As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July, educators and civic groups are stepping up efforts to teach the founding document that declared America's independence and laid the foundation for its system of self-government.

Many teachers are reportedly blending traditional civics lessons with modern technology and interactive activities to help students better appreciate the Declaration's role in shaping the United States.

At Ozark High School in Arkansas, social studies teacher Jessica Culver asks her 11th- and 12th-grade students to imagine how the American Revolution would have been shared on social media.

One student produced a mock social media post announcing the adoption of the Declaration that read: "The DOI has been approved! #newcountry #finallyfree."

"How would we tell people about it if we were posting on social media? If you were making a TikTok about the Boston Tea Party, what would you say?" Culver told CBS News she would ask her students.

She said the exercise helps students connect modern communication with the events surrounding America's founding.

Culver also encourages civic participation by having students write letters to elected officials and organize voter registration drives.

"The Declaration is a continuous document that they're living as 17-year-olds in Ozark, Arkansas," she said.

Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and signed by 56 delegates, including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock, the Declaration of Independence formally broke the colonies away from Great Britain and proclaimed that "all men are created equal," a principle that remains central to the national identity.

Emma Humphries, chief education officer at iCivics, told CBS the Declaration continues to serve as a cornerstone of American civic education because "it's our nation's origin story, our shared inheritance."

The nonprofit, founded by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, has launched new initiatives tied to America's 250th anniversary, including the Civic Star Challenge, which awards classroom stipends to teachers, and Investigation Declaration, an interactive game designed to teach students about the nation's founding documents.

"It's meant to take what can feel really dry and abstract and make it a little goofy and meaningful and relevant for young people," Humphries said.

Other organizations are also expanding educational resources ahead of Independence Day.

The National Constitution Center has introduced a commemorative edition of Trivial Pursuit, online exhibits featuring the Declaration, and a podcast exploring the ideas behind the founding document.

NCC Chief Learning and Content Officer Julie Silverbrook said Americans should use the nation's birthday as an opportunity to deepen their understanding of its founding principles.

"July Fourth should not be an endpoint — it should be a starting line" for families interested in learning about America's founding documents and ideals, she told CBS.