Especially when more than one is used, the plastic modules are often mounted on a metal plate for structural integrity.
Normally the double-sided foam tape which comes on the back of the modules would provide some insulation. However, it is possible for wire to get pushed out between the plastic of the module and the metal contract strip forming a given row, pierce the foam, and short to the carrier.
This is particularly true if you have an old or worn module, and smaller 24 gauge wire, for example stripped from old telecom cable.
If you have a single module, you can peel up the foam backing in a corner and see the individual contact strips underneath - hopefully there ins't (yet) a gap between them and the plastic.
With school-issued lab equipment, you are likely to have both well-worn modules, and either the classic multiple modules on a metal plate with binding posts, or an attache case "nerd kit" which functions as a carrier plate - either way, you are more likely to see these accidental shorts than someone using a single new module on its own.
If this is a brand new breadboard, it is possible that the contact tines (the contacts within the breadboard sockets) have a nominal opening that is smaller than the size of the IC pins; this will 'push' the IC back out of the breadboard sockets.
I have seen this (admittedly many years ago), and a piece of non-stranded wire judiciously used can open the contact a bit so the breadboard will not push the IC back out. Be careful so as not to actually damage the contact; just open it up a bit.
Best Answer
The problem is that the breadboard doesn't work like you think it does.
Inside the breadboard are strips of metal. In that breadboard they run vertically linking groups of 5 holes together:
Your wires are in different metal strips to the legs of your resistor, so they are not connected to anything.
Move the wires into the same columns as the resistor legs and it will work.
You can see on the Fritzing drawing that when you place a component on a breadboard the holes above and below it are highlighted in green. These are the holes that are connected internally by the metal strips.