Use the news: Kids help a star — their dad

Lesson for grades K-4

For 20 years New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees has been one of the top quarterbacks in the National Football League. This month he announced he is retiring as a player — and he got his four children to help him break the news.

His kids Baylen, 12, Bowen, 10, Callen, 8, and Rylen, 6, appeared on an Internet message Brees posted to Instagram. “After 15 years with the Saints and 20 years in the NFL, our dad is finally gonna retire,” his children took turns saying — before jumping up and shouting “So he can spend more time with us! Yay!”

Brees, who is 42, leaves the NFL as the career leader in passing yards and completions and ranks second in career touchdown passes to Tom Brady. With Brees as quarterback, the Saints made nine playoff appearances, captured seven division titles and won the Super Bowl in 2010.

Kids often make news by helping

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees right, speaks with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady as Brees’s’ children look on after an NFL divisional round playoff football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 17 in New Orleans. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 30-20. their parents.

Activity: In the newspaper or online, find and closely read a story about kids doing this. Pretend you are one of the parents and write a thank-you note to your children, telling them how much you appreciated their help and what you hope they learned from the experience.