What is the ruling on school projects that include pictures of animate beings, and what is your guidance regarding the the insistence on doing them despite the teacher being informed of their prohibition?

Depicting animate beings is prohibited, based on the hadith of the curtain (qiram) with which Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) covered herself. This prohibition includes pictures that do not cast a shadow. Its permissibility for educational purposes is not justified except in cases of necessity, for necessities make the prohibited permissible. If you denounce their actions and do not participate, then you are absolved of blame.