pollution Punchcard emphasizes the connection
between how we travel and air pollution and global
warming. Students are encouraged to use “green”
modes of transportation on designated punch card
days. There are two ways to run the contest:
For Beginning Schools
If you are a beginning school then organize a Walk and
Roll to school day once a week. This is similar to organizing International Walk to School Day but on a smaller
scale (see Walk and Roll guidebook). Set up a table at
school at the best location where most students will
be arriving. Those that are walking and biking or can
show that they carpooled or took the bus, get their card
punched and get a reward from the grab bag. After
their card is full, they turn it in for a special prize and to
be entered into a raffle to win a new bike.
For Advanced Schools
Add another random day to be a second Pollution
Punchcard day for the week. The randomness entices
students to use green modes every day because they
will not know when their card will get punched. If you
add in random days, students could have the opportunity to complete two cards for a four week contest.
For All Schools
On the day that cards are punched, put out a banner or
sandwich board to alert students where the “Pollution
Punchers” will be located. Students who have walked
or biked to school (or carpool or bus if you decide to
include that) will have one gremlin “punched out” by
volunteers.
We will provide you with a specially shaped punch
so that students cannot use a normal circle punch on
their own cards. When a student has all four gremlins
punched out they turn in their card for a new one and
receive a reward. They then get the card entered into
the raffle. The raffle is then held at the end of the contest period. We recommend that you hold the contest
for four weeks but you can keep it going longer if you
wish.
Focus on Earth Day
The Pollution Punchcard is designed to educate students
about global warming and offering them an opportunity to make a difference. Therefore it is suggested
that this contest occur around Earth Day in April. This
is an opportunity to empower students to make small
changes in their own lives that can affect the global
environment. Use this opportunity to focus on the effects global warming has on our environment and on
our lives. Safe Routes to Schools offers special Earth Day
classes that can help students focus on these issues.
Teachers may also choose to use this contest as an
opportunity to augment existing curriculum on global
warming and climate change.
Getting Started
Start announcing the contest at least two to three
weeks prior to the start of the contest with posters and
announcements. One week prior to the contest, distribute cards to the students with instructions on how
to play. This can be done through backpack mail or by
sending a volunteer to each classroom. The contest can
also be explained to the whole school during a regular
scheduled assembly or using the Safe Routes to Schools’
Assembly.
4
How to Organize the
Contest: 2
Eliminate Four Car Trips
POLLUTION PUNCHCARD
Participating in the Contest
Be sure that the students understand how the contest
works and what restrictions apply.
Let them know that they will have their cards punched
on regular walk to school days. Include the days, time
and location(s) of how to turn in cards when you advertise the contest, so students fully understand how to
participate. For advanced schools remind students that
there will be random, unannounced times when the
cards will be punched.
Good places to set up your check-in table are:
• At a central location in front of the school
• At the school bike racks
• At the main entrance to the school
• At various entrances to the school for random days
The check-in process is easy, just follow these
simple steps:
• Arrange for at least two volunteers per check-in
table. More volunteers are recommended if you have
a large number of students participating. This is a
great activity for the Student Leadership.
• Provide your volunteers with the following materials:
punch (you will be supplied with a special punch
that cannot be duplicated,) rewards, permanent
marker pen (for students to write their names and
phone numbers), extra punch cards, refreshments
(optional.)
• Children who have completed their cards will be
exchanging their cards for a reward, and new punch
card at the table.
• Make sure that the student writes their name and
phone number on card.
• For students who ride the bus, you can ask the bus
driver or the bus monitor to punch their cards.
• For students who carpool, you may need to station
someone at the drop off zone to identify those
students who carpool.
For Frequent Riders
You can keep track of those students who turn in cards
on a regular basis. Publish their names in the school
newsletter or on a special bulletin board. You can ask
your PTA to provide special rewards for the top-earning
students.
For Those Who Can’t Walk or Bike to School
You can also create special tasks for children who
really cannot participate because of where they live,
disabilities or because of before and after school care.
Have them create a poster or write an essay on global
warming or one that encourages more walking and
biking and let them chose a reward. Put these up on
the bulletin board. You can also have them volunteer at
the table checking cards.
• Punch the cards for every student that has walked,
biked (carpooled or bussed) to school and let them
choose a reward from the grab bag.
5
Ideas for Publicizing
the Contest
1.
Provide teachers with information about the contest.
It has been proven important to provide teachers
with the correct contest information and ensure that
they fully understand how it works, to avoid teachers
misinforming their students about it.
2.
Announced the contest at an assembly program.
Safe Routes to Schools can bring the Pedal Power
assembly to your elementary school to get the kids
excited about the contest, educate them about
the environmental benefits of walking and biking
and provide an introduction for you to announce
the contest.
3.
Assign volunteers (especially room parents who
walk or bike with their children to school) to go
to each class and explain the contest and answer
questions. This is also a great opportunity to
involve your student council/leadership to assist
in announcing the contest to the classes. Be sure
to train the students ahead of time so that they
understand the contest and can effectively present
it to the students.
4. Advertise the contest in your weekly
school newsletter. You can use newsletter
announcements to both publicize the contest and
to announce the names of the winners.
5.
Post the contest posters on walls and bulletin
boards. Use the same bulletin boards to advertise
the names of the students who have won prizes.
Create a display somewhere in the school that
publicizes the contest and shows the prizes that
students can win.
6. Provide the school office with weekly loudspeaker
announcements that remind kids to participate
and to turn in their cards. Change the
announcements from week to week by adding in
the names of students who are being very active in
the contest or name the prizes to be raffled off at
the contest’s end.
7.
Provide a graphic display that demonstrates how
the students are cleaning the air. For instance,
show a blow-up of Mt. Tam covered with pollution
gremlins. Every week remove gremlins for every
card turned in until the picture of Mt. Tam is clear.
Post how many pounds of carbon have been
saved from the atmosphere.
8. Have class discussions on global warming and
climate change. Ask the students to talk about all
the ways that they can make a difference.
9. Invite students to submit poster or essays on
global warming and climate change and post
the entries in your school newsletter or on your
bulletin board. Ask the teachers to make this a
homework assignment.
10. Invite students to submit poster or essays on
global warming and climate change and post
the entries in your school newsletter or on your
bulletin board. Ask the teachers to make this a
homework assignment.
It is most effective to use all these
methods simultaneously.
6
Instructions for
Teachers
For All Schools:
The Pollution Punchcard contest will be starting
next week. This sheet contains a description of the
contest and frequently asked questions (FAQs) to
help you answer any questions your students may
have.
Description
The Pollution Punchcard contest rewards children
who come to school by walking, biking, (carpool
or bus). Every time a child walks, bikes, (carpools or
takes the bus) to school on weekly Walk and Roll to
School Days they stop in at the check-in table and
get their card punched.
When all four gremlins are punched out of their
card they can exchange it for a new card and get a
special reward plus they are entered into a raffle to
win a new bike.
For Advanced Schools:
In addition, volunteers will be posted on random
days and at random locations to punch cards for
those who walk, bike, (carpool or take the bus) on
non-Walk and Roll to School Days.
Date(s):
Location(s):
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I turn in my card?
Cards are punched at the table on Walk and Roll to
School Days. Completed cards should be turned in at
that time.
What can I win?
For every punch, students will be able to choose a
reward from the grab bag. For every card they turn in
they will get an extra prize and be entered into a raffle
to win a new bike.
I lost my card. Where can I get a new one?
The school office will have more cards or will provide
you with the name of the Safe Routes to Schools parent
volunteer who can replace the lost one.
The following questions are for specific issues
that will relate to individual school programs.
I take the bus to school. Can I participate?
Safe Routes to Schools recommends that you include
students who take the bus to school. Each school will
organize the contest in the way that is appropriate for
their resources and needs.
I come in a carpool. Can I participate?
Safe Routes to Schools recommends that you
include students who carpool. Students will need to
demonstrate that they have carpooled, either with a
note from their parents, or by stationing someone at
the drop off zone to identify carpoolers.
Does it count if my mother dropped me off down
the street and I walked from there?
Safe Routes to Schools recommends that students have
walked at least a ¼ mile to be fair to those students
who walk from home but allows those who live far
away to participate. Set up a remote drop off area
where students can walk together the rest of the way.
Start Time:
End Time:
7
Instructions for
Parents and
Students
Remember:
1.Use crosswalks when walking to school.
2. Wear your helmet when bicycling
to school.
Included with this letter is a Pollution Punchcard. This contest will occur for a period of four weeks, from
____________ to ____________. During this time period, students will be rewarded for walking, biking, (carpooling
and bussing) to school.
If you follow these simple steps you and your child will be able to enjoy the fresh air and wonderful times of getting
to school together, combat global warming and air pollutionand be eligible for some great prizes!
• Walk, bike (carpool or bus) to school.
• Clip your card to your backpack or somewhere where it can’t be lost and
will always be with you when you come to school
• Bring your card into your school’s weekly scheduled Pollution Punchcard
check-ins for a volunteer to punch. Each time your child will be rewarded
from the grab bag and for every card completed, he or she will receive a reward
provided by Safe Routes to Schools and will be entered into the school-wide raffle for a new bike.
• There will be volunteers punching cards at random locations on unannounced days,
so be sure to walk, bike (carpool or bus) as much as possible
to earn more rewards and better your chances of winning the raffle.
8
Contest
Announcements
NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Middle of the Contest Announcement
Note: Use the Global Warming fact sheet on page
8 to boost your newsletter announcements
How many Pollution Gremlins have you eliminated?
Have you biked, walked, (carpooled or bussed)
recently? If you have, you are eligible to win some
great prizes including a new bike! Remember to keep
your Pollution Punchcards you received with you at all
times and bring them in on the weekly scheduled Walk
and Roll to School check-in days. The table is located
at _______________________________(location) on
__________________________(day/s) with rewards
for those who have completed their card. If you have
questions, please call _____________________________
(provide name and phone number.)
Introducing the Contest
Are you concerned about global warming? Want to
take small steps to make a difference. Join the fun of
the Pollution Punchcard contest and win prizes for
walking, biking, (carpool or bussing) to school.
LOUDSPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Middle of the Contest Announcement
Have you been biking, walking, (bussing or
carpooling) to school recently? Are you keeping
track of your gremlins on your Pollution Punchcard
you received? You can win prizes when you punch
out all four gremlins! Remember to bring your card
in on ___________________ (day)s. The table is
located at_________________ (location) between
_________ and __________ (times).
Last Day of Contest Announcement
Bring in your Pollution Punchcards tomorrow and
drop them off at ___________________ (location of
drop off). This is your last chance to join the raffle
to win a new bike from Safe Routes to Schools.
Thanks to everyone for reducing traffic at our
school and reducing pollution in Marin.
For the next ___ weeks, students will be rewarded at
school for getting to school in green ways. Safe Routes
to Schools will provide prizes to children who walk or
roll to school. Make sure your child has their Pollution
Punchcard with them at all times for your child to make
them eligible to win prizes – including a new bike.
See the instructions that come with your child’s
Pollution Punchcard to find out how to play.
For advanced schools: There are even more
chances to win. Be prepared for surprise days when we
will also be punching cards. Walk and roll every day for
more chances to win.
Final Week of Contest Announcement
This is the last week of the Pollution Punchcard contest.
REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR CARDS INTO THE OFFICE
BY FRIDAY at the weekly check-in table.
Thanks so much for participating. We hope that you
have enjoyed your trips to and from school. Stay tuned
for the winners of the raffle prizes.
Prize Winners Announcement
We are pleased to announce the winners of
the Pollution Punchcard contest. They are:
__________________________(list names of students
and their prizes. Some team leaders list all the names of
the kids that participated.)
Thanks to everyone that participated. Stay safe,
have fun and help fight global warming. For more
information on volunteering for Safe Routes to Schools,
please call ____________________________
(provide name and phone number.)
9
Global Warming
Fact Sheet
Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the
surface of the planet naturally by trapping
solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a
good thing because it keeps our planet
habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels
such as coal, gas and oil and clearing
forests we have dramatically increased the
amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s
atmosphere and temperatures are rising.
The vast majority of scientists agree
that global warming is real, it’s already
happening and that it is the result of our
activities and not a natural occurrence. The
evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.
Local Discussion Topics:
We are already seeing changes. Glaciers are
melting, plants and animals are being forced from
their habitat, and the number of severe storms
and droughts is increasing.
• The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes
has almost doubled in the last 30 years.
Hurricane Katrina is one example.1
• Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like
the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.1
• The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has
more than doubled over the past decade.1
• At least 279 species of plants and animals
are already responding to global warming,
moving closer to the poles.1
• The National Academy of Science has
informed Congress that the Earth is the
hottest it has been in 400 years.2
• The incidence of extreme weather events has gone
up 28% since 1975 and it is now confirmed that
the Artic ice caps are melting, threatening coastal
regions with flooding and actually drowning some
small islets. Polar Bears are drowning.3
www.climatecrisis.net
SF Chronicle 7/23/06
3
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
4
Way to Go, British Columbia
5
www.climatecrisis.net
6
Green Commutes, Makower, Canada
7
Divorce your Car, Katie Alvord, 2000
1
2
No Exit © Andy Singer
• Marin experienced extreme flooding New Year’s Eve
2005 and extreme heat as high as 110 degrees in the
summer of 2006. After making a remarkable comeback.
Coho Salmon are once again disappearing from our
streams and oceans. Are these events a result of
global warming? How could these affect our lives in
the future?
• According to the Environmental Education Council of
Marin, Marin has a higher ecological footprint than the
rest of the U.S. (27 global acres vs. 25 for the nation).
What is an ecological footprint? What can your
family do to reduce your ecological footprint? Can
your transportation choices make a difference?
You Can Make a Difference
✔ Short motor trips contribute significant amounts
of air pollution because they typically occur while
an engine’s pollution control system is cold and
ineffective. Shifting 1% of automobile trips to
walking or biking decreases emissions by 2–4%.4
✔ Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every
week would eliminate about 500 pounds
of carbon dioxide emissions a year!5
✔ Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week
will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590
pounds a year.5
✔ If just one out of every 10 commuters who now
drive to work switched to walking, we’d save 2
billion gallons of gas a year and reduce carbon
dioxide emissions by 25.4 million tons.6
• Every car commuter who switches to biking
and transit can save 400 gallons of gas a year.7
• Going by bus instead of car cuts nitrogen oxide
pollution by 25%, carbon monoxide by 80%
and hydrocarbons by 90% per passenger
mile.7
10
Pollution Punching
Activities
The average American generates about
15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2)
every year from personal transportation,
home energy use and from the energy
used to produce all of the products and
services we consume. Here are some
activities that can help students to look at
ways they can reduce their own generation
of CO2.
Carbon Calculators
Greenhouse in a Bottle
Using fossil fuels leads to the emission of carbon
dioxide, a key contributor to global climate changes.
Using a Carbon Calculator gives a good indication of
how much carbon emissions are created as part of
your day-to-day routine. You can figure out your own
personal usage with a Carbon Calculator available online at a number of web sites.
This activity is available through Safe Routes to Schools
• From An Inconvenient Truth:
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/
carboncalculator/
This web site will give you lots of ways in which you
can take action and reduce your carbon emissions
• World Resources Institute:
www.safeclimate.net/calculator/
offers them and will assist you in calculating your
carbon emission from your travel and home use.
• A Simple Calculator from England:
www.bestfootforward.com/carbnlife.htm
takes minutes to complete and does not require
PG&E bills. A brief analysis of the impact of the
carbon emissions is provided, as well as links for
research.
• Green Score:
www.greenscore.org.uk
shows how the little things you do make a big
difference in four easy-to-follow sections on energy,
water, shopping and transportation. (Information
provided from Routes 2 to Action published by
Sustrans, England.)
A hands-on science project or can be set up as a
demonstration. Students work in teams to simulate the
earth’s environment; doing a comparison and contrast
of a pre and post-greenhouse atmosphere. After the
class sets up the experiment, while waiting for the
results, you have an opportunity to discuss how cars
and non-renewable energy affects the environment.
Materials: Two liter clear plastic bottles (soda bottles
work nicely), potting soil, water, a utility-knife, Magic
markers: one brown, one blue
• Divide students into teams of four.
• Have each team stuff the soil into the narrow mouth
of the 2-liter bottle, keeping the bottle over a bucket
so that the spilled dirt is caught. Get as much of the
soil into the bottle as possible (up to ½ cup).
• Pour the water into the narrow mouth of the bottle.
• Half of the teams: cut holes near the top of the
bottle (three crescent-shaped holes about two inches
long). Color the top of the bottle blue.
• The other teams: put cap on the bottle; color the top
of the bottle brown.
• All teams place their bottles outside in the sun.
• All teams predict what will happen inside their
bottle.
Transit / Bike Field Trips
Safe Routes to Schools offers lesson plans on bicycle
and transit field trips. Determine a place your class
wants to go and then plan out a way to get there
by bike and/or transit. Use this as an opportunity to
evaluate your streets for safety or the efficiency and
convenience of your transit system.
11
Checklists
Check-In Table Supplies
Contest Coordination Tasks



Volunteers - two or three
Tables – best to have two,
one close to the bike rack

Seats – two or three


Inform the school administration and
the PTA of the contest
Use the instruction sheet templates for the
teachers (modify it to fit how you are running
the contest) and inform them of the contest
Permanent marker pens

Recruit volunteers

Punch
Pick up punch cards, coupons, prizes and
contest posters from SR2S staff

Rewards provided by Safe Routes to Schools

Post posters

Extra cards and instruction sheets
Post contest announcement in the
school newsletter




Distribute Pollution Punchcards
and instructions
Ask Principal to make loudspeaker
announcements and provide script

Coordinate card check-in days
Coordinate collection of cards on contest’s
last day

Tally participation numbers for each student
Coordinate raffle prize assembly or
announcement


12
Pollution Punchcard Sample
Eliminate Four Car Trips
POLLUTION PUNCHCARD
Win Fun Prizes!
Name
Grade
Teacher
Phone
CO² pollutants cause global
warming. Keep things cool,
walk, & roll to school!
13
Grand Prize: a new Marin Bike
Get your card punched
four times for walking or
biking to school and WIN!
WIN VALUABLE PRIZES
Keep Things Cool, Walk & Bike to School!
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS SPRING CONTEST
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS PROGRAMS
Safes Routes to Schools is a project of the Transportation Authority of Marin.